Region 7-3A Football: Will any team in Class 3A be able to beat Westview this season?
Last season, the Westview football team wasn’t challenged until the Class 3A title game with perennial powerhouse Alcoa.
Alcoa has moved up to Class 4A, and that leaves the door wide open for Westview to be the team to beat in Class 3A as long as Graham Simpson is at Westview.
The Chargers are still in Region 7-3A with lots of familiar faces. The bottom two teams in the 2024 Region 7-3A standings – Liberty and Scotts Hill – have moved out, but the region did add Obion County, who dropped down from Class 4A.
So Westview is joined by Bolivar, Covington, Dyersburg, McNairy Central, Obion County and Ripley in Region 7-3A.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Westview
- Covington
- Dyersburg
- Bolivar
- McNairy Central
- Ripley
- Obion County
Top region games
Dyersburg at Covington (Week 9; Oct. 17) – This game will set up a strong finish in the Region 7-3A seedings. Both of these teams are quick on defense, so it will be interesting to see if either team is able to get much going offensively.
Westview at Dyersburg (Week 10; Oct. 24) – This might be the Chargers’ first test in Region 7-3A play, if they play to potential. Dyersburg has some key players to replace, but the Trojans are always competitive.
Covington at Westview (Week 11; Oct. 31) – For the second straight year, these two will end the season at Hardy Graham Stadium. Last year, the region championship was on the line, and the same could be true this year. Covington graduated Class 3A Mr. Football Skylan Smith, so the team will have to find someone else to carry the ball.
15 players to watch
Derek Argo (Obion County, Sr., RB/LB)
Asa Barnes (Westview, Jr., RB/LB)
Ty Beard (Covington, Sr., DB/WR)
Miles Brown (Westview, Jr., WR/DB)
Christopher Damron (Westview, Sr., DB/WR)
Jysen Grant (Dyersburg, Sr., DE/FB)
Peyton Hill (Dyersburg, Sr., RB/LB)
Johnathan Holcomb (Ripley, Sr., DL)
Anthony Jones (Bolivar, Sr., RB/LB)
Donteze Joy (Westview, Sr., WR)
Jackson Kirby (Covington, Sr., OL)
Kealan Polk (Bolivar, Sr., WR/DB)
Graham Simpson (Westview, So., QB)
Jaheim Smith (Covington, Jr., RB/DB)
Case Stone (McNairy Central, Sr., QB/ATH)
Tidbits
Bolivar
Mascot: Tigers
2024 record: 6-5 (4-3 7-3A)
Coach: Rennard Woodmore (2nd season: 6-5)
What to know: With this being Woodmore’s second season in charge of the Tigers, expect a much better product on the field. Bolivar will have the skill players to match any team in this region except Westview. The Tigers will have to figure out a way to win in the trenches to give those playmakers time. Junior Colton Mayfield is a dual threat at quarterback and will be tough to try and defend. Senior Anthony Jones will carry the load in the rushing game, and senior Kealan Polk will be the go-to receiver for the Tigers. Outside of sophomore Kayden McNatt, the Tigers don’t have a lot of experience on the offensive line. The defense has many unknowns this season also, so it will take time to develop. Jones along with senior Kaden Willis and junior Chris Henderson will lead in the secondary and might be the best part of the Tigers’ defense.
Covington
Mascot: Chargers
2024 record: 11-2 (6-1 7-3A)
Coach: J.R. Kirby (7th season: 60-16)
What to know: Mr. Football winner Skylan Smith has graduated after leading the Chargers’ rushing game last year. Senior quarterback Walker Davis returns, and Skylan’s brother junior Jaheim Smith will be key in the backfield. Senior Jackson Kirby has been getting college attention on the line, and he will lead the battle up front. Defensively, Covington returns two of the top defensive backs in the area in Jaheim Smith and senior Ty Beard, but it is what happens in front of the secondary that will be the key to the Chargers having success. There will be new faces on the defensive line, although Collen Winfrey has shown potential at linebacker.
