All kickoffs at 7:30 EDT unless noted
district/region game
BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (5-0) at POPE JOHN PAUL II KNIGHTS (2-2)
Storyline: If top quarterback Nick Tiano is back in the lineup, the Red Raiders should be poised to take control of a Knights team that has struggled defensively. Pope John Paul has generated some offense, however.
McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (4-0) at BOWLING GREEN (Ky.) PURPLES (4-0)
Storyline: Bowling Green has won 48 consecutive games and is within two wins of matching the Kentucky state record. McCallie, which lost to the Purples last year, is looking for revenge and brings a red-hot offense led by FB Alex Trotter into the Bluegrass State.
* BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (2-1, 0-0) at WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (2-2, 0-1)
Storyline: This is the 10th year of a rivalry between county schools that has been completely dominated by the Bears (9-0). Some meetings have been close, but others haven't, like last season's 38-14 Bradley win that wasn't as close as the score indicated in the District 5-AAA game. Minus a 75-yard touchdown pass, the Mustangs averaged 1.6 yards on 43 plays, and their hope is that some new weapons and a switch to the spread offense will make them more effective now.
CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (2-2, 1-0) at SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (2-1, 0-1)
Storyline: After averaging 46 points in wins over Hixson and Red Bank, the Trojans were shut out by Ooltewah two weeks ago in their District 5-AAA opener. They've had time to get over that and now face a Cleveland team coming off back-to-back wins against Class 6A schools McMinn County and Wilson Central. The Blue Raiders have run effectively, averaging 216.5 yards rushing in those wins despite injuries that have sidelined senior RBs Raekwon Bunion and T.J. Parker at different points.
OAK RIDGE WILDCATS (3-0) at McMINN COUNTY CHEROKEES (0-4)
Storyline: The Cherokees' first five opponents this season are a combined 18-3. They've had to rely primarily on the legs of RB D.J. Kimpson -- who has 587 rushing yards so far -- while senior QB Corbin Powers has struggled getting aligned with his young receivers and an inexperienced line. The Wildcats present another challenge with an athletic defense that allows seven points per game.
* OOLTEWAH OWLS (4-0, 1-0) at EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (1-3, 1-0)
Storyline: The Hurricanes were able to find some success on the ground against Riverdale last week, with backs David Whiteside and Matt Milita combining for 168 yards and two scores. That attack will be tested tonight in their District 5-AAA game against the Owls, whose defense is coming off back-to-back shutouts. The Ooltewah offense also has been solid, having averaged 39 points per game.
* RHEA COUNTY EAGLES (3-0, 1-0) at CUMBERLAND COUNTY JETS (0-3, 0-1), 8
Storyline: The Eagles have averaged 265.7 yards rushing and 385.3 yards of total offense and have outscored their three opponents 124-20. With a date against District 6-AAA co-favorite Cookeville looming in two weeks, they look to maintain their focus against a Jets team that has been outscored 102-13.
BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (2-2, 0-1) at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (3-1, 1-0)
Storyline: After scoring 47 points in their opener, the Warriors have managed 14 points the last two weeks and absorbed a lopsided shutout last week at Signal Mountain. In looking for their first District 7-AA win, they'll test the Irish, who were the coaches' preseason title co-favorites with Signal. QB Chaise Sorrow will have to be more productive against a stingy Irish defense that has allowed two TDs the past two weeks. That effort is keyed by Tyler Enos and Kealey Green. Notre Dame RB Auston Banks rushed for 282 yards last week against Boyd-Buchanan.
BRAINERD PANTHERS (0-4, 0-1) at EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (2-2, 1-0)
Storyline: The question for the Panthers is how they will contend with Pioneers senior QB JoJo Tillery, a run/pass specialist who has keyed his team's wins? The Pioneers also have a quality K in Gray Smith (5-for-5 on FGs and 9-of-10 on PATs). Both teams like to throw the football and Brainerd QB Ladaquis Word threw for 219 yards against Baylor last week. Playing the fellow District 6-AA Pioneers will be a change for the Panthers, who have faced unbeatens Ooltewah, Ensworth and Baylor from other classifications.
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (2-1, 0-1) at SEQUATCHIE COUNTY INDIANS (2-1, 0-1), 8
Storyline: CCS enters the District 7-AA game off an open date following a 42-7 loss to Notre Dame. It was probably well-used to prepare for the Indians, who last week knocked off perennial Class 1A power South Pittsburg. Sequatchie did it with a stout running game that exceeded 9 yards per carry in 39 attempts. The Chargers averaged 52.5 points in their first two games. A 36-35 OT loss at Grundy County separates the Indians from unbeaten status.
