PrepTennessee.com looks at a few more top games for this Friday. Check in to find out more about each team and an analysis of their game on Friday night. You can also visit the PrepTennessee.com forum to talk about each game and compete in the weekly pick’em contest at FORUM
Find out more about some of the biggest games across the state this Friday.
G.W. Carver @ Briarcrest
This game should provide a lot of excitement and hopefully offer improvement for both teams. The Memphis-Briarcrest (Tenn.) Saints look to improve in 2008 after a rough 2007 in which they were 4-6. Led on offense by Chris Campbell, 6-4, 195 pound quarterback, who has already committed to Southern Miss. Campbell and company, will have plenty of time to throw behind a massive offensive line including Georgia commitment, Austin Long, 6-5.5, 270 pound offensive tackle.
Friday night will hopefully start the season off on the right foot for the Cobras of Memphis-George Washington Carver (Tenn.). After a 5-7 in 2007 look for improvement from the Cobras across the board.
PrepTennessee.com Prediction:
The Briarcrest Saints led by Chris Campbell and Austion Long will prove in the log run to have too much offense for the Cobras. Fans should expect to see the beginning of a potentially successful season. Look for the Saints to score early and often is the Friday.
Briarcrest 42 G.W. Carver 12
Knoxville Carter @ Bearden
The Knoxville-Bearden (Tenn.) Bulldogs have shown more improvement over the past few seasons than most any other team in the state. After a playoff run in 2007 the Bulldogs saw their season come up one game short on the road against eventual state champion Smyrna. Fans can expect another big season from the Bulldogs as they will look to challenge Kingsport-Dobyns Bennett (Tenn.) for the 2008 region title. Defensively the strong leadership from senior linebacker Tanner Fine, Forrest Young, and Patrick Dalton look to help a defense with only three returning starters. The Bulldogs feel good about their chances on offense with five returning players from a year ago.
The success and improvement made by the Hornets of Knoxville-Carter (Tenn.) over the tenure of Coach Heath Woods seven years has been tremendous. Returning six starters on offense and eight on defense the Hornets look to defend their region title and make some noise in November. This Friday night should be a great test for Carter. The leadership and experience of players like Landry Stanton, Zach Smith, and Cody Wilson hope to take the Hornets a little deeper in the playoffs.
PrepTennessee.com Prediction:
This week zero match up should prove to serve as one of the best games in the Knoxville area. The improvements made at Carter have been phenomenal, but their ability to hang with a tough 5A school like Bearden has gone untested. The amount of experience Bearden brings to the table will make this an early big time game.
Bearden 28 Knox Carter 13
Knoxville Catholic @ Morristown West
Morristown West is the only program that has beaten Maryville in the past five seasons and they hope an experienced offense will help them do it again. On offense players like J.J. Goforth, Sean Jones, and Terrell McKinney hope to move the Trojans deep into the playoffs in 2008.
The first test for the Trojans will be perennial 3A powerhouse Knoxville-Catholic. The Irish are led by Daniel Hood, 6-5, 260 pound tight end who has landed over 15 offers from schools like Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Mississippi, Colorado, and Stanford. On the offensive side of the football Irish fans can expect big things out of senior running back Zach Vann.
PrepTennessee.com Prediction:
This game should be a great first test for both programs and looks to be a pretty even match. Expect this to be a tight ball game throughout most of the game with one team pulling away later in the ball game.
Morristown West 17 Knoxville Catholic 13
Antioch @ MBA
There is no real easy way to start any season, but to take on the defending state champions from division II in week zero will be extremely tough. Coach Mike Woodward and his Nashville-Antioch Bears are ready for the challenge and hope to pull off a big upset this Friday at Nashville-Montgomery Bell Academy. The offense will be lead by quarterback Terrence Davis and wide receiver Tevon McClure.
The Big Red from Nashville-Montgomery Bell Academy hope to open their 2008 season with a big victory. Coach Daniel McGugin and his squad look to continue a winning streak that includes an undefeated 2007 state championship season. The Big Red will be led by Wesley Johnson, 6-5, 250 pound offensive guard, who has narrowed down over a dozen offers to three finalists in Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt. Other key contributors to watch in 2008 will be tight end Joseph Sloan, defensive tackle Scott Bubis, defensive back Reggie Ford, and running back Patrick Crum.
PrepTennessee.com Prediction:
Fans can expect the Nashville-Antioch Bears to pick up a few more wins in 2008, but shouldn’t expect their first win to come against the Big Red. This game will be a good game for Montgomery Bell Academy to get ready for their match up next weekend against Cincinnati-Moeller in the Kirk Herbstreit Classic on ESPN.
Montgomery Bell Academy 35 Antioch 16