High school football game capsules

Tennesse

DIVISION II-AA

BATTLE GROUND ACADEMY WILDCATS (7-5) at BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (9-1)

* The key: The teams played in Franklin on Sept. 3 and the Red Raiders won 33-21. They have evolved over the last 11 weeks, so figuring out the "new BGA" and the "new Baylor" will be the tasks at hand. It seems unlikely the Red Raiders would want to surrender 321 yards through the air like they did last time. But if Baylor gets another 216 combined rushing yards from its starting quarterback and running back, the Wildcats may be doomed anyway.

* Players to watch: BGA's offensive attack is triggered by quarterback C.J. Beathard, grandson of former NFL quarterback Bobby Beathard. He's completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 2,207 yards. He's complemented by running back Keenan Bass and his 1,265 rushing yards. Receivers Josh and Jordan Smith have a combined 77 receptions for 1,362 yards and 11 touchdowns. Reed Loeffel and Blake Thomson have made 93 and 90 tackles. Baylor's offense also is led by its quarterback, although Jacob Huesman is equally if not more adept running as passing. He's passed for more than 1,000 yards but rushed for more than 1,500. Not to be understated is the importance of freshman running back George Porter, who was particularly instrumental last week when the Red Raiders went to clock-killing mode with a fourth-quarter lead. Middle linebacker David Helton is their leader on defense and their top tackler.

* Up next: Baylor would play at Ensworth or host Brentwood Academy. BGA would travel regardless.


CLASS 2A

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (11-0) at TROUSDALE COUNTY YELLOW JACKETS (11-0)

* The key: For Signal Mountain it's rediscovering its defense, which surrendered a season-high 43 points to Friendship Christian. For Trousdale it has to be containing the Eagles' versatile and high-powered offense, which had an average margin of victory of 39.8 points. Trousdale scored 35 or more points in nine of its 10 regular-season games. Trousdale has an impressive in-state win streak. The Jackets haven't lost since a 2007 playoff game against South Pittsburg. The teams' lone common opponent is Friendship, which fell to Trousdale 10-6.

* Players to watch: For Trousdale, definitely a running team, the leader has to be junior wingback Jordan Harper, who surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in the regular season. He did so behind a line that returned four starters from 2009, including Baylor DeLusomme (6-0, 195) and Michael Harper (5-11, 265). Signal Mountain quarterback Hogan Whitmire entered the Friendship game with a string of 99 passes without an interception but surrendered two to the Commanders. He has four receivers who stand at least 6-foot-1, including Jon Patton, Will Queen, Alex McGhee and Reese Phillips. The Eagles, who had 15 players carry the ball in one game, run by committee from a group that includes primarily Darien Hogans, Andrew Price, Donnie Garner, Zach Bowman and Mitchell Hall. Defensive standouts include tackles Elijah Turnage, Will Sawyer, Bowman, Hall, Gervel Morgan and Seth Wier.

* Up next: The winner hosts the winner between Boyd-Buchanan and Wartburg Central.


BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS (8-4) at WARTBURG CENTRAL BULLDOGS (9-2)

* The key: Boyd-Buchanan graduated most of the athletes who helped it earn a berth in last year's state final, but the few returning starters bring a lot more state-playoff experience than the Bulldogs have. The seniors who play for Wartburg, which has had one other team advance as far as a quarterfinal and that was in 1980, were on teams with a combined 5-25 record before this season. The Bulldogs have scored at least 26 points nine times and more than 40 five times, but Boyd-Buchanan has played a seemingly tougher schedule and allowed seven points or less seven times with three shutouts.

* Players to watch: Boyd-Buchanan made the move a few weeks ago to put the offense in the hands of freshman quarterback Jim Cardwell, who's primarily a runner. Five Bucs gained more than 225 rushing yards during the regular season, led by Chase Reed's 644. Linebacker Ross Keasler spearheads the defense. Wartburg quarterback Rusty Phillips completed 150 of 247 passes for 1,829 yards and 22 touchdowns during the regular season. His top target is Adam Spence, who caught 72 passes in the regular season for 1,070 yards and 16 TDs. Running back Jaylon Shannon, who averages about 80 rushing yards per game, showed his versatility in last week's playoff victory over Oliver Springs by running for two touchdowns, throwing for one and catching one. Aaron Hutchison played eight regular-season games and led the Bulldogs in tackles (77) and tackles for loss (13).

