For football fans in the Tri-Cities, order has been restored — for now — in Region 1-6A.
With Dobyns-Bennett°®¶¹´«Ã½ 37-14 triumph over Jefferson County Friday night, the Patriots will need to win out plus get a lot of help to defend their Big East title.
The Indians and 10th-ranked Science Hill are both undefeated in conference play and, barring any upsets, could determine the Region 1-6A champion with their Nov. 1 meeting at ETSU.
The Big East°®¶¹´«Ã½ only other unbeaten is William Blount (2-2), which picked up a 34-33 win at previously undefeated Morristown East. In other words, West Ridge°®¶¹´«Ã½ trip to William Blount Friday just got a lot bigger. The Wolves need this one to keep their conference title, and perhaps their home playoff game, hopes alive.
ALL EYES ON JOHNSON CITY
Kermit Tipton Stadium will host two top-10 ranked teams Friday night, as third-ranked Maryville visits No. 10 Science Hill. And it might not be the only time they face off this year, depending on how far each team advances in the 6A playoffs.
The Red Rebels have won 41 straight games against Northeast Tennessee teams, two of them coming at Science Hill°®¶¹´«Ã½ expense last year. Talk about a measuring stick game for Tennessee high school football.
HOW THE POLLS LOOK
Class 6A — This poll looks about the same, with Cookeville making gains on Science Hill at the No. 10 spot. At No. 5, Cleveland is the only East Tennessee team in the poll not playing at Kermit Tipton Stadium this Friday.
Class 5A — Sevier County (4-0) leaped to No. 2 in this week°®¶¹´«Ã½ poll, behind near-unanimous No. 1 Page.
Class 4A — Greeneville (2-2), which suffered its first on-the-field loss in the regular season since 2020 last week, fell to No. 6. Dyer County (4-0) now occupies the third spot behind Upperman and Anderson County.
Class 3A — °®¶¹´«Ã½ County, Johnson County and Gatlinburg-Pittman are still sixth, eighth and ninth respectively. But Pigeon Forge is just one vote shy of having four Region 1-3A teams in the state°®¶¹´«Ã½ top 10.
Class 2A — East Robertson, Marion County and Milan, all 4-0, make up the top three.
Class 1A — Cloudland still garnered a vote after last week°®¶¹´«Ã½ loss to Johnson County.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH Dobyns-Bennett at Asheville (N.C.)
The Indians (3-1) have never won at Asheville (1-1) before, mainly because D-B hasn’t been there since September 1941 — 2 1/2 months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Cougars will look for a stronger finish after allowing four unanswered touchdowns last year.
West Ridge at William Blount
Last year, this game ended up who got the final playoff spot in Region 1-6A. This year°®¶¹´«Ã½ meeting between West Ridge (3-1, 0-1) and William Blount (2-2, 1-0) is shaping up to be just as meaningful, perhaps even for a home playoff game.
Cherokee at Northview Academy
The Chiefs (2-2, 0-2) got through the toughest part of their schedule and even put up some fight at Elizabethton. Playoff positioning, or even a berth, could hang in the balance against Northview (2-2, 1-0).
Elizabethton vs. Daniel Boone (at ETSU)
The game being played William B. Greene Jr. Stadium should attract interest, especially with last year°®¶¹´«Ã½ meeting canceled due to weather.
Happy Valley at Eagleton Academy
The Warriors (2-0, 1-0) winners of nine straight regular season games, make the road trip to Blount County trying to set themselves apart in the Region 1-2A race against the Royals (2-2, 1-0).
Thomas Walker at Rye Cove
Fresh off their three-touchdown win at Honaker, Landon Lane and the War Eagles (3-0) return home for their Cumberland District opener. Thomas Walker (2-1, 1-0) has already beaten district rival Castlewood.