Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

Noah: 54-14

Justin: 53-15

Jacob: 55-13

Goose: 52-16

Guests: 49-19

This week’s UCR guest picker is Jeremy Tollison, a broadcaster on the UCR Media Network and somebody plenty of you have yelled at during his days as a TSSAA referee. Catch Jeremy on games across the Upper Cumberland this fall!

MTCS (4-1) at Clay County (5-1) (Thursday, UCR)

Noah: Clay County 28-14

The Cougars head to Celina boasting the single-wing offense with a solid tailback. The good news for the Bulldogs is their strength is in the trenches, and Nolan and Reece Adams have been on a tear. Give me Clay County to stretch it to six straight wins. 

Justin: Clay County 28-10

We’ll have physical football on the banks of the Cumberland River tonight, and give me a Bruce Lamb-coached team in that situation any day.

Jacob: Clay County 35-12

Clay County has gotten better and better each week and has a good chance to win their sixth game in a row. The size and aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage will be a big advantage for the Bulldogs in this game and I think they set the tone early in Celina. 

Goose: Clay County 34-21

Clay County has won a football game about every way you can win so far this season. The Dawgs are back home in Celina this week and this should be a fun, physical matchup between two teams that love to run the football. Give me Clay County to pull away late. Even better, coach Lamb and the boys won’t have to call Noah after the game because we’ll all be up there.

Tollison: Clay County 28-21

Stone Memorial (5-1) at Macon County (5-1) (UCR GOTW)

Noah: Stone Memorial 28-21

The Panthers have been hungry to enter the upper echelon of Region 4/4A, and they have a big opportunity to do that when they travel to Lafayette. This pick is more about Stone than Macon, and I love the way Noah Potter has been playing at QB. I think this matchup goes back-and-forth throughout. 

Justin: Macon County 27-24

This should be an awesome Region 4-4A game with massive playoff implications. Macon County and Stone Memorial have had some battles in years past, and I’ll go with the home team narrowly.

Jacob: Macon County 28-21

The Tigers did not play their best game last week in Sparta. However, this Macon County coaching staff is one of the best at making adjustments and getting their team ready for the next opponent. Stone certainly brings a tough challenge in with the RPO game they can run, but I think being at home will put the Tigers over the edge. 

Goose: Stone Memorial 26-24

Two of my favorite play callers in the Upper Cumberland square off Friday as coach Derik Samber’s Stone Memorial Panthers hit the road to Kyle Shoulders’ Macon County Tigers at Pat Parker Memorial Stadium. These two have played some thrillers in the past, but Macon has traditionally found a way to squeeze by as the Tigers are 7-1 against Stone since 2017. It’s a tall task to win in Lafayette and it’ll take a heroic performance out of the Panthers to get it done.

Tollison: Macon County 24-21

 

Upperman (4-2) at Livingston Academy (5-1) (UCR2)

Noah: Upperman 42-21

The Wildcats have been super impressive, but Upperman is throttling every UC team in their way so far. Expect the Wildcats to be much more competitive than in the previous five meetings, but ultimately I think the Bees pull away.

Justin: Upperman 38-20

It’s great to see this matchup have some life again. Upperman is a machine this year and Livingston has taken some big strides, but the Bees still seem to be on a level all their own in the Upper Cumberland.

Jacob: Upperman 35-20

Livingston is having their best season in a long time and proved they’re for real against Sparta a couple of weeks ago. The challenge is much more difficult this week going up against a Bees offense that is a match up nightmare. LA has to keep it close into the fourth and slow the game down if they want to have a chance, but I think the Bees offense is just too strong in this one.

Goose: Upperman 35-28

Upperman hits the road to Hogeye Friday in a matchup of two tradition-rich Upper Cumberland football programs. Upperman’s offense has been borderline unstoppable this season, so Livingston will have to rev up the offense to have a chance. The Wildcats have multiple weapons and can move the ball in a variety of ways, so I’m interested to see how they match up with this Upperman defense. Ultimately, I’ll take the Bees on the road in a hostile Tom Davis Memorial Stadium.

Tollison: Upperman 42-21

Maryville (5-1) at Cookeville (1-5) (UCR3)

Noah: Maryville 42-14

Two teams in very different spots. The Rebels are a 6A contender and while I think the Cavs are better than their record indicates, this is a huge task. 

Justin: Marryville 41-14

When you talk about high school football in Tennessee, you talk about Maryville. Credit to the Cavaliers for wanting to test themselves against the best, but ultimately Maryville is one of the best teams in the state period.

Jacob: Maryville 42-7

This is the best offense that Cookeville will face this season as the Rebels are averaging just 400 yards of total offense per game and the majority of that is through the air. Cookeville has played solid football in almost every single first half this season and I hope to see them continue it into the second half this week. I think Maryville is just too strong for the Cavaliers to keep it close this week though. 

Goose: Maryville 45-14

Maryville is one of the gold standards in our state and has housed everybody not named Alcoa this season. The Rebels have Division 1 talent all over the field and are in the running for another 6A state championship. No disrespect to Cookeville at all with the pick; Maryville probably mercy rules about 98% of the teams in Tennessee.

Tollison: Maryville 49-7

Gordonsville (6-0) at Westmoreland (3-3)

Noah: Gordonsville 35-21

Justin: Gordonsville 34-17

Jacob: Gordonsville 28-14

Goose: Gordonsville 49-7

Tollison: Gordonsville 35-7

White County (5-1) at Warren County (3-3)

Noah: White County 28-13

Justin: White County 31-13

Jacob: White County 28-14

Goose: White County 35-0

Tollison: White County 34-7

Cannon County (3-3) at Smith County (3-3)

Noah: Smith County 21-20

Justin: Smith County 28-27

Jacob: Smith County 20-14

Goose: Smith County 21-7

Tollison: Cannon County 21-14

Jackson County (3-2) at Trousdale County (1-5)

Noah: Jackson County 21-12

Justin: Jackson County 24-10

Jacob: Jackson County 28-14

Goose: Jackson County 21-20

Tollison: Jackson County 35-21

DeKalb County (2-4) at York Institute (0-6)

Noah: DeKalb County 28-14

Justin: DeKalb County 21-18

Jacob: York Institute 20-12

Goose: DeKalb County 21-20

Tollison: DeKalb County 28-22

Red Boiling Springs (0-6) at Jo Byrns (3-3)

Noah: Jo Byrns 42-0

Justin: Jo Byrns 42-7

Jacob: Jo Byrns 35-13

Goose: Jo Byrns 38-14

Tollison: Jo Byrns 41-7

Cumberland County at East Ridge (Thursday)

Noah: East Ridge 35-14

Justin: East Ridge 22-7

Jacob: East Ridge 20-14

Goose: East Ridge 28-22

Tollison: East Ridge 22-14

Pickett County (0-6) at Zion Christian (2-4)

Noah: Zion Christian 42-6

Justin: Zion Christian 49-0

Jacob: Zion Christian 35-6

Goose: Zion Christian 34-8

Tollison: Zion Christian 41-8