Hendersonville junior quarterback Brett Coker threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s loss at Cane Ridge.
Hendersonville and Beech tangle for the 34th time on Friday evening, and after last week’s games, the stakes are raised for both teams.
Beech would like nothing more than to put the Commandos two games down in the Region 6-5A standings through four weeks, and Hendersonville needs the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buccaneers to move ahead toward the playoffs.
After Hendersonville (2-1 overall, 0-1 in Region 6-5A) suffered a 47-46 loss in overtime at Cane Ridge last week, the Commandos travel across town seeking to continue their recent dominance in the series with Beech (2-1, 1-0), having won six of the last seven meetings and 22 of the previous 33 contests.
Beech gained all of its 343 yards on the ground in a 50-14 victory at Glencliff last week, racing out to a 44-0 halftime lead in the process.
Anthony Hughes had another strong performance against the Ravens, as the Commando junior racked up 263 total yards (148 rushing) and four touchdowns. Hendersonville did damage through the air, as junior quarterback Brett Coker completed 12 of 18 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns.
Pope John Paul II (2-1 overall, 0-1 in Division II-Class AA East/Middle) at Father Ryan (2-1, 0-1)
Last week: Pope John Paul II suffered a 41-14 loss to visiting Brentwood Academy; Father Ryan suffered a 30-7 loss at McCallie.
Last meeting between the teams: Visiting Father Ryan defeated the Knights 30-22 last season.
The Knights head into their annual Bishop’s Cup rivalry game with Father Ryan seeking to end a 22-game region losing streak that dates back to 2012.
PJP II’s last region victory came against the Irish, a 10-6 triumph that was only the second Knight victory in the series dating back to 2005.
Father Ryan’s lone points last week came on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jay Shoop to Sage Warren after the Irish had fallen into a 30-0 hole.
Pope John Paul II senior Cameron Scott and the Knights visit Father Ryan to play for the Bishop’s Cup trophy on Friday evening.
Henry County (1-1) at Gallatin (2-1)
Last week: Henry County defeated visiting Clarksville Northeast 45-7; Gallatin defeated visiting Hunters Lane 50-0.
Last meeting between the teams: Henry County defeated the visiting Green Wave 42-0 last season.
Jordan Mason is averaging 226 rushing yards per game through three contests after racking up 215 yards on just 12 carries last week. Mason had touchdown runs of 91, 55 and 2 yards in the Green Wave victory over Hunters Lane. Gallatin outgained the Warriors 446-89 and held Hunters Lane to four first downs in the contest.
Henry County limited Northeast to 134 yards of total offense, while the Patriot offense racked up 468 yards – 305 rushing – in winning its region opener.
Portland (1-2) at White House Heritage (2-1), 7 p.m. Thursday
Last week: Portland defeated visiting White House 48-27; White House Heritage suffered a 35-13 loss to visiting Christ Presbyterian Academy.
Last meeting between the teams: Visiting White House Heritage defeated the Panthers 36-24 last season.
Portland’s 48 points against the Blue Devils were the most by a Panthers team since 2012, when Portland scored 49 in wins over Clarksville Academy and Lebanon.
Two players accounted for every Panther touchdown – Emmanuel Johnson (two rushing, one receiving and one punt return) and Michael Hussey (three rushing).
White House Heritage gave up 522 yards of offense to CPA last week, as the Lions scored 21 points in the third quarter to pull away.
The game was moved to Thursday evening due to a potential shortage of officials on Friday evening.
Station Camp junior Sirtavious Perry and the Bison travel to Rossview in search of their second victory of the season.
Station Camp (1-2) at Rossview (2-1)
Last week: Station Camp suffered a 42-7 loss to visiting Hillsboro; Rossview collected a 17-13 victory at Brentwood.
Last meeting between the teams: The Bison suffered a 26-20 loss to visiting Rossview last season.
The Bison struggled offensively for the second week in a row, as Station Camp was held to seven points by Hillsboro’s defense.
Rossview jumped out to a 17-3 lead over Brentwood last week on a pair of short touchdown runs before holding off the Bruins’ fourth-quarter rally for a four-point victory.
Westmoreland (0-3 overall, 0-1 in Region 4-2A) at Community (0-2, 0-1)
Last week: Westmoreland suffered a 13-12 loss to visiting Forrest; Community suffered a 26-6 loss to visiting Jackson County.
Last meeting between the teams: Westmoreland defeated visiting Community 35-0 last season.
Westmoreland nearly pulled off a shocker last week, but a late Forrest field goal sent the Eagles to an 0-3 start for the second consecutive season. Tate Sloan had 132 total yards on 10 touches with two touchdowns for the Eagles.
Community fell victim to a 20-point second-quarter surge by Jackson County last week and was held to 146 yards of total offense in the loss.
Greenbrier (2-1) at White House (0-3)
Last week: Greenbrier suffered a 14-7 loss to visiting Goodpasture; White House suffered a 48-27 loss at Portland.
Last meeting between the teams: Greenbrier defeated the visiting Blue Devils 17-6 last season.
The Blue Devils are currently on a six-game losing streak, the longest such stretch since 1978, when White House lost eight consecutive games.
Andrew Nixon threw for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but fell victim to four interceptions in the loss at Portland.
Greenbrier already has one victory over a Sumner County team, having defeated Portland 41-21 in Week 2.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.
Beech-Hendersonville Series
1983 Hendersonville 14-3
1984 Hendersonville 17-13
1985 Beech 30-6
1986 Beech 7-6
1987 Hendersonville 18-0
1988 Hendersonville 38-10
1989 Hendersonville 40-13 (Beech gets the win by forfeit)
1990 Hendersonville 28-0
1991 Hendersonville 14-7
1992 Hendersonville 35-34
1993 Hendersonville 34-13
1994 Hendersonville 24-21
1995 Beech 29-8
1996 Hendersonville 17-10
1997 Hendersonville 35-3
1998 Hendersonville 38-7
1999 Hendersonville 20-0
2000 Beech 21-3
2001 Hendersonville 27-0
2002 Beech 17-13
2003 Beech 43-42
2004 Hendersonville 42-14
2005 Beech 16-14
2006 Beech 26-21
2007 Beech 24-10
2008 Beech 16-3
2009 Beech 21-9
2010 Hendersonville 16-15 (OT)
2011 Hendersonville 23-6
*2011 Hendersonville 23-22
2012 Beech 28-21
2013 Hendersonville 42-14
2014 Hendersonville 28-27
2015 Hendersonville 30-16
*TSSAA playoff game
Hendersonville leads the series 22-11.