HOWARD HUSTLIN' TIGERS (0-3, 0-0) at HIXSON WILDCATS (2-2, 1-0)
Storyline: Howard coach Mark Teague is looking for a complete game in the District 6-AA opener from the Tigers, who were within a TD of Loudon (4-0) at halftime last week. He said even in the loss that he, assistant coaches and players could feel the team coming together. Hixson, meanwhile, lost a game it could've won at Bradley Central. The Wildcats will continue their run-oriented offense led by RBs James Cole and Marshall Cooper and QB Preston Wilkey.
RED BANK LIONS (2-2, 1-0) at CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS (3-1, 0-1)
Storyline: It will be interesting to see how the Lions, who are averaging three TDs per game, will fare against a Pounders defense that has yet to give up a touchdown. If they're to be the first, they'll need QB Caleb Tate, WRs Ben Brown and Malik Davis and RB Demarcus Rivers to step up in the District 6-AA game. It's been up, then down for the Lions this year -- winning, losing, winning, losing. Central's defense is keyed by Jamel Metcalf, Caleb Morgan, Kevin McKenzie and Brian Billingsley.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (4-0, 1-0) at GRUNDY COUNTY YELLOW JACKETS (2-2, 1-0), 8
Storyline: The Yellow Jackets won their first District 7-AA game in OT against Sequatchie County but are coming off a loss at Silverdale Baptist. Signal, led by RB Skye Wilson, has rolled through East Hamilton, Tyner, Bledsoe County and Red Bank by a combined 168-32 with two shutouts. To continue their string the Eagles will have to contain versatile RB/DB Logan Meeks and QB Houston Mainord.
TYNER RAMS (0-3) at KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC FIGHTING IRISH (4-0)
Storyline: Rams coach Wayne Turner knows exactly why his team has yet to win a game. In the past two games combined, Tyner has lost 11 fumbles and thrown three interceptions, and almost half of those were red-zone miscues. The Rams can ill afford such mistakes as they visit the state's No.2-ranked Class 4A team. Catholic, which edged Notre Dame by a field goal earlier this year, is averaging 472 yards of offense per game, including 295 rushing.
COAHULLA CREEK COLTS (0-3, 0-1) at SONORAVILLE PHOENIX (2-1, 1-0)
Storyline: It's already been a long season for the Colts under first-year coach Chad Barger. Coahulla Creek has yet to score a point this season. Sonoraville has scored 75 points in its last two games.
GORDON CENTRAL WARRIORS (0-3, 0-1) at RINGGOLD TIGERS (2-1, 0-1)
Storyline: Gordon Central's offense has yet to get on track. The Warriors have scored six, three, and seven points this season. The Tigers are in the mood to rebound after a 35-0 loss at Adairsville.
PEPPERELL DRAGONS (0-3) at CHATTOOGA INDIANS (1-2)
Storyline: Chattooga won last week for the first time since Oct. 11, 2013 by beating up on Fellowship Christian, which is in Region 6-A. The Indians are playing a bigger school for the third time this season in Region 5-AAA Pepperell. The Foster twins -- Isaiah and Isaac -- have combined to rush for 676 yards.
ALBERTVILLE AGGIES (3-1, 1-1) at FORT PAYNE WILDCATS (2-1, 1-1), 8
Storyline: Albertville lost a heartbreaker in OT to Scottsboro last week despite 234 yards passing by Ryan Brown. The Wildcats, playing their second home game, have an average 22-point margin of victory under coach Paul Ellis despite six turnovers the past two weeks. The teams haven't met since 2011 -- a 31-14 win that boosted the Wildcats' overall series lead to 36-33-3. The Wildcats are hopeful that RB Desmon Turner (ankle) will be able to return this week.
FYFFE RED DEVILS (3-0, 2-0) at IDER HORNETS (2-1, 0-1), 8
Storyline: The Hornets lost their unbeaten status last week despite outstanding efforts from RB Tyler Ogle and QB Devin Ray Robbins. In the loss to Gaston, Ogle gained 123 yards on eight carries and had a 68-yard TD run in wet and muddy field conditions. Coming off a shutout victory over Section, the Region 7-2A-leading Red Devils have scored 112 points the past two weeks. Fyffe is Alabama's top-ranked Class 2A team.
GAYLESVILLE TROJANS (0-3, 0-1) at VALLEY HEAD TIGERS (1-2, 1-1), 8
Storyline: The Tigers were down 20-13 last week against Cedar Bluff, but the game got away from them in the third quarter. But this will be their first home game of the year, and they'll remain at home for the next two weeks.
HUNTSVILLE LEE GENERALS (1-3, 0-1) at SCOTTSBORO WILDCATS (3-1, 2-0), 8
Storyline: The Wildcats are coming off an OT win against Albertville in which Malik Talley and DK Billingsley scored two TDs apiece. Talley opened the second half with an 80-yard kickoff return, and Billingsley and QB Justin Whitehead scored the Wildcats' overtime TDs. Jake Gray, who converted five of six PATs, provided what would be the game-winner when Albertville's two-point conversion was stopped.