* Up next: The winner plays at the Signal Mountain/Trousdale County winner.


CLASS 1A

GORDONSVILLE TIGERS (9-2) at SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (9-2)

* The key: As has been the case so often in recent big games for the Pirates, their defensive line is the key. The return of two injured starters who missed the last two weeks will help, but Gordonsville is the same type of physical team that has been responsible for four of the Pirates' five losses the last two years. South Pittsburg's speedy linebackers must wrap up better than they did last week when Moore County ran three times more plays. On the other side of the ball, Gordonsville matches the Pirates' speed better than any other opponent this season. This will be the 11th time these teams have met in the playoffs, by far the most of any postseason opponents for South Pittsburg, including eight this decade. The Pirates have won six of the previous 10, including the last two. South Pittsburg won 46-7 last year, but Gordonsville gave the Pirates two of their worst playoff beatings in program history.

* Players to watch: Gordonsville running back Cody Woodmore (6-1, 210) has rushed for 1,341 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Dual-threat quarterback Chaz Smith accounted for 190 combined yards rushing and passing and four TDs last week. Speedy Vincent Escobedo is a threat as a kick returner, receiver and rusher, and Payton Watson also is a change-of-pace runner who spells Woodmore. Two-way lineman Tyler Coen (6-2, 240) helps a Gordonsville front that has helped the Tigers outscore opponents by an average of 37-9, allowing more than one touchdown only twice all season. They have scored 40-plus in six of their last seven games, beating Friendship Christian by 21 and losing to Class 2A top-ranked Trousdale County by two. South Pittsburg is led by running back Raquis Hale, who has averaged 11.2 yards per carry in gaining 1,615 yards, with 26 TDs. Travis Millard has thrown for 1,385 yards and 20 TDs, most of that going to Antonio Chubb (678 yards, 9 TDs) and Demetric "Little Man" Johnson (406 yards, 5 TDs).

* Up next: The winner hosts the winner between Copper Basin and Coalfield.


COPPER BASIN COUGARS (10-1) at COALFIELD YELLOW JACKETS (9-2)

* The key: How well the Cougars tackle in the open field. Coalfield's offense is designed to get its playmakers in space where they are one-on-one with defenders, so Copper Basin must tackle well to prevent big plays.

* Players to watch: As quarterback Eric Sisson goes, so go the Cougars. He has thrown for 1,200 yards, rushed for 1,100 and passed or run for 31 touchdowns. The next closest rusher is Justin Teems, who has 497 yards and seven TDs. Sophomore Steven Spargo leads the receiving corps with 478 yards and seven TDs, and senior Joey Buchanan has 394 yards and four scores. Senior linebacker Cody Monteith leads the defense with 132 total tackles, including 90 solos, 14.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Coalfield's defense allows an average of just 139 total yards and has forced 27 turnovers and recorded 54 sacks. Logan Simms leads the charge with 92 total tackles and 12 for loss. The Yellow Jackets have won six straight games, scoring 40-plus points in four of those. They have been balanced with 1,968 passing and 1,594 rushing yards. Quarterback Cody Hill has thrown for 1,743 yards and 19 TDs, and Allen Seiber is the leading rusher with 1,083 yards and 12 TDs. No other ball carrier has more than 116 yards this season for Coalfeild, and Seiber also has 352 receiving yards.

* Up next: The winner travels to the winner between South Pittsburg and Gordonsville.


ALABAMA

NORTH JACKSON CHIEFS (12-0) at FAYETTE COUNTY TIGERS (10-2)

* The key: Whether Fayette County can survive the first-half offensive blitz. Like Mike Tyson in his prime, the Chiefs clobber teams early, outscoring opponents 394-53 in the first half, an average of 33-4.

