PREP FOOTBALL: Friday night picks

Cumberland District

Castlewood at Rye Cove

Rye Cove is winless, but that 0-3 record is quite deceiving as the three teams that have beaten the Eagles have a combined record of 9-2. Head coach Tom Callaway’s team should get back on track tonight against a team that has had trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone.

Prediction: Rye Cove 31, Castlewood 6

Thomas Walker at Coeburn

Since being waxed in week one by J.J. Kelly, Thomas Walker has won its last two Cumberland District games and appear to be the early favorites to take the district crown. Coeburn has shown potential this season and senior Hunter Bond is a playmaker, but an upset by the Blue Knights is not in the cards tonight.

Prediction: Thomas Walker 36, Coeburn 14

St. Paul at Twin Springs

The most intriguing Cumberland District matchup is in Nickelsville. Twin Springs got its first win of the season last week against Northwood, using the passing proficiency of Aaron McCoy to pull away in the second half for a 26-12 victory. Since returning two weeks ago, St. Paul senior quarterback Tyler Phillips hasn’t shown any signs of rust and his veteran leadership will be big on the road tonight.

Prediction: St. Paul 26, Twin Springs 12

Lonesome Pine District

Burton at Powell Valley

The first real collision of the LPD schedule, this game decides a lot. Is Powell Valley’s (1-3) record representative of a killer schedule or an over-hyped Vikings squad? After losing Jaycob Coleman and Will Godsey in the off-season, can the Raiders compete for the LPD title? Who is the premier running back in the LPD, Burton’s Martinez Miles or Powell Valley’s Myron Pinkston? In the end, Powell Valley just doesn’t have enough offense to compete with the Raiders, who win a close, defensive affair.

Prediction: Burton 21, Powell Valley 14

Southwest District

Tazewell at Abingdon

Both teams are coming off big losses to SWD foes. Abingdon features 16 seniors, including a pair of 6-foot-5 linemen in Joe Quetsch and Clark Case. Tazewell allowed 332 yards rushing against Carroll County last week, but the Bulldogs win this one behind creative quarterback Cody Lockhart.

Prediction: Tazewell 21, Abingdon 14

Marion at Graham

Graham has allowed 49 points per game against three challenging non-district foes. Marion has averaged 33 points against three Hogoheegee District schools. Brett Johnson could be the difference maker for Marion. The sophomore has rushed for 376 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Prediction: Graham 28, Marion 27

Non-District

NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

Tennessee High at Greeneville

This is a perfect revenge game for the Vikings, who were ousted from the playoffs last November by Greeneville. A win against the Greene Devils could also help the Vikings’ legitimize their undefeated record, which has been accumulated by a collection of weaker opponents. So far, Tennessee High (4-0) looks unbeatable, at least on the offensive side of the ball. Their backs are averaging 270 yards per game, and while senior running back Keenan Shepard (101.3 ypg in 2009) missed last year’s playoff game, he appears ready to gouge the Green Devils (2-2) after racking up more than 180 yards last week against Science Hill.

Prediction: THS 28, Greeneville 21

Sullivan Central at Sullivan East

At halftime of week two, the 2009 season looked promising for the Patriots. They were tied 7-7 with Tennessee High and the East faithful were dreaming the impossible. And then running back Caleb Looney was injured. Since that time, the Patriots (1-4) have been outscored by an average of 20.5 in their four subsequent losses. Things are even bleaker at Central, where Central (0-4) is winless and has been outscored by an average of 24 points. Fortunately, they’ll get their first win of the year tonight, thanks to a weak Patriots’ defense.

Prediction: Central 35, East 21

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

Gate City at Appalachia

The Bulldogs (2-1) are on the rise, already having won more game this year than they won the entire 2008 schedule (1). Unfortunately, their rebuilding process runs through the Blue Devils tonight, who look plain mean. The good news is that fans of old-fashioned, smashmouth football should flock immediately to Appalachia and reserve tickets. The bad news is that the Bulldogs don’t stand a chance.

