Week 9 Blitz

REGION 7-1ALake Co. (4-3, 2-1) at Humboldt (7-0, 4-0)

Previous score: 2025 - Humboldt 47, Lake Co. 42

What’s at stake: Humboldt wins the region championship with a win. Lake County stays in contention for the championship with a win.

Players to watch: Lake Co. RB Cade Lanier; Humboldt QB Jayden Champion

What to know: The Vikings had last week off to rest up while Lake County took its first loss in region play, so while depth for the small Falcons roster was already an issue, Humboldt’s fresh legs could give it an opportunity to pad their stats. The Falcons will try to keep their offense on the field as long as possible and keep Humboldt’s playmakers on the sidelines or playing defense.

REGION 5-2A

Adamsville (6-1, 3-0) at Loretto (1-6, 1-3)

Previous score: 2025 - Adamsville 35, Loretto 7

What’s at stake: Adamsville secures a playoff spot with a win.

Players to watch: Adamsville WR Lucas Hughes

What to know: The main issue for the Cardinals in this one is not allowing the travel through three counties (four if you count starting in McNairy County) to get to the game affect their play. Loretto has had issues stopping people all year.

Riverside (4-3, 2-1) at Scotts Hill (0-7, 0-4)

Previous score: 2025 - Riverside 39, Scotts Hill 0

What’s at stake: Scotts Hill is trying to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, while Riverside would secure a playoff spot with a win.

Players to watch: Riverside RB Joby Lopez; Scotts Hill LB Koleton Clark

What to know: These close rivals both have plenty to play for if they weren’t in the same region. Similar-sized schools a few miles apart tend to create a lot of bragging rights when their sports teams play against each other.

REGION 7-2A

Halls (2-5, 0-3) at Milan (5-2, 3-1)

Previous score: 2025 - Milan 37, Halls 0

What’s at stake: Milan is in the playoffs with the win. Halls is trying to stay in the playoff hunt.

Players to watch: Halls P Clyce Tetleton; Milan WR Jeremiah Conley

What to know: Both teams have had up-and-down seasons with Milan’s being more up and Halls’ being more down. Both teams had a week away from game preparation to reset themselves for the home stretch of the season. They both need a win here for different reasons, and they both have the athletes to make that win possible.

Union City (3-4, 2-1) at Gibson Co. (1-6, 0-4)

Previous score: 2025 - Union City 48, Gibson Co. 0

What’s at stake: Union City can stay in contention for the region championship with a win.

Players to watch: Union City OL Keelan Moss; Gibson Co. DB Isaiah Rice

What to know: The Golden Tornadoes’ coaching staff will try to ensure their players don’t look too far ahead to bigger games later until this game is over.

REGION 6-3A

Camden (2-5, 2-1) at Fairview (7-0, 3-0)

Previous score: 2025 - Fairview 46, Camden 32

What’s at stake: A Camden win would put the Lions in better playoff positioning and help possibly give them a better seed.

Players to watch: Camden WR Isaiah Goodwin

What to know: Fairview enters this game winning their games by an average of 33.4 points per game. But those seven opponents have a combined record of 12-41. Stewart County is the only team Fairview has beaten with a winning record at 5-2. Camden has had some injuries that’s changed the complexion of their offense in recent weeks, and that could be a good thing if it forces Fairview’s coaching staff to prepare for multiple looks defensively.

REGION 7-3A

Covington (6-1, 3-0) at Dyersburg (4-3, 3-0)

Previous score: 2025 quarterfinals - Covington 42, Dyersburg 21

What’s at stake: The winner secures a playoff spot and is in good shape for a top-two finish.

Players to watch: Covington RB Mack Wilson; Dyersburg WR Ty Seaton

What to know: Possibly the biggest game of the week pits a couple of old rivals who are both trying to win a region championship against each other. They both know how to run the ball and run it well. They’ve both beaten most of the rest of the region with the defending state champion still remaining on their schedules. So they both want to get this win to put themselves in good position in the region.

Ripley (1-6, 0-3) at McNairy (4-3, 1-3)

Previous score: 2025 - McNairy 15, Ripley 3

What’s at stake: Both teams are playing for their playoff chances.

Players to watch: Ripley RB Davaris Pearson; McNairy QB Jackson King

What to know: They both need to win if they want to have a chance at the postseason. Ripley’s shining area is its ground game, and the Tigers will try to dominate the time of possession, but McNairy has plenty of athletes to end that way of thinking.

REGION 7-4A

South Gibson (3-4, 2-2) at Crockett Co. (6-1, 3-1)

Previous score: 2025 - South Gibson 24, Crockett Co. 14

What’s at stake: Crockett stays in region championship contention with a win. South Gibson would help its case for a playoff spot with a win.

Players to watch: South Gibson WR Jaxon Young; Crockett Co. WR Titus Luten

What to know: Both teams needed last week off to heal up, and they got it. With South Gibson getting players back from injury, the Hornets could be poised to make a run for the playoffs, and a win here would be big for that. But Crockett County is talented and has been on a mission for the past few weeks.

