Region 6-1A Football: Is McKenzie still the team to beat in the region?
McKenzie reached the Class 1A state semifinals last year and held a lead midway through the fourth quarter. Things unraveled in the final five minutes and Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering won 40-34 before winning the Class 1A state title.
Region 6-1A will look a little different this season as Houston County and West Carroll moved on, while Collinwood and Wayne County joined the region.
Class 1A Mr. Football award winner Tate Surber has graduated, but the Rebels will still have the weapons capable of winning the region title.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. McKenzie
2. McEwen
3. Perry County
4. Bruceton
5. Wayne County
6. Collinwood
Top region games
McEwen at McKenzie (Week 11; Oct. 31) – The Rebels won 49-7 last season, but that was the only region game that McEwen lost last year as the Warriors finished second, hosted a playoff game and reached the second round of the Class 1A playoffs.
Bruceton at Perry County (Week 11; Oct. 31) – This game could have big playoff implications. Both of these teams missed out on the playoffs last season, but expect both to have a chance this year.
15 players to watch
Timmy Arline (McKenzie, Sr., RB/S)
Mason Batten (McKenzie, Sr., LB)
Cole Brown (McKenzie, Jr., QB/WR/S)
Dane Bryant (Wayne County, Sr., ATH/LB)
Lelan Gordon (McKenzie, Jr., LB/RB)
Brody Holt (Collinwood; Sr.; DE/RB)
Braxton Howard (Bruceton, Sr., QB)
Weston Martin (Perry County, Sr., QB/LB)
Nate Mathis (Perry County, Sr., LB/RB)
Chase Mitchell (McEwen, Sr., OL/DT)
Aiden Roberts (Collinwood; Sr.; ATH)
Brady Roberts (Bruceton, Sr., WR/S)
Zander Stepp (Bruceton, Sr., OL/DT)
Ryan Toombs (McKenzie, Sr., C/DT)
Drayden Williams (McEwen, Sr., OL/DE)
Team Tidbits
Bruceton
Mascot: Tigers
2024 record: 1-9 (0-5 6-1A)
Head coach: Clay Mackins (2nd season: 1-9)
What to know: The Tigers went 1-9 for the third straight season last year despite having higher expectations. Bruceton returns a nucleus of skill players. Senior Braxton Howard split time at quarterback, but he managed to complete 49-of-81 passes for 701 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Brady Roberts returns after leading the Tigers in receiving yards as he caught 52 passes for 648 yards and six touchdowns with a 12.5 yards per catch average. Junior Carter Lowe is the top returner in tackles from last year as he finished with 62 total tackles with 45 assists and 17 solo to go with two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. Bruceton is trying to get back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Collinwood
Mascot: Trojans
2024 record: 2-7 (0-6 5-1A)
Head coach: Boyce Dixon (4th season: 11-18)
What to know: Dixon led the Trojans to the playoffs in 2023 when the team went 7-4, but two-win seasons the other two seasons has the team trying to rebuild. Collinwood ended the season on a four-game losing streak after beating Bruceton by 15 points. The Trojans scored seven touchdowns in the final three losses after only scoring three touchdowns in the first four losses, so they got better as the season progressed.
McEwen
Mascot: Warriors
2024 record: 8-4 (4-1 6-1A)
Head coach: Cecil Andrews (1st season)
What to know: Andrews replaces veteran coach Rick Rice, who coached the Warriors for two seasons and doubled the team’s wins from Year 1 to Year 2. McEwen beat Huntland 49-19 to reach the Class 1A second round for the first time since 2019. Jesse Ross rushed for close to 900 yards last season to help McEwen turn it around, but Ross was a senior. The Warriors are going to have to find someone new to carry the load at running back. The positive is McEwen has some veteran lineman to set the tone with Chase Mitchell and Drayden Williams returning for their senior year.
McKenzie
Mascot: Rebels
2024 record: 13-1 (5-0 6-1A)
Head coach: Keith Hodge (2nd season: 13-1)
What to know: While Tate Surber has graduated, the Rebels return some key pieces from last year’s success. Surber accounted for 4,321 yards of offense last year. Cole Brown returns for his junior season after leading the Rebels in receiving as he had 1,258 yards receiving on 70 receptions with 16 touchdowns. But Brown could be found in a different position this year as he is expected to transfer to the quarterback spot. Brown should have time in the pocket as Ryan Toombs, Hunter Winstead and Maddox Shiell all return in the trenches. Three of the top four tacklers from last season were seniors, so Lelan Gordon will be crucial at linebacker, and other players are going to have to step up their game.
Perry County
Mascot: Vikings
2024 record: 4-6 (1-4 6-1A)
Head coach: Calvin Zemer (8th season; 15-54)
What to know: The Vikings haven’t reached the playoffs since 2011, and it was 2010 when the team made the run to the Class 1A semifinals. Last year’s 4-6 record was the second year Perry County has finished one win away from .500 on the season. The Vikings did score 81 points in the final two weeks of the season to earn wins over Middleton and Bruceton, so the team will try to carry that momentum into this season. Perry County needs to find that go-to player this season that is willing to carry the load and push the team to victories.
Wayne County
Mascot: Wildcats
2024 record: 6-5 (4-2 5-1A)
Head coach: Derek Willis (3rd season; 10-11)
What to know: The Wildcats move to Region 6-1A this season after finishing in a three-way tie for second in Region 5-1A last year, but Wayne County dropped to the No. 4 seed and lost to McKenzie 47-0 in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. Wayne County won six of the last seven games of the regular season. The Wildcats have hovered around .500 ever since Rick Rice stepped away after the 2018 season. Wayne County has made three playoff appearances but never picked up a playoff win. The Wildcats graduated a large part of the passing, rushing and receiving leaders from last year.
Michael Odom is the sports editor for the Mirror-Exchange, Weakley County Press, Brownsville States-Graphic and Fayette Falcon. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @GCSportsWriter. Reach him by email at michaelodom@milanmirrorexchange.com.
