Each week, experts from the Upper Cumberland will give their predictions for select high school football games in the area. These picks are presented by TLTSports Performance. TLTSports Performance is where the athletes of tomorrow, train today.
In addition to our four standard experts, each week a guest expert will join in the picks.
Experts:
Rusty Ellis: Sports Director of the Upper Cumberland Reporter
Justin Matheney: Co-Owner and lead color commentator of the Upper Cumberland Reporter. Former defensive backs coach at Tennessee Tech University.
Buddy Pearson: Longtime sports journalist in the Upper Cumberland. Commentator for the Upper Cumberland Reporter.
Noah McKay: Co-Owner, COO and lead play-by-play announcer of the Upper Cumberland Reporter.
Guest Expert, Jeff Simmons: Editor in Chief of the Warren County Sports Authority
Game 1:
Monterey (1-0) @ Cumberland County (0-1)
Last week:
Monterey: 50-14 win @ Cannon County
Cumberland County: 29-17 loss vs Whitwell
Ellis:
Pick: Monterey 28 – Cumberland County 10
Comments: The Wildcats got rolling after falling behind against Cannon County and never looked back in week one. I expect a greater sense of urgency from Scott Hughes’ squad this week, as they’ll take a comfortable win over the Jets, who I think will spend most of this season looking for consistency at many key positions.
Matheney:
Pick: Monterey 21 – Cumberland County 20
Comments: If Monterey’s youth can settle in up front on both sides of the ball, I like the Wildcats here in a close one. Montgomery, Bowman, Saylors, and Alred have played a lot of meaningful snaps for Monterey over their careers and I expect to see that pay off.
McKay:
Pick: Monterey 28 – Cumberland County 14
Comments: This should be a really good game between two teams who want to run the football. I was impressed with Montery’s ability to shake off a slow start and execute in the second half to blow out Cannon County. Meanwhile the Jets struggled to capitalise on long drives. Ultimately, I think Mason Bowman and the Wildcats get a few big plays to leave Crossville 2-0.
Pearson:
Pick: Monterey
Simmons:
Pick: Monterey 41 – Cumberland County 14
Comments: The Wildcats hung half a hundred on Cannon County last week and got some votes in the 2A state AP poll for the effort. CC this to all AP voters this weekend: When Monterey wins in another rout against another CC team (Cumberland County this week), it’s time to start getting them on your ballot.
Game 2:
Cookeville (0-1) vs Livingston (0-1) @ Tucker Stadium
Last week:
Cookeville: 34-0 loss vs Upperman
Livingston: 48-0 loss @ White County
Ellis:
Pick: Cookeville 35 – Livingston 0
Comments: Taylor Hennigan gets his first win as the Cavs’ head coach in dominant fashion over an LA team that is looking for any positivity on this prolonged losing streak that now spans 13 games going back to the 2020 season. A bigger question for me is how will Cookeville build on a win like this moving forward and will this get the Cavs back on track?
Matheney:
Pick: Cookeville 35 – Livingston 0
Comments: The Cavaliers are more talented and have better coaches in this one. A nice get right game after getting smacked last week at Tucker Stadium.
McKay:
Cookeville 35 – Livingston 0
Pick: Taylor Hennigan gets his first win as a head coach as the Cavs try to build a rhythm ahead of a tough region matchup at Lebanon. I think Mace Thomsen and Jourdyn Burruss make some nice plays as they take care of business at Tucker Stadium.
Pearson:
Pick: Cookeville
Simmons:
Pick: Cookeville 42 – Livingston 7
Comments: Two teams who would like to pretend last week never happened. The Cavs and Wildcats both tossed up goose eggs in embarrassing blowouts, so there is nowhere to go but up from there. Cookeville got an extra day to prepare and Mace Thomsen should be poised for a breakout game on the turf at Tucker Stadium.
Game 3: Trousdale County (0-1) @ Upperman (1-0)
Last week:
Trousdale County: 40-12 loss vs Friendship Christian
Upperman: 34-0 win vs Cookeville
Ellis:
Pick: Trousdale County 9 – Upperman 28
Comments: What would normally be an excellent contest is now somewhat anticlimactic as Trousdale is down a bit this season. I think this one’s close early, but Jaxson Rollins and Terrance Dedmon will do what they do and put it away in the second half.
Matheney:
Pick: Trousdale County 0 – Upperman 42
Comments: The Bees looked to be in midseason form last week. All phases of the game were clicking. Trousdale is down in numbers and talent this year. Bees roll in the Hive.