South Side (0-7, 0-4) at Hardin Co. (3-4, 2-2)

Previous score: 2025 - South Side 35, Hardin Co. 20

What’s at stake: A loss for South Side eliminates the Hawks from playoff contention. Hardin County is trying to improve its standing for a playoff spot.

Players to watch: South Side lineman Nicholas Sulock; Hardin Co. LB Heath Hardin

What to know: The Tigers have had a few revenge wins this year, and they’ll be looking for another one in this one. The Hawks showed some fight on the defensive side of the ball last week and will try to show even more improvement in this game.

REGION 8-4A

Millington (1-6, 1-3) at Fayette-Ware (3-4, 1-2)

Previous score: 2025 - Millington 21, Fayette-Ware 0

What’s at stake: Fayette-Ware’s playoff chances are still intact, and a win here would be a big step toward November football.

Players to watch: Fayette-Ware K Parker Lattimore

What to know: This game was supposed to be played on Sept. 11, but when stormy weather moved through the area, the coaches saw they both had their bye week this week and just decided early that night to play this week. Both teams need this win for any chance at the playoffs, and Millington got a lopsided shutout win last week.

REGION 8-5A

Munford (6-1, 1-0) at Brighton (3-4, 1-1)

Previous score: 2025 - Brighton 39, Munford 7

What’s at stake: The winner clinches a spot in the playoffs and also stays in contention for a possible region championship. 

Players to watch: Munford RB Qua Bell; Brighton ATH Nasir Hill

What to know: Region standings and bragging rights in Tipton County are on the line in this one. Brighton has struggled stopping the run some this year, and that is Munford’s specialty.

DIVISION II-A WEST

JCS (6-1, 2-1) at Harding Aca. (3-4, 2-2)

Previous score: 2025 - JCS 28, Harding Aca. 13

What’s at stake: JCS is in the playoffs with a win.

Players to watch: JCS DB Kingston Robinson

What to know: As has been typical in recent years, the Jackson teams have proven to be better than the rest of the teams in this region. JCS will try to keep that trend going. The Eagles have had two weeks to stew after a loss in their most recent game, so they’re probably ready to hit someone other than their teammates.

NON-REGION

South Fulton (6-1) at Obion Co. (3-4)

Previous score: 2025 - South Fulton 28, Obion Co. 22

Players to watch: South Fulton lineman Gavin Dixon; Obion Co. WR Chace Jenkins

What to know: This may be a 1A team against a 3A team, but it’s also a county rivalry game. The Red Devils up in the corner of the county picked up the upset last year, but Obion County is trying to build momentum going into some big region games afterward.

Lexington (7-0) at Lewis Co. (2-5)

Previous score: 2025 - Lexington 37, Lewis Co. 28

Players to watch: Lexington QB Ross Wilson

What to know: The Tigers appear to have the advantage in this one, but they can’t overlook the Panthers while thinking about possible region championships (which would happen when they win their next region game).

Liberty (6-1) at JCM (4-3)

Previous score: 2025 - JCM 40, Liberty 0

Players to watch: Liberty DB Jyeal Mitchell; JCM QB Jimarious Douglas

What to know: North Side has already claimed the Commissioners’ Cup, so this game is for bragging rights and bragging rights only for Liberty as they prepare to return to region play next season. JCM is looking for momentum going into two important games in the final weeks of the regular season. Both teams are athletic and have plenty of speed on the field, so this will come down to execution, particularly up front.

North Side (5-2) at Giles Co. (5-2)

Previous score: 2025 - Giles Co. 47, North Side 21

Players to watch: North Side RB Troy Jeter

What to know: Giles County doesn’t have the greatest record in the history of its program, but it didn’t have one either last year when they came to Jackson and nearly put 50 on the Indians. North Side needs to spend the entire ride o Giles County getting focused and locked in for this game and ensuring they’re playing the best ball they can be entering two important region weeks after this game.

Dyer Co. (3-4) at USJ (6-1)

Previous score: 2025 - Dyer Co. 27, USJ 26

Players to watch: Dyer Co. WR Grant West; USJ LB Eli Yandell

What to know: This game was USJ’s only regular season loss last year. Since the Bruins have already lost a game this year, there’s no pressure on them except to do well, have fun and try to pick up a win over a playoff-caliber team in Class 4A. Both have plenty to play for when they get back to region play, so they want to minimalize injuries and work on their weaknesses.

Memphis Business (3-4) at Haywood (5-2)

Previous score: 2025 - Haywood 42, Memphis Business 40

Players to watch: Haywood LB Elijah Hess

What to know: Memphis Business isn’t the team they were a year ago, and Haywood could be poised to pick up another big win. But one thing that could derail that plan is if the Tomcats think the rest of the regular season will be a breeze because they’re blowing through their region games.

OPEN: McKenzie (6-2), Bruceton (4-4), Dresden (4-4), Greenfield (4-4), West Carroll (1-7), Gleason (0-8), Middleton (0-8), Huntingdon (8-0), Peabody (5-3), Westview (8-0), Bolivar (2-6), Chester Co. (3-4), Henry Co. (4-4), TCA (6-1) and Fayette Aca. (3-4)

Compiled by Brandon Shields