The Post Route - Week 5
Your guide to this week’s high school football games in Madison County
Jackson Central Merry (3-0, 1-0 Region 6-2A) at Milan (4-0, 2-0)
Last year’s score: Milan 44, JCM 16
Players to watch: JCM QB Terrell Williams
What to know: Four games into the season, and the level of competition each week for the Cougars continues on its upward trajectory. The Cougars have answered the bell all three times so far, and they answered the bell early on in this one last year as they held a two-score lead over the Bulldogs for much of the first half before they took over just before halftime and ran away with it. The Bulldogs have the firepower to do the same again this time around, but with JCM’s defensive line being at full strength, it could be difficult for Milan to get its running game going consistently.
Common opponent: Both teams have already played Camden. Milan routed the Lions last week 54-18. While JCM’s win the week before of 26-12 might not look as impressive, the Cougars can boast of holding the normally potent Camden offense scoreless in the second half.
University School of Jackson (4-0) at South Gibson (3-1)
Last year’s score: South Gibson 28, USJ 6
Players to watch: USJ RB Jackson Pugh
What to know: This game is a South Gibson turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter against Milan in Week 1 away from being USJ’s second undefeated matchup in as many weeks. The Hornets have already dealt with adversity this season as they lost probably their best player with multiple college scholarship offers in that game against Milan, but everyone else has stepped up in his place, making the Hornets a tough team to stop or move the ball on. USJ’s ground game will probably be important against a South Gibson defense that held Hardin County to three points two weeks ago in the rain, but Corben Howard will need to keep them honest before the snap by taking some long shots down the field a few times.
Effective ball-carrier: Pugh is typically the Bruins’ second option in the running game. Noah Spencer, the Bruins’ first option, is having a season by himself that many teams would like to have from their entire team’s rushing game as Spencer is averaging 235.8 yards and 3.5 touchdowns per game on 17.8 carries.
Chester Co. (1-3, 0-0 Region 6-4A) at South Side (1-2, 0-0)
Last year’s score: Chester Co. 27, South Side 0
Players to watch: South Side DB Simeon Graham
What to know: The Hawks were shut out in this game last year when most thought they’d at least compete well. So far, the 2024 edition of South Side football does compete well. Chester County’s record does have a lot of losses on it already, but the Eagles have played some of the top teams in rural West Tennessee to begin their season and prepare them for region play. Both teams South Side has lost to are still undefeated, and they had their chances to win both of those games. This is the first region game for both teams, and these are the two teams from the six-team region that didn’t go to the playoffs last year. So both teams will look to get started the right way in league play and put themselves in good position for one of four playoff spots.
Close games: The average difference between the scores for South Side’s three games is nine points per game. That number is inflated somewhat by a late touchdown JCM scored in its win over the Hawks in Week 2. South Side isn’t that far from being 3-0 right now.
Manassas (0-3) at Trinity Christian (2-2)
Last year’s score: TCA 56, Manassas 20
Players to watch: TCA LB Gabe Lee
What to know: This is the final non-region game for the Lions after they took Greenfield off the schedule this past offseason. Depth and the lack thereof has been an issue for the Lions so far this season, and that could come into play more in this game than many might expect after the lop-sided win last year. Manassas has been outscored so far 128-6. That six points is a touchdown more than they’d scored entering this game this time last year. Lion fans are probably hoping this is a chance for some of the younger players lower on the depth chart and get a better feel for the game on Friday nights and build some depth for the remainder of the schedule.
Late scorers: TCA spent much more time trailing last week than they did leading. Fayette Academy scored six points in the first quarter and added eight in the second. TCA didn’t get on the scoreboard until just before the end of the third quarter and then scored twice in the fourth quarter – the second one to break a 14-14 tie late in the game – to start region play with a win.
Jackson Christian (3-1, 0-0 Division II-A West) at Fayette Aca. (1-2, 0-1)
Last year’s score: Jackson Christian 63, Fayette Aca. 24
Players to watch: Jackson Christian DL Skylan Staten
What to know: It’s not often Jackson Christian is in this situation lately – coming back from a loss. While they would’ve liked to have won that game, head coach Darby Palmer and his coaching staff have become masters at leading their players to putting the most recent game – win or lose – in the rearview mirror and moving on to the next game. The Vikings are off to a slow start, but their defense held TCA scoreless for almost three full quarters last week. Jackson Christian has to be prepared offensively to deal with whatever the Vikings throw at them before and after the snap if they want to start region play with a win.
Bounce back: The Eagles have lost seven games in the last three seasons. Three of those losses have ended their season in the playoffs. Of the four regular season losses, the Eagles have always won the next game. One win in 2021 was a forfeit win over Harding Academy. Of the three games they’ve actually played and won after a loss, the Eagles won those games by an average margin of 43 points.
North Side (3-1, 1-0 Region 6-4A) at Hardin Co. (1-3, 0-1)
Last year’s score: Hardin Co. 38, North Side 7
Players to watch: North Side RB Miles Howard
What to know: This is probably a game the coaching staff has looked forward to in the back of their minds for 52 weeks. In the summer, Indians coach Woodrow Lowe Jr. said there were two games he felt like the players didn’t push themselves as hard as they should’ve and it sowed in the stats. This matchup was one of them. But this year’s matchup looks considerably different going in since both teams are on very different trajectories compared to 2023. Hardin County hasn’t found a lot of traction on either side of the ball with a new coaching staff in place. The Indians are a failed 2-point conversion attempt against Crockett County away from being undefeated.
Hold to 3 TDs to win: In the first game of the season North Side recorded its second-lowest point total of the season with 34. The lowest the Indians have scored is the 29 they finished with against Lexington last week. That loss in Week 1 also is the most points they’ve given up with 36. After that, North Side has given up six, 21 and 21. So it’s not a given, but if the Indians’ defense can hold their opponents to three touchdowns or less, they’ve got a good shot at winning.
Liberty (0-3, 0-1 Region 7-3A) at Ripley (1-3, 1-1)
Last year’s score: Ripley 48, Liberty 6
Players to watch: Liberty LB Cordarius Ellis
What to know: Starting last week, all of Liberty’s games from here on out are in the difficult Region 7-3A. The Tigers were winless until last week, and that victory was a close one over another struggling team. Ripley has a big opponent next week that it could be looking forward to, so Liberty could catch Ripley with its guard down.
Low scoring: Liberty’s opponent last week (Westview) scored more points in that one game than Ripley has scored in four. The Tigers’ top scoring total is 21 points so far. So if Liberty’s defense can play well and slow this team down, the offense shouldn’t need to score that much for the Crusaders to pull off the upset.
Compiled by Brandon Shields
