Here’s a look at The Tennessean’s top 10 high school football matchups for Week 7. Tennessean high school sports coordinator Tom Kreager is picking the winners this season.
Maplewood’s Jeremy McDowell (left) and Pearl-Cohn’s Jimmyrious Parker (right)
GAME OF THE WEEK
Maplewood (5-1, 2-0 5-4A)
at Pearl-Cohn (5-1, 2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Pearl-Cohn, led by dynamic junior running back Jimmyrious Parker, has won its first two region contests by a combined score of 99-20. Maplewood has strung together five straight wins since losing its season opener at still-unbeaten Stratford.
The pick: Pearl-Cohn 21, Maplewood 14
Ensworth quarterback Jaylon King (left) and Brentwood Academy quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall (right)
Ensworth (3-2, 1-1 DII-AA E/M)
at Brentwood Academy (4-1, 2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Defending Division II-AA champion Brentwood Academy has piled up a combined 141 points during its three-game winning streak. The Eagles have eclipsed the 35-point mark in each of their first four wins. Ensworth’s defense, however, which is led by Louisville commitment Rodney Owens, is allowing just 12.3 points per contest.
The pick: Brentwood Academy 28, Ensworth 17
Watertown (6-0, 3-0 4-2A) at Forrest (6-0, 3-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
A prolific Watertown offense will square off against a stingy Forrest defense. Led by senior quarterback Seth Price, Watertown, ranked third in Class 2A, has averaged 459 yards and 47.5 points. Fifth-ranked Forrest has posted three shutouts and boasts the state’s fourth-best scoring defense (5.5 ppg).
The pick: Watertown 35, Forrest 21
Mt. Juliet quarterback Mason Earls (left) and Overton running back Taveruis Travis (right)
Mt. Juliet (4-2, 2-1 3-6A) at Overton (4-2, 2-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Aidan Raines has rushed for close to 400 yards and six touchdowns during Mt. Juliet’s three-game winning streak. That includes a season-best 228-yard, three-touchdown effort in last week’s overtime win against rival Wilson Central. Overton’s run defense was exceptional last week, though, limiting McGavock to 57 yards on 20 carries.
The pick: Overton 24, Mt. Juliet 21
Stewarts Creek running back Zach Long (left) and Independence running back Troy Henderson (right).
Stewarts Creek (4-2, 3-0 5-5A)
at Independence (5-0, 2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
After consecutive losses to open the season, Stewarts Creek has strung together four consecutive victories, and the Red Hawks are 3-0 in league play for the first time in the program’s four-year history. Independence, which shut out Stewarts Creek 27-0 en route to last season’s state title, has surrendered just 28 points in its previous three games.
The pick: Independence 35, Stewarts Creek 14
Blackman running back Master Teague (left) and Smyrna quarterback John Turner (right)
Blackman (2-3, 2-0 6-5A) at Smyrna (5-1, 3-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Blackman’s Master Teague is coming off his best performance — 332 yards rushing on 48 carries in Friday’s 35-21 win over Cookeville. The Blaze will be looking to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season. MTSU commitment John Turner threw for 283 yards and five touchdowns in Smyrna’s Week 6 win over Siegel.
The pick: Smyrna 42, Blackman 28
Gallatin running back Jordan Mason (27) and Beech running back Chris Peach (35).
Beech (4-2, 2-1 6-5A) at Gallatin (5-1, 3-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
The ground game should the focal point in this Sumner County rivalry. Gallatin’s Jordan Mason has rushed for a Midstate-leading 1,424 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Beech backfield trio of Chaz Williamson, Alex Vanzant and Chris Peach have piled up a combined 1,284 yards and 17 scores.
The pick: Beech 21, Gallatin 17
MTCS coach Fred Shambaugh (left) and Gordonsville coach Ron Marshall (right).
MTCS (6-0, 5-0 5-1A) at Gordonsville (3-2, 3-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Quarterback Joseph Peck has been the driving force behind Middle Tennessee Christian’s 6-0 start, piling up 1,476 totals yards and 23 touchdowns. Gordonsville is allowing just nine points per game during its three-game winning streak.
The pick: MTCS 24, Gordonsville 14
Station Camp quarterback Tyler Thompson (left) and Hendersonville running back Anthony Hughes (right).
Station Camp (3-3, 1-2 6-5A)
at Hendersonville (4-2, 1-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Both of these 6-5A squads will be fighting for their postseason lives. A week removed from facing Gallatin’s Jordan Mason, Station Camp’s defense will be tasked with facing another talented running back in Hendersonville’s Anthony Hughes, who has 900 total yards with eight scores on the season.
The pick: Hendersonville 27, Station Camp 17
Stratford (6-0, 2-0 5-3A) at CPA (1-4, 1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Stratford, coming off arguably its biggest win of the last decade, is off to its best start since 2004. Christ Presbyterian Academy, coming off its third 40-point defeat of the season, is 1-4 for the first time since 2009. But CPA hasn’t lost a district/region game since October 2011.
The pick: Stratford 27, CPA 21
RELATED
- CPA to go to Division II next school year
- Associated Press’ statewide high school football poll
- Midstate football poll: Large schools
- Midstate football poll: Small schools
- The Tennessean’s top performers from Week 6
The rest:
Brentwood over West Creek
Cane Ridge over Hunters Lane
Smith Co. over Cannon Co.
Jackson Co. over Cascade
Centennial over Clarksville
Collinwood over Clarksville Academy
Northeast over Dickson Co.
Lancaster Christian over King’s Academy
Nashville Christian over Clay Co.
Cookeville over Coffee Co.
Franklin Co. over Columbia
Cornersville over Huntland
Hillwood over Creek Wood
East Hamilton over Livingston Academy
Knoxville Webb over DCA
McMinn Co. over White Co.
BGA over Davidson Academy
Sequatchie Co. over DeKalb Co.
East Robertson over Community
FRA over Ezell-Harding
Fairview over Cheatham Co.
Franklin over Antioch
Columbia Academy over Franklin Grace
Friendship Christian over Mt. Juliet Christian
Harpeth over Sycamore
Hickman Co. over Loretto
Hillsboro over Glencliff
Huntingdon over Houston Co.
Kenwood over Northwest
Summit over LaVergne
Wilson Central over Lebanon
Shelbyville over Lincoln Co.
Marshall Co. over Lawrence Co.
Hollow Rock-Bruceton over McEwen
Ravenwood over McGavock
Monterey over Pickett Co.
Lipscomb Academy over Montgomery Central
Fayetteville over Moore Co.
Oakland over Warren Co.
Wayne Co. over Perry Co.
MBA over Pope John Paul
Springfield over Portland
Jo Byrns over Red Boiling Springs
Henry Co. over Rossview
Riverdale over Siegel
Giles Co. over Spring Hill
Stewart Co. over East Hickman
Stone Memorial over Chattanooga Central
Summertown over Richland
Page over Tullahoma
York Institute over Upperman
Waverly over Lewis Co.
Westmoreland over Eagleville
Macon Co. over White House
Greenbrier over White House Heritage
East Nashville over Whites Creek
Last week: 49-11
Season: 299-100 (.749)
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.
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Stratford coach Maurice Fitzgerald (left) and CPA coach Ingle Martin (right).