McKay:
Trousdale County 0 – Upperman 35
Comments: It feels weird picking a blowout against the Yellow Jackets, but these are two teams in different spots. The Bees were firing on all cylinders in week one, and the Jackets are reloading. It won’t surprise me if Trousdale gets it together and is hanging around in the postseason, but this week I’ll take the Bees.
Pearson:
Pick: Upperman
Simmons:
Pick: Trousdale County 7 – Upperman 35
Comments: Last year’s state semifinalists looked legit while claiming the crown as the top football program in Putnam County last Thursday (unless Monterey wants to submit an argument). The Bees can further their case as one of the top 4A teams in the state Friday against Trousdale County, a 2A semifinalist last year that is coming off a smackdown from Friendship Christian that had to make Triple H think about signing the Commanders to a WWE contract.
Game 4: Warren County (0-1) vs White County (1-0)
Last week:
Warren County: 35-34 loss @ DeKalb County
White County: 48-0 win vs Livingston
Ellis:
Pick: Warren County 20 – White County 21
Comments: This one was difficult to pick and I really liked a lot of what I saw out of Matt Turner’s Pioneers last week in a tough loss to DeKalb, but in a game this close, I’m going with the team that has the best player on the field and to no one’s surprise, it’s Malaki Dowell. Give me the Warriors in a tight one.
Matheney:
Pick: Warren County 24 – White County 28
Comments: Malaki Dowell. That’s all I have to say about that. Best player on the field. I think he shows out big time Friday night in Sparta.
McKay:
Pick: Warren County 24 – White County 27
Comments: This looks like an evenly matched contest. The Pioneers’ wing-T offense could present some problems for the Sparta front-7, but ultimately I think homefield advantage plays a factor and Malaki Dowell makes enough plays to get the Warriors to 2-0 before they turn their attention a region matchup with Station Camp.
Pearson:
Pick: White County
Simmons:
Pick: Warren County 35 – White County 34
Comments: C’mon, they didn’t ask the Warren County Sports Authority to be the guest picker and expect this choice to be anything but the Pioneers. Warren County held a 14-point advantage last week on the road in Smithville before the Tigers rallied with 15 points in the final 6:56 for a stunning victory. This should be another shootout – the Pioneers can run the ball at will from the Pistol T, while Malaki Dowell is one of the best players in the state and a threat to score everytime he touches the ball.
Expect Sparta to be rocking with the longtime rivals going to battle Friday. The game within the game to watch: Dowell vs. Pioneer tackling machine Braylon Grayson. The Warren County senior, who was the Region 3-6A linebacker of the year in 2021, had 15 stops last week. If Dowell and Grayson meet in the hole, sparks will fly and the sonic boom may be heard around the Upper Cumberland.
QBs Nate Elrod and Tripp Pinon may be supporting characters compared to the aforementioned stars, but it’s likely one of the signal callers becomes the difference in the game. Elrod makes enough big throws to push the PIoneers to victory.
Game 5: HSFB Game of the Week – DeKalb County (1-0) @ Smith County (1-0)
Last week:
DeKalb County: 35-34 win vs Warren County
Smith County: 27-7 win vs Gordonsville
Ellis:
Pick: DeKalb County 24 – Smith County 28
Comments: And now we come to what might be the most difficult game to pick all season. Smith County showed a lot in their dominant win over Gordonsville and freshman Kaden Powell had one of the most impressive week one performances in the Upper Cumberland as well. I think this is a gritty, physical game where the difference is going to be who gets the ball last. I’ll roll with the Owls and their physical style.
Matheney:
Pick: DeKalb County 27 – Smith County 28
Comments: Get used to hearing this from me all season. In a close game I’m always going to go with the more physical team. Not saying the Tigers are not physical but I think Smith County has the edge in that department. I expect this to be a great game.
McKay:
DeKalb County 28 – Smith County 19
Comments: I have gone back-and-forth on this game all week. These are two big, physical teams that are poised for nice seasons. On the UCR Coaches Show presented by Turf Masters I picked the Owls, but as we get closer to game time I am leaning towards the Tigers. They are a little bit healthier, and may be a little more explosive. This is a one-score game but kicking game struggles could loom for Smith County, thus I’ll take the Tigers by 9.
Pearson:
Pick: Smith County
Simmons:
Pick: DeKalb County 28 – Smith County 17
Comments: Quick heads up to the Smith County fans who may not get a lineup or know the Tiger playmakers: just take Admiral Ackbar’s advise and know “It’s a Trapp.” Briz Trapp can run-and-gun, Malachi Trapp is a playmaker who was just getting his feet wet in a new system last week and Holden Trapp is ultra dangerous with the ball in his hands. DeKalb County’s going to be really, really good this fall.