Dyersburg
Mascot: Trojans
2024 record: 7-4 (4-2 7-3A)
Coach: Bart Stowe (16th season: 130-60)
What to know: The Trojans have long been known for their defense, and this season should be no different. The defense will keep Dyersburg in games, and if the offense can develop and have moments of brilliance, this team will win lots of games. Dyersburg will have a strong defensive line led by seniors Jysen Grant and Isaiah Thomas. Dyersburg also has a senior leader at the other two levels of defense as Kendrick Gourley leads the linebackers and Jaden Harris leads the secondary. The Trojans will have to replace multiple skill positions on offense, but senior Peyton Hill should fill in the running back position well. Dyersburg has some linemen that have worked hard through the summer like senior Jaxen Perkins, junior John Revell and junior Will Rogers that could be a big boost as the new skill players settle into new roles.
McNairy Central
Mascot: Bobcats
2024 record: 3-7 (2-5 7-3A)
Coach: Justin Truett (2nd season: 3-7)
What to know: In Truett’s second year in charge, the Bobcats will try to take another step toward getting back to a winning program. Senior Case Stone is back at quarterback and ready to lead the offense. Senior Bari Wooden will be a player to watch rushing the ball, but there are lots of questions on the offensive line that will try to open holes for Wooden to run through. The McNairy Central defense will be led by their veteran linebacking corps. The linebackers are led by senior Kendal Keistler and senior Jaydon Cruse. So from now until the start of the season, the coaching staff will try to get the defensive line and secondary to a point of matching the play of the linebackers.
Obion County
Mascot: Rebels
2024 record: 4-7 (1-3 7-4A)
Coach: Clayton Morris (2nd season: 4-7)
What to know: The Rebels make the move down to Class 3A after playing in Region 7-4A last season. The competition won’t get easier for Obion County. This team knows how Morris is going to coach and what he wants, so that year of experience should be a positive for the Rebels. Obion County’s defense is going to anchor this team after giving up 13 or less points in six of the 10 games played last year. Derek Argo, Morgan Carpenter and Bryson Underwood will be leaders defensively, and they will be joined by talented players like Conner Reaves and Joshua Davis on the defensive line, and Harrison Hooper and Tae Stallings in the secondary. Morris has worked with two quarterbacks through the summer as senior Stone Ladden and sophomore Tucker Phelon have seen time there. Latonio Fair, Jr. and Argo will be leaders in the rushing attack.
Ripley
Mascot: Tigers
2024 record: 4-5 (3-4 7-3A)
Coach: Jordan Gardner (2nd season: 4-5)
What to know: The Tigers boast one of the top defensive linemen in the region in Johnathan Holcomb. But there isn’t much star power around him right now. Those types of players can develop, and Ripley has some potential ones with C.J. Edwards, Justin Henning, Ben Rose and Landon Williams. Offensively, the Tigers have some holes to fill also. Ripley has to figure out some skill players to step up offensively as well as linemen. Senior Calvin Holloway will be the top receiver for Ripley, but there has to be a quarterback to get the ball to him.
Westview
Mascot: Chargers
2024 record: 14-1 (7-0 7-3A)
Coach: Matt McConnell (3rd season: 20-6)
What to know: After reaching the Class 3A title game last year, the Chargers enter this season as the favorite to win the state championship. But first, Westview will try to win the region championship for the second straight year. Weapons abound for the Chargers all over the field on both offense and defense. Sophomore Graham Simpson is the best quarterback in the state and should have a big sophomore season. Junior Asa Barnes has been highly recruited since the end of last season, and he will carry the load in the running game. The receiving corps is numerous with senior Donteze Joy, junior Miles Brown, senior Christopher Damron and junior Caleb Campbell. Westview’s offensive line has the potential to be better than last year with senior Harry Freeman, junior Aidan Hill and junior Josh Frensley leading the way. Sophomore Drake Hickman might be one of the top young defensive linemen in the state, and he is expected to be a force again this season. Damron and Brown will be key at defensive back, and junior Finn Snider can swarm to the ball from his linebacker position. With Alcoa moving to Class 4A, the Chargers are expected to not only make it back to Chattanooga but to bring home a second gold ball.
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.
