By SAM McGAW
Brentwood Academy (6-2) at McCallie (6-3), 7:30 p.m. EST Friday*
Brentwood Academy aims to wrap up its regular season on a winning streak when it travels to battle the McCallie Blue Tornado Friday.
McCallie has won three of its last four games. Its offense is led by quarterback Robert Riddle, who’s recorded 1,886 passing yards and 18 touchdowns (3 run) this season.
The unit averages 39.44 points per game.
“They have excellent receivers and I’d say the most accurate quarterback in the league,” BA head coach Cody White said. “He does a really good job dispersing the ball. They’re an option-based team that’s tough to defend.”
The Eagles’ defense, which allows 17 PPG, is spearheaded by linebackers Jack McDonald (45 tackles, 7 TFL, .5 sack) and Jackson Sirmon (32 tkls, 1 sack, 1 int.), and safeties Evan Beddoe (31 tkls, 4 ints) and Camron Johnson (13 tkls, 2 int, 2 FR).
Johnson returned two blocked punts and a fumble for touchdowns in the Eagles’ last two games.
BA’s high-powered offense features quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, running back Mario Pleasant and Johnson at receiver.
Oatsvall has 1,255 passing yards, 478 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns (8 run) and seven interceptions this season, while Pleasant has rushed for 535 yards and nine touchdowns.
Johnson has 24 receptions for 341 yards and four touchdowns.
The trio will be met by a McCallie 3-3 stack defense that’s allowing 18.78 PPG.
“Their defensive coordinator is new this year and he has a good understanding of what he’s doing,” White stated. “He’s gotten their kids in the position where they’re playing fast. The key to it is they’re not overly-complicated with what they do, but they do it well. The key to us is to be able to handle the speed and the physicality of it.”
Battle Ground Academy (6-3, 2-2) at Franklin Road Academy (1-7, 1-3), 7 p.m. Friday*
The BGA Wildcats have the opportunity to their regular season on a high note Friday when they travel to face the FRA Panthers.
BGA has won only two of its last five games. It defeated Ezell-Harding 45-13 before last week’s bye.
Quarterback Drew Martin leads the Wildcats’ offense against an FRA unit that’s allowed 92 points over its past two games.
Martin has 1,763 passing yards, 121 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns (1 run) and four interceptions this season.
While he has an opportunity to build on his success this week, BGA’s ground attack could steal the show.
FRA has allowed an average of 256.5 rushing yards per game this season.
Running backs Jaylen Frierson (323 rush yds, 5 TDs) and Jake Holloway (234 rush yds, 147 rec. yds, 6 Tds) and slot back Kel Hawkins (413 rec. yds, 277 rush yds, 9 TDs) have earned the bulk of the carries for the Wildcats this year.
FRA’s offense is led by running back Adonis Otey.
The sophomore racked up 119 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the Panthers’ 50-46 loss against Davidson Academy in Week 9.
FRA averages 18 points per game, while BGA gives up 21.67 per contest.
Sam McGaw is sports editor of Home Page Media Group. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SamMcGawSports.
