THE POST ROUTE - Week 6

A look at Madison County’s games this week

Jackson Christian (5-0, 1-0) at Tipton-Rosemark (5-0, 1-0)

Player to watch: Jackson Christian TE Daniel Green

Most recent meeting: 2022 – Jackson Christian 56, Tipton-Rosemark 7

What to know: Going into this one, Tipton-Rosemark is definitely an improved team. How improved is the question. The Rebels have proven they’re better than teams that typically struggle in football season. This will be the toughest test for Tipton-Rosemark so far. The Eagles have already had one long road trip earlier in the season and took nearly an entire half to get going offensively.

Common opponents: None

Trivia: Jackson Christian’s previous five opponents have a combined record of 11-14. Tipton-Rosemark’s opponents have a combined record of 6-18.

Lexington (1-4, 0-1) at South Side (2-3, 0-1)

Player to watch: South Side DL Khamrahn Caldwell

Most recent meeting: 2022 – Lexington 41, South Side 0

What to know: Both teams have struggled this year. And usually, at least one of these teams is in the running for the region championship. That’s still possible for both of these teams, but they both need this win. The Tigers started slow a year ago and wound up going on a win streak that lasted until the state quarterfinals. South Side got a key win two years ago at Lexington that gave the Hawks a home game in the first round of the playoffs. These teams are familiar with overcoming adversity. One of them could take a big step to that end in this game.

Common opponent: Crockett Co. – Lexington lost 37-10; South Side lost 35-14

Trivia: This game for South Side is in the middle of a three-game stretch where the Hawks play their biggest non-Jackson rivals consecutively – starting with Chester County last week and Bolivar next week. Which school is the bigger rival typically depends on which South Side alum you’re asking.

St. George’s (1-4, 0-0) at USJ (3-2, 0-0)

Player to watch: USJ WR Mills Terry

Most recent meeting: 2022 – USJ 50, St. George’s 14

What to know: St. George’s one win is over MLK Prep, who has an 0-5 record and hasn’t scored a point all season. In the Gryphons’ four losses, they’ve been outscored 190-21. Two weeks ago, this would’ve looked like an easy win for USJ going in. That still could be, but the Bruins’ offense has stalled the last two games against tougher competition. They’ve been outscored 69-6 in their last eight quarters of play. This is a chance for them to get the truck rolling down the road again and start region play with a win.

Common opponents: None

Trivia: St. George’s and USJ were in the same region for 10 years from 2009-2018. One of them won the region championship seven of those 10 years. This is the first year for them to be in the same region since then.

TCA (3-1) at Riverside (4-1)

Player to watch: TCA QB Cooper Vailes

Most recent meeting: 2016 – Riverside 28, TCA 21

What to know: TCA head coach Darren Bowling told his players after their win last week that he was looking forward to this week because he likes a challenge. There’s a definite challenge in Parsons on Friday night. Riverside is coming off a season in which the Panthers finished as state runners-up in Class 2A last year. They had three seniors on that team, so nearly everybody is back. And they’re playing like an experienced team. The Lions will probably need to play a near-perfect game to come away with an upset, but the enjoyment for Bowling actually comes throughout the week as he tries to figure out how to put the team in position to be successful.

Common opponents: None

Trivia: Both teams’ losses came from playing up. TCA lost at home to USJ in Division II-AA. Riverside’s loss came at home against Collierville, who’s in 6A, while Riverside is 2A.

JCM (1-4, 0-2) at Adamsville (3-2, 0-2)

Player to watch: JCM DT Keshun Clark

Most recent meeting: None in the past 20 years

What to know: Both teams enter this game with 0-2 records in Region 6-2A, so if they want to make the playoffs, a win here is needed. The three wins in Adamsville’s non-region games aren’t against competition at the same level as their region losses. Where does JCM fit into that? This game will answer that, but the Cougar coaching staff has done a good job keeping the team competitive in games when they weren’t expected to be so far.

Common opponents: None

Trivia: JCM was in the same region with Hardin County in the 2000s. Since then, the only time the Cougars have traveled near the Tennessee River for a football game was in 2012 when they played Camden in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll stop short about three miles of the river tonight in Adamsville.

Dyersburg (5-0) at North Side (2-3)

Player to watch: North Side DL James Reed

Most recent meeting: 2019 – North Side 39, Dyersburg 37

What to know: Dyersburg has the consistency this season offensively that North Side wants to have. The Trojans are scoring points, stopping opponents and looking like a quality team while doing it. North Side has shown the ability to play that way as well, but it’s never been sustained for more than a quarter at a time against quality competition. North Side has this game and another non-region game before finishing with three straight region games. This is a good chance to try to work on that consistency before playing for the playoffs again in a couple weeks.

Common opponents: None

Trivia: The 2019 season was the last time these teams met. They were supposed to meet in 2020, but that game was canceled for COVID reasons.

Liberty (0-5, 0-2) at Scotts Hill (1-4, 0-2)

Player to watch: Liberty RB Lewis Harris

Most recent meeting: First meeting

What to know: The Lions and Crusaders are similar in that they both struggle to score against quality competition, and they have a hard time stopping other teams’ offenses. The difference between them is Liberty has played a tougher schedule.

Common opponent: Westview – Scotts Hill lost 42-0; Liberty lost 42-6

Trivia: Scotts Hill’s enrollment has steadily grown ever since it started football in 2008, which is why the Lions and Crusaders have never met before this week now that they’re in the same region.

Compiled by Brandon Shields