Prediction: Gate City 42, Appalachia 14

Twin Valley at Pound

Who cares that the Wildcats haven’t exactly lined up against Virginia Tech in their first four games? Pound is 3-1 and do-it-all offensive sensation Aaron Balthis is racking up 120 rushing yards per game, which means that Coach Chris Crabtree’s slimmed down offensive line is creating some huge holes. Notch another "W" for the Wildcats tonight, as they smash the winless Panthers (0-4).

Prediction: Pound 41, Twin Valley 14

Haysi at Holston

A traditional power meets a rising one tonight in Damascus. Holston is looking to start the season 5-0 for the third straight season under head coach Jason Matlock, while Haysi is an annual participant in the Region D playoffs. Haysi is 0-3 and has struggled with injuries and a poor defense, but quarterback Chris Fleming is dangerous and will test Holston’s secondary. Look for Holston to ace its toughest test to date.

Prediction: Holston 29, Haysi 13

John Battle at Patrick Henry

While these teams are not perennial playoff participants, they have played some competitive, exciting games against one another in the past. Both teams are struggling and looking for answers at the current time. Battle has lost three straight and coughed up a 10-0 lead last week against Honaker. Meanwhile, PH has lost its last two and has had trouble stopping the big play. One interesting storyline surrounding tonight’s matchup is that of PH assistant coach Tim Burke. He was the head coach at Battle in 2000 and 2001 and has had success against his former team since landing on the staff at PH.

Prediction: Patrick Henry 24, John Battle 21

Ervinton at Big Creek, W.Va.

Ervinton owns Southwest Virginia’s longest losing streak, having lost 15 straight games dating back to 2007. However, the Rebels have a good chance at ending that skid tonight against Big Creek (0-3), which as been outscored 118-6. Look for Ervinton to win and set off a raucous celebration in the small Dickenson County town of Nora.

Prediction: Ervinton 16, Big Creek 12

Giles at George Wythe

These two old rivals need no introduction, having met five times since 2001 and staged many classic playoff games. After impressive wins over Radford and Floyd County, GW might be the best team in Region C, Division 2 right now and the Maroons also have perhaps the region’s top player in do-everything senior Brandon Atwell. Look for GW to whip its third straight Three Rivers District opponent tonight.

Prediction: George Wythe 34, Giles 8

Montcalm, W.Va. at Hurley

Montcalm already has a win over another Black Diamond District opponent, Twin Valley, but the Generals will be trampled by the BDD darkhorse tonight.

Prediction: Hurley 31, Montcalm 17

Grayson County at Carroll County

Six-foot-one senior fullback Dillon Caviness has accounted for 263 yards rushing and four touchdowns for Carroll County, while senior Tyler Reavis has 17 receptions. Grayson County has dropped 15 straight games, including losses to Hogoheegee District schools Chilhowie and Rural Retreat this season. Caviness rushed for three scores last year as Carroll County won this game 35-0.

Prediction: Carroll County 35, Grayson County 0

Clintwood at Lebanon

The schedule continues to be harsh for Lebanon, which has dropped two straight close games to Tazewell and Gate City. Clintwood (3-0) features a stable of running backs along with savvy junior quarterback Trey Meade. After scoring 67 points in its first two games, Lebanon has been held to two touchdowns the past two weeks.

Prediction: Lebanon 20, Clintwood 14

Lee at Harlan, Ky.
Lee (0-3) faces a Kentucky school for the third straight week. The problem for Lee has been defense, as the Generals have allowed 143 points. Harlan, a Class 1A school, has allowed 31 points per game en route to a 1-3 record. Lee defeated Harlan 43-0 last season as Tyler Graham rushed for 112 yards. Graham will have another big performance in this one.

Prediction: Lee 24, Harlan 12

Honaker at Virginia High

First-year head coach Chris Thurman continues to deliver the offense for Virginia High. The Bearcats are averaging 38 points and 235 yards rushing per game. Senior Damon Dock has been the leader for VHS, accounting for 543 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Veteran Honaker coach Doug Hubbard faced a major rebuilding job this season, but the Tigers have defeated Coeburn and John Battle the past two weeks.

Prediction: Virginia High 31, Honaker 14