The Post Route - Week 7

Your guide to high school football games in Madison County.

Jackson Central-Merry (5-0) at North Side (4-2)

Last year’s score: North Side 42, JCM 0

Players to watch: North Side WR Javonte Smith; JCM WR Jaylen Turner

What to know: It can be said regarding every game JCM and North Side both play this year - what a difference a year makes. It’s questionable that this game is the toughest test so far or remaining for either of these teams, but it’s on the short list for both. JCM doesn’t score as many points as North Side does, but the Cougars simply score more points than the other team - every time so far. But North Side is one of the few teams on the schedule that can match JCM athletically.

Chasing history: If the Cougars were to win this game, they would match the undefeated streak of 20 years ago (head coach Erit Turner’s senior season as a player) when they won their first six games. There were two common opponents in the first six games of 2004 and 2024 - South Side and Milan. For those wondering about longer unbeaten streaks for JCM, the Cougars went into the Class 5A quarterfinals in 2002 undefeated before losing to Germantown.

Northpoint Christian (3-3, 1-0) at University School of Jackson (6-0, 1-0)

Last year’s score: Northpoint 21, USJ 10

Players to watch: USJ LB Noah Britt

What to know: This game was for second in the region last year, and it appears to have similar stakes this season. The Bruins competed well with Northpoint last year - better than most expected as they were dealing with injuries up front, leaving holes in their line. But they managed well as Corben Howard was improving as a quarterback. The defense did a quality job last week and will need a similar performance this week against tougher competition.

Stingy defense: The Bruins dominated last week’s game at St. George’s. As the Bruins won 42-0, the Gryphons had 52 yards of total offense - 40 of which came on one play in the fourth quarter.

Jackson Christian (5-1, 2-0) at First Assembly Christian School (3-1, 1-0)

Last year’s score: Jackson Christian 35, FACS 7

Players to watch: Jackson Christian QB Austin Kelly

What to know: If one were to look at these teams late in the game and not look at the scoreboard last year, you might be fooled into thinking the team in green and white with larger players that looked a lot stronger was the one winning by 28 at the end. But you’d be wrong. Jackson Christian is quietly putting together another strong year where they’re aiming for a region championship, and this challenge will be among their toughest to that end.

Dominant Eagles: In 2013-14, these two teams opened the season with each other in a home-and-home series with FACS dominating both games. They’ve played each other every year since 2019, and Jackson Christian has won every game since then. Except for a 30-28 victory in that 2019 matchup, the Eagles have won every game by at least 28 points.

Bolivar (3-2) at South Side (2-4)

Last year’s score: Bolivar 24, South Side 21

Players to watch: South Side lineman Christopher Kemp

What to know: This is one of the biggest rivalries for the Hawks, particularly for those students who live close to the Hardeman County line. The Tigers aren’t scoring as many points as they were last year, but they’re competing well most of the time with the toughest teams in their region still on the horizon. The Hawks came close to winning last year but fell short in a season in which competing well into the fourth quarter didn’t always happen. They have the potential to go over the top this time around.

Added win: Those keeping up with records may see a win added to South Side’s win total compared to last week. That’s because officials decided late to officially award the Hawks a win in their game at Liberty on Sept. 6. That was one of the Fridays where there were a lot of weather delays, and the Hawks led 7-0 early on when both teams were pulled off the field, unknowingly never to return. Since they couldn’t agree on a time to restart the game, South Side gets the win.

Harding Academy (1-5, 0-2) at Trinity Christian (3-3, 1-0)

Last year’s score: TCA 42, Harding 0

Players to watch: TCA RB Lekhy Thompkins

What to know: The Lions had a rough week last week in more ways than one. Their home game was played an hour away at Bethel University’s field. They led an old rival from their Division I years of old early on and squandered the lead. That lost left a bad taste in their mouth. But the Lions are over halfway through the regular season. Everyone has settled into their current roles and has a better idea of what to do compared to the middle of August at the start of the season. That could show in this game as TCA begins to focus more on competing for region supremacy down the stretch of 2024.

End to the homestand: Football isn’t a sport that typically has road trips and homestands, but the Lions have had those the last two seasons. This year started with three straight road games, followed by five home games and ending with two more on the road. The schedule in 2023 was the opposite.

Compiled by Brandon Shields