Week 6 Top 10 area games: Season’s second half starts with several key region battles
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Now that nearly everyone has played five games, region play heats up further around the area with several critical matchups lining the schedule.
We combed through the Week 6 slate and picked out 10 games you need to have on your radar, with playoff implications hanging in the balance.
Spotlight Game: Springfield (5-0, 0-0 6-4A) at Pearl-Cohn (2-3, 0-0)
Both teams open region play with one goal in mind: get out in front while they can. This is by far the most important game for each team.
Jermaine Cobbins has been must-see TV all season, averaging 71.6 receiving yards per game and grabbing the game-sealing touchdown for the Yellow Jackets last week. Pearl-Cohn got back in the win column with a victory over Kenwood last week. The Firebirds enter the matchup 2-3, but don’t let that record fool you, they’ve already played MBA, BGA and Oakland to begin their season.
Tony Brunetti has a chance to show the Firebirds why they’ve been scheduling tough opponents for games like this.
Antioch (5-0, 2-0 5-6A) at Cane Ridge (3-2, 1-0)
Arcentae Broome and his prized quarterback, Andre Adams, have been on fire all season.
With the Bears opening region play, their first test will be against metro foe Cane Ridge. The Ravens enter the matchup undefeated in the region after beating Overton 62-35 last week and firing on all cylinders.
It’s up to the Ravens to slow down potential 6A Mr. Football winner Andre Adams, who has tallied more than 1,600 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns.
Brentwood Academy (3-2) at Ensworth (3-2)
We’ve got two elite private-school powerhouses climbing into our top 10 games this week, as Brentwood Academy heads to Ensworth for a DII-AAA battle.
The Eagles have steadily gotten back on track with Crews Jenkins connecting with all of his weapons, dropping 45-plus points in each of the last two weeks while the defense has held its opponents to seven points or fewer. Ensworth dropped a 49-14 decision to Lipscomb Academy last week.
The Tigers and EJ Gibson look to get back on track, but first they have the tall task of taking on Brentwood Academy.
FRA (4-1, 2-0 DII-AA Middle) at BGA (3-1, 1-0)
FRA heads to BGA for a rematch of one of the best games of the year last season.
Both teams enter with just one loss, setting the stage for another competitive region matchup. Maddox Porter and Maximus Curry have each totaled more than 300 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season, while BGA quarterback Bo Bryan has thrown for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns.
For FRA, Jack Nimitz, Kwadir Fletcher and Omarii Sanders have been hot all season and will be key to the Wildcats’ success.
With both teams fighting for position and a potential home playoff game on the line, expect another battle between two of the area’s top programs.
Jackson County (5-0, 1-0 4-2A) at Gordonsville (4-1, 1-0)
Jackson County has been on quite a tear recently, going unbeaten through its first five games while allowing no more than 14 points per game.
However, the Blue Devils haven’t had anyone on the schedule like the Gordonsville Tigers. The offensive trio of Turner Bucher, Camrix Scott and CJ Frye has been almost unstoppable. Both teams enter this matchup 1-0 in district play.
Jackson County has not beaten Gordonsville since 2017. Could this be the year the Blue Devils finally get the upper hand on the Tigers?
Independence (2-3, 2-0 6-6A) at Franklin (3-2, 2-1)
Both of these teams enter this region matchup with wins over the same opponents in Coffee County and Shelbyville.
Independence has found a star in Matthew Horner, who has passed for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns through his first five games. Franklin has found similar flashes in junior quarterback Ryder Gregg, who has thrown for 748 yards and seven touchdowns.
I’m not sure if there are two teams more similar than these two, leaving this matchup as a toss-up that could come down to which defense can slow down the opposing quarterback.
MBA (5-0, 1-0 DII-AAA East) at Baylor (5-0, 1-0)
MBA gets its chance to shock the nation this week as the Big Red head down to Chattanooga unbeaten.
Both of these unbeaten teams carry impressive résumés and open DII-AAA East region play in a battle for the top spot. The game plan for the Big Red is clearer than ever: limit David Gabriel Georges as much as possible.
Henri Perry will be huge for MBA in this game as the Big Red face their toughest task yet.
Riverdale (4-1) at Columbia (5-0)
Riverdale and its collection of highly touted recruits head into battle against an undefeated Columbia Central in a non-region matchup.
Gavin Hampton, Brylan Oduor and Luke Tritch have been hot since the Warriors dropped their opener to Knoxville Catholic in Week 1, putting up 35-plus points per game. Columbia has also had the hot hand, led by dual-threat quarterback Daniel Booker, who has put up more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns.
Points should be expected in this one Friday night.
White County (5-0, 1-0 4-4A) at Macon County (5-0, 1-0)
Some more unbeaten teams headline our top 10 games of the week as White County makes the trip to Lafayette.
Both teams sit atop their district standings and need this one to secure a home playoff game. The Tigers have proven through the first part of the season that they are one of the hardest teams to score against, allowing no more than 14 points in a game.
The Warriors counter with talented back Cole Sims, who has 800-plus all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns.
It’ll be a good one at Macon County as we find out who reigns supreme in region 4A-4.
Whites Creek (3-1, 0-0 5-3A) at Westmoreland (4-1, 0-0)
Both teams enter this matchup with one loss, setting up a battle between quarterbacks Zander Hodge of Westmoreland and Deon Barnes of Whites Creek. Expect a physical, ground-heavy matchup as both teams look to secure their first region win of the season.
Westmoreland comes off a 23-19 win over White House, while Whites Creek enters after a 14-10 loss to Liberty Creek.
With both teams looking to make an early statement in region play, this one could come down to which team can control the line of scrimmage.
Follow us on X @615Preps and vote who you think will win each of these matchups this week, then tune in to 615 Preps LIVE on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for our picks. You can watch live on YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram Live or on TikTok.