NORTH JACKSON CHIEFS (1-2, 1-1) at DAR PATRIOTS (1-2, 0-2), 8
Storyline: The Chiefs are coming off their most complete victory (58-13 over Priceville), but coach Mark Rose continues trying to bolster a defense that already has allowed 91 points. Top offensive performers have been RB Octavius Matthews, who's averaging 140.3 yards per game, and WR C.J. Cobb. The Chiefs have won seven of the eight games the teams have met through the years, but DAR ended that streak with a 21-point victory last year -- at North Jackson.
SYLVANIA RAMS (1-2, 1-1) at NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN BISON (0-3, 0-2), 8
Storyline: Coming off a 9-3 season, the experience-depleted Bison have struggled in their move up from Class 2A to Class 3A under new coach Jeff Monroe. An offensive spark has been provided by freshman RB Jake Malbrough, but the Bison have given up 141 points in three games. Sylvania, coming off its first win of the season, is led by QB Dillon Cambron and RB Caleb Roebuck.
CASS COLONELS (2-1, 0-0) at DALTON CATAMOUNTS (2-1, 0-0)
Storyline: Dalton faces a familiar foe in its Region 7A-AAAAA debut and will look to build on its most complete game of the season. QB Payton Veraldi, who had three touchdown passes and 210 yards against North Atlanta, makes the offense much more dangerous this year, as has the return of senior tailback Kelvis Rhodes, who debuted last week with 150 yards on 12 carries. Likewise, the Catamounts' defense, already strong, has gotten even tougher with Eder Mora's full-time return at linebacker, where he joins Nate Mays to give the team a strong one-two punch. Their focus tonight will be on locking down Cass WR Walter Brown and RB back Laizon West.
NORTHWEST WHITFIELD BRUINS (1-1) at DADE COUNTY WOLVERINES (1-1)
Storyline: Northwest has had a week to get healthy, meaning senior QB Caleb Shiflett should be at full strength in the team's spread offense. The Bruins would like to see a little more productivity out of the run game, but that hinges on improvement up front, where five new starters are still developing. Dade has its own injury issues, including star lineman Reid Hulgan, who missed the Ridgeland game and is a game-time decision tonight. Without him the line was dominated by the Panthers and backs Blake Lynn and Zac Freeman had little running room. The Bruins bring a very similar defense to Trenton and will crowd the line.
NORTH MURRAY MOUNTAINEERS (1-2, 0-1) at CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (3-0, 1-0)
Storyline: The Mountaineers' one advantage is the ability to throw the ball on any down. However, as was seen on a damaging close Region 6-AAA loss to Sonoraville, the turnover bug can negate even the best of offenses. QB Hinton McConkey and playmakers Payton Swilling, Drake McGowan and Jordan Adams need to strike early and often against a Calhoun defense, led by LB Austin Bennett, that is on top of its game. The Jackets' offense, unlike the previous few seasons, appears to be more dangerous on the ground with QB Kaelen Riley and RBs Cole Jackson and Olico Dennis.
MURRAY COUNTY INDIANS (0-2, 0-0) at LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE WARRIORS (1-2, 1-0)
Storyline: Each team has big questions to answer. Which Murray County team shows up, the one that played Southeast Whitfield to the final minute or the one that was manhandled by Fannin County? Expect a big dose of QB Justin Smith, who's averaging 5.5 yards per carry and has over 400 total yards, but offensive mistakes have to be cut down. For LFO, can the team's depth advantage show up for the second consecutive week? QB Ryan Keefe had his best game last week against Coahulla Creek and will need another solid effort as injuries have hit the Warriors hard.
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE LIONS (1-2) at FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN PALADINS (1-2)
Storyline: After a tough start to the season with a new set of skill starters, the Lions put it all together in a 33-0 win over Gordon Lee last week with a switch from the spread attack to the ground-oriented wing-T. In doing so coach Preston Poag may have found a star in RB Ahmad Tanner, who had 175 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries. He'll get a shot at another big game against a Fellowship team that gave up 359 yards on the ground in a loss to Chattooga.
PINECREST ACADEMY PALADINS (2-0) at TRION BULLDOGS (3-0)
Storyline: Two top 10-ranked Class A teams go at it, and if form holds this game will be won and lost up front. The Paladins, who put up 471 yards rushing last week against Walker, run the triple option and feature QB Ryan McCarthy and RBs Mitchell Ojeda and Matthew Walters. Trion counters with a trio of hard-running backs in its wing-T in Gabe Howell, Malik Martin and Blake Clowdis. Pinecrest has a size advantage up front but the Bulldogs are deeper.