It may seem like the high school football season just got started, but here we are in Week 7, when things heat up and it’s realistic to begin thinking about the playoff race.
All four Tipton County-area teams – Brighton, Covington, Munford and Tipton-Rosemark – play league games tonight that could shape their playoff fortunes.
The marquee game for Tipton County football fans is obviously the Brighton-Munford matchup tonight in Munford. However, the Covington-Dyersburg game in Covington is likely more important when it comes to playoff ramifications.
As all Charger fans are painfully aware, Dyersburg broke the hearts of the Charger faithful twice last season: On a last-second touchdown (that followed a controversial roughing-the-kicker penalty) in the regular season and in overtime in the playoffs.
The stakes are just as high this season with Covington and Dyersburg, which are tied atop the Region 7-3A standings. The winner of this game will be the heavy favorite to win the region title and a top seed in the state playoffs … and host a potential state quarterfinal rematch in November.
As for the Brighton-Munford game, the Cougars, undefeated and ranked fourth in this week’s Class 5A Associated Press state poll, will be the heavy favorite. Brighton was a young team already before losing its top two quarterbacks and standout running back Ty Stark to injury. The Cardinals looked much better in last week’s win with a new ball control offense, but knocking off Munford is a tall order.
If the Cougars can beat Brighton, it will set up a huge Region 8-5A game next Friday in Memphis vs. Southwind, which is undefeated in league play and tied atop the region standings with Munford.
Even if Brighton does not get a league win tonight, their playoff hopes are still alive. The Cardinals would likely need to win two of their final three games against Southwind, Kingsbury and Dyer County to make the postseason.
Tipton-Rosemark travels to Jackson Christian School tonight in a DII-A-West game. Though the Rebels are winless so far in league play, they could still get in the playoffs with a couple of league wins down the stretch. League foes Harding Academy and First Assembly Christian School, teams Rosemark beat a year ago, remain on the schedule.
WEEK 7 PREVIEWS
What: Munford (6-0 overall, 2-0 Region 8-5A) vs. Brighton (2-4, overall, 0-2 Region 8-5A)
Where: Munford
When: Friday at 7 p.m.
Players to watch: Munford – QB Jordan Bell, RB Braxton Sharp, RB Jace Hodgin, LB Tristan Bohannon; Brighton – QB Hunter Lampley, RB Pierce Meacham, DB Keagan Jarmon, WR Jalen Terry, RB Ty Stark
One thing to know: Munford has beaten Brighton four straight seasons. The last time Brighton beat Munford was 2017, the year Brighton made the state semifinals.
What: Covington (4-1 overall, 2-0 Region 7-3A ) vs. Dyersburg (3-3 overall, 2-0 Region 7-3A)
Where: Covington
When: Friday at 7 p.m.
Players to watch: Covington – RB Jamarion Dowell, RB Skylan Smith, QB Braden Gover, DB A.C. Mason-Young, OL Jasper Hunter
One thing to know: The winner of this game figures to have the inside track to the region title. Dyersburg beat Covington in the regular season and the playoffs last season by a combined eight points.
What: Tipton-Rosemark (0-5 overall, 0-3 DII-A-West) vs. Jackson Christian School (4-1 overall, 1-1 DII-A-West)
Where: Jackson
When: Friday at 7 p.m.
Players to watch: Rosemark – QB Sam Cannon, WR Will Hughes, WR Aiden Petrowski, RB Nix Fullen
One thing to know: JCS beat Rosemark 42-7 last season.
