The Post Route - Week 4

Your guide to this week’s high school football games.

Jackson Christian (3-0) at University School of Jackson (3-0)

Last year’s score: Jackson Christian 41, USJ 0

Players to watch: Jackson Christian RB Deuce Lawrence; USJ LB Alex Wallace

What to know: This game is no longer a region game since USJ moved up to Division II-AA, but this could be the biggest game in this series’ history. The game returns to Carlock Stadium with both teams undefeated. This is the third time in the series the Bruins and Eagles meet with both teams coming in perfect. The other two times were 2020 and 2023. Both teams offenses are working well as USJ is averaging nearly 47 points per game, and the defense is allowing a little less than 19. On the other side, Jackson Christian is averaging 35.3 points scored and 20.7 points allowed per game. Jackson Christian’s Jay’Len Mosley is the returning Mr. Football who has picked up where he left off while also getting help from teammates like Lawrence in scoring. Meanwhile at USJ, guys like RB Noah Spencer and QB Corben Howard are making early cases for Mr. Football in AA.

Historic win last year: Jackson Christian’s win last year was the first time in series history the Eagles shut the Bruins out.

Crockett Co. (3-0) at South Side (1-1)

Last year’s score: Crockett Co. 35, South Side 14

Players to watch: South Side RB Simeon Graham

What to know: The Cavaliers are rolling again this year going into this one. They narrowly avoided overtime in Week 1 at North Side, but ever since then, it’s been smoother sailing with big wins in the two weeks since. South Side scored a touchdown last week before the game was called because of weather, and the Hawks were doing well in Week 2 before faltering in the second half and letting that game get away from them. South Side’s defense could be the toughest Crockett has played against so far this year as the Hawks are a couple of late touchdowns in Week 2 from averaging fewer than 12 points allowed this season.

Similar schedules: While South Side’s coaches are scouting Crockett County on film, they can also be getting work done for games later on the schedule too as all three of the Cavaliers’ opponents so far are on South Side’s schedule – North Side, Ripley and Lexington.

Liberty (0-2) at Westview (3-0)

Last year’s score: Westview 42, Liberty 6

Players to watch: Liberty CB Keivon Marshall

What to know: Last week’s game was cancelled because of weather, so the Crusaders are looking to get into some kind of rhythm to possibly shock the world in this game. Westview has outscored its competition 212-7 so far, and they had scored 10 touchdowns last week 16 minutes into the game. This game is Liberty’s first game in Region 7-3A play.

Low competition level: Westview is scoring a lot of points, and its defense has allowed one touchdown so far this year. But their opponents so far have a combined record of 0-9. That includes on Class 4A team and a pair of teams in 1A.

Lexington (1-2) at North Side (2-1)

Last year’s score: North Side 18, Lexington 17

Players to watch: North Side RB Quinn Jenkins

What to know: Region 6-4A play begins this week at home for the Indians. North Side won this matchup on the road last year, and it was possibly the biggest win of the season as it helped the Indians get into the playoffs. Lexington came out strong against a weaker opponent in Week 1 of the season but has struggled since then in the first year of a new coach’s tenure. If the Indians’ defense can play consistently, they can possibly have a good night and be able to start region play with a victory again.

Comeback kid: Before Javonte Smith got three SEC scholarship offers starting with Tennessee last year, he started making a name for himself with a couple of late touchdown runs in this game last year to help the Indians avoid the road loss.

Fayette Aca. (1-1) at Trinity Christian (1-2)

Last year’s score: TCA 64, Fayette Aca. 41

Players to watch: TCA WR Kaleb Williams

What to know: The Lions didn’t have their best performance ever on either side of the ball last week, so they want to put a better foot forward this week as region play begins in their first home game of the season. Figuring out the Vikings from film work could be difficult right now because their Week 2 game was cancelled because of severe weather that moved through Shelby County that night, but the Lions’ offense is versatile enough that they should be able to handle anything Fayette Academy throws at them defensively.

In the record books: This game last year was Brayden Waller’s coming out party when he recorded the third-most receiving yards in a game in TSSAA history with 341. He was just 17 yards short of the record (Keiwone Malone, Mitchell vs. Dyersburg in 2008) if he wants to go for first place this time around.

Compiled by Brandon Shields