Week Three (Friday, Aug. 28)

Week three’s guest picker is our own commentator Jeremy Tollison. Jeremy has been an official in the Upper Cumberland for many years and most of you have yelled at him from the bleachers. Catch him in our broadcast booth throughout the season.

Goose: 20-5

Justin: 20-5

Noah: 19-6

Jacob: 19-6

Guests: 19-6

Broadcast games

UCR GOTW Presented by Mayberry’s Furniture: White County (2-0) at Cookeville (1-1)

Noah: White County 28-21

After decades of Cavalier dominance, the matchups have become much closer in recent years. Cookeville is, without question, the best team White County has played yet this year. That being said, I think White County’s physicality and size up front creates space against a talented but smaller Cookeville front-7 and Cole Sims gets loose a couple of times to propel the Warriors to a victory. Stat to watch: White County yards per carry and Cookeville yards per pass attempt.

Jacob: White County 35-21

The Warriors have looked phenomenal through two weeks of action and Cole Sims has been running wild. Cookeville played great in week one and played a really good FRA team last week but fell short. I think Sparta is for real and will give the Cavalier defense some troubles tonight as White County gets a big win in hostile territory. 

Goose: White County 34-21

White County has been a bulldozer the first two weeks, but the competition level rises this week at Cookeville. They say mass moves mass, and the Warriors are just plain big up front with a superstar in the backfield in Cole Sims. I’ll take the Warriors in a physical game.

Jeremy: Cookeville 28-27

As a Cookeville alum, it hurts my soul to pick The Warriors but they are the hottest team in The Upper Cumberland right now.  Plus, my wife graduated from White Co. and I need all the brownie points I can get…  so with all that being said….Go Cavs!

Justin (Cookeville graduate and Cavalier for life): Good Guys 35 Bad Guys 28

Y’all know I couldn’t let this week pass by without saying anything. I’ve heard it all this week. “That other school by two touchdowns.” “Cookeville doesn’t have a chance.” “They don’t play well against physical teams.” 

First off. Is that not one of the top two ugliest shades of red known to man? The only uglier shade of red is worn by that sorry team that plays in Tuscaloosa. 

I can count on a singular hand the number of people that like me down there. In all honestly they probably only like my sweet wife and I didn’t blame them either. 

It’s COOKEVILLE baby cause that’s all we know!!! Once a Cavalier, always a Cavalier. For the record, I lived the first 23 years of my life without knowing those other guys were capable of beating us. Since 2013 they have won three more times (21,22,25) and last year they punked us on both sides of the ball. That ends Friday Night at Eddie Watson Stadium, now and forever. Period. 

This is their Super Bowl and they prepare for it that way. Cavs I hope prepared the same way or you’re in for a long night. It won’t be easy. No doubts there. Cole Sims has had a Mr. Football caliber start of the season. They believe they are going to come in here and MASH you again. Over and over and over. Absolutely freaking not. 

I think the Cavs are better on defense than most think. Cannot wait to watch. Go Cavs. Always. 

 

UCR2: Smith County (1-1) at Livingston Academy (2-0)

Noah: Livingston 20-13

A complete tossup football game. Two young teams that are coming off dramatic victories. The matchup advantage for Livingston appears to be with their size up front, but Smith County showed real swagger last week. Ultimately, I’ll lean slightly towards the home team, but this should be a great game.

Jacob: Livingston 21-20

I quite honestly did not know who to pick in this game. Two teams who feel very very similar on paper so far. The Wildcats have gotten to great wins to start the season after the comeback win last week at Warren County and Smith County pulled off a triple overtime thriller in Celina. I’ll give the edge to the home team in a great football game. 

Goose: Livingston 26-24

One of the closest toss ups on the board. Both teams are young and impressed me last week, and this one should come down to the wire. I’ll take the Wildcats in a nail biter.

Jeremy: Livingston 28-21

Livingston because they are at home. Smith Co won a barn burner last week and could be in for a letdown.

Justin: Livingston 21-20

UCR3: Macon County (2-0) at Greenbrier (0-2)

Noah: Macon County 42-0

Two teams in different spots, Tigers roll.

Jacob: Macon County 42-0

Tigers should keep things rolling on the road against a struggling Greenbrier squad. See if Macon County can put this game away early. 

Goose: Macon County 42-0

Macon County handles business against a rival from back in the day. Give me another dominant performance from the Tiger defense and special teams.

Jeremy: Macon County 35-7

Macon is simply way too much for Greenbrier and Macon is too hard to figure out with one week of practice , especially if you are not a very good football team.

Justin: Macon County 38-7

UCR4: Upperman (1-1) at Farragut (0-2)

Noah: Upperman 28-0

Reports of the Bees’ death are greatly exaggerated. They laid an egg against Greeneville. Adam Caine teams don’t lay two eggs in a row. Bees roll.

Jacob: Upperman 28-7

The Bees did not play their best football game last week against a very very good Greeneville squad. Under coach Caine, the Bees are 14-2 coming after a loss (with one of those losses coming in week one of the next season). I expect Upperman to respond this week on the road against a struggling Farragut team and get back on the right track. 

Goose: Upperman 21-17

Upperman rolls into week three on the heels of one of their biggest losses this decade and needs a bounce back in the worst way. It’s already looking like this one could get delayed due to extreme heat. Upperman should win, but it may be closer than you’d think.

Jeremy: Upperman 28-7

Upperman got stung last week and needs this bounce back game heading into next week’s showdown with Stone Memorial.

Justin: Upperman 24-14

Clay County (0-2) at Jackson County (2-0)

Noah: Jackson County 28-14

Jacob: Jackson County 28-14

Goose: Jackson County 20-16

Jeremy: Jackson County 28-24

Justin: Clay County 28-24

Cumberland County (0-2) at Stone Memorial (1-1)

Noah: Stone Memorial 49-0

Jacob: Stone Memorial 35-0

Goose: Stone Memorial 42-6

Jeremy: Stone Memorial 35-7

Justin: Stone Memorial  49-7

Fayetteville (0-2) at Gordonsville (2-0)

Noah: Gordonsville 20-0

Jacob: Gordonsville 21-0

Goose: Gordonsville 24-14

Jeremy: Gordonsville 28-14

Justin: Gordonsville 27-24

 

Watertown (1-1) at DeKalb County (2-0)

Noah: Watertown 21-7

Jacob: Watertown 28-14

Goose: Watertown 21-17

Jeremy: DeKalb County 21-20

Justin: Watertown 24-21

 

Cannon County (1-1) at Pickett County (0-2)

Noah: Cannon County 49-6

Jacob: Cannon County 42-7

Goose: Cannon County 42-8

Jeremy: Cannon County 49-6

Justin: Cannon County 35-7

York Institute (0-2) at Meigs County (2-0)

Noah: Meigs County 21-20

Jacob: Meigs County 35-21

Goose: Meigs County 38-21

Jeremy: Meigs County 28-21

Justin: Meigs County 41-33