By Chad Withrow
Week 1 offered few surprises but many compelling games. We start to find out more about teams in Week 2. Some will deliver on the promise shown in the opener. Others will fall back to earth after promising starts. And some will confirm exactly what we thought about them in the preseason (good or bad).
Here are my 5 games that will do a little of all three in Week 2.
1. Hillsboro (0-1) @ Oakland (1-0)
If it’s good enough to be on ESPNU, you know it’s a pretty powerful match-up. That’s exactly what you will get when this Metro power travels down I-24 to take on Rutherford County heavyweight Oakland. Big time college prospects dot each roster led by JaVonta Payton and Ben Hutch of Hillsboro and LSU commit Jacoby Stevens and Mississippi State commit Kaleb Oliver of Oakland. Arrive early if you want a seat. Tune into ESPNU at 7pm if you can’t make it out.
2. Pearl-Cohn (1-0) @ MBA (0-1)
Don’t let MBA’s Week 1 setback against Louisville Trinity fool you. The Shamrocks are a national power. The Big Red will more than likely get back on track with a win this week but they will be challenged by a talented Firebirds squad. Big Red RB Ty Chandler is a beast and worthy of the hype. Kevin Smith broke down the match-up in this week’s Coach Speak
3. Independence (1-0) @ Centennial (1-0)
I’ll believe Independence will slip up and lose when I see it. After a perfect 15-0 record and state championship in 2015, the Eagles did everything possible to let Brentwood hang around in Week 1 before squeaking one out 21-20. Indy QB Brandon Hines picked right up where Andrew Bunch left off going 22 of 37 for 303 yards. Scott Blade knows offense. Centennial beat Franklin in one of the crazier games of Week 1 to get 1st year head coach Matt Kriesky his first win. It will take a mammoth effort at home to get his second.
4. Overton (1-0) @ Marshall County (1-0)
Marshall County is one of the best kept secrets in the mid-state and Overton has a Tennessee commit (Theo Jackson) at QB. Lewisburg will be rocking tonight when these two teams tangle. Kevin Smith did a great job breaking this one down in his weekly Coach Speak column.
5. Knoxville Catholic (0-1) vs. CPA (0-1)
It’s the best match-up of 0-1 teams in the state and Christopher Pool did a great job breaking it down. CLICK HERE