* Players to watch: What has made the second-ranked Chiefs so tough to stop this season is the offensive balance - they average 211 yards passing and 199 rushing. Headlining a group that averages 50 points per game are running back Deuntae Johnson (1,302 rushing yards and 25 TDs) and quarterback Zac Barnard (2,321 passing yards with 26 TDs and three interceptions). Montel Hale has 1,500 total yards and 19 TDs, and Kahne Cooper has 36 catches for 749 yards and 10 TDs. Kicker Cesar Diaz has set a school record with 78 made point-after kicks. He also has two field goals and last week sent six of his eight kickoffs through the end zone.

* Up next: The winner plays the winner of the Anniston/Deshler game.


FORT PAYNE WILDCATS (12-0) at BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN LIONS (11-1)

* The key: Fort Payne, which has more wins than any other football team in school history, must keep turnovers to a minimum in this quarterfinal game after giving up a fumble and an interception on possible scoring drives last week. The Lions, 21-14 winners over Walker last week, got burned on a deep pass early but rallied for the winning score with 1:19 to play. The Wildcats, the only unbeaten Class 5A team in Alabama, are wearing new uniforms this year, replacing those purchased in 2006. They're sporting black pants with either black jerseys and gold numbers (home) or white jerseys with black numbers (road).

* Players to watch: Quarterback Kyle Crabtree completed nine of 13 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats' 23-14 win over Arab last week, and Akeem Appleton was the leading rusher with 55 yards. He also led their rushing with 80 yards and two TDs in a first-round 49-18 win over Johnson and threw a TD pass. Another Fort Payne runner to watch is Hunter Akins. On defense, keep an eye on junior linebackers Seth Dodd and Noah Hall and defensive back Luke Jennings. Sophomore kicker Logan McPherson has consecutive PAT streak of 55, which is seventh in the state according to the Times-Journal of DeKalb County. Briarwood is led by running backs Sam Whitaker, quarterback Ben Craft and receiver/defensive back Devin Bowman.

* Up next: The winner faces the winner between Hartselle and Russellville.


GEORGIA

WESTMINSTER WILDCATS (8-3) at CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (11-0)

* The key: The health of star tailback Ralph David Abernathy IV is crucial for the Wildcats. He left last week's 10-7 overtime win over North Oconee with a leg injury, and the Westminster offense struggled. The three-year starter and preseason all-state pick has battled injuries all season and comes in with only 625 yards rushing.

* Players to watch: If Abernathy can't go, look for senior John Egan to fill in. Egan also lines up in the team's version of the Wildcat formation. Quarterback William Linginfelter does most of his damage off play action, and receiver Khamal Brown is his main weapon. Brown had a touchdown catch and set up the winning field goal with an overtime interception last week. Calhoun, at 44 points per game, leads Class AA teams in scoring. Quarterback Landon Curtis threw four touchdown passes last week, giving him 26 against just one interception this season. Receiver J.T. Palmer caught three of them for 150 yards, while running back Dustin Christian broke 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game. Defensively, Calhoun's aggressive front seven is paced by linebackers Alex Kirby and Hunter Knight.

* Up next: Calhoun would host Fitzgerald and participate in a coin flip with Putnam County, since each is a No. 1 seed; Westminster would travel to Putnam and participate in a coin flip with Fitzgerald since each is a No. 2 seed.


LOVETT LIONS (8-3) at DADE COUNTY WOLVERINES (10-1)

* The key: Lovett coach Mike Muschamp has a history of putting together strong defensive game plans, and he'll need one to stop Dade's devastating wing-T attack.

* Players to watch: Lovett, which made the Class AA semifinals before losing to Calhoun last season, graduated most of its offense. Senior tailback Zach Boden is back and is the team's workhorse. Senior guard Hunter Rich (6-2, 270) is a college prospect, while senior quarterback Hunter Budd has thrown for 1,604 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 439 yards and 13 scores. Dade's three-headed rushing attack, which accounted for more than 300 yards in a 48-21 win at Heard County last week, features fullback John Hampton and wingbacks Chris Little and David Page, who benefit from a huge line that features 300-pound tackles Nick Lawson and Randy Holt.

* Up next: Dade would host Brooks County and travel to Vidalia; Lovett would travel to Vidalia and participate in a coin flip with Brooks County, since each is a No. 4 seed.

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