Milan’s Carson Kelley (2) makes a tackle against Chattanooga Prep during a high school football game at Johnnie Hale Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025.

“Michael, your neck is a bit red there,” Victor Parkins laughed as I walked in the Mirror-Exchange office on Monday morning. “Are you becoming a red neck?”

I turned and my face matched the redness on my neck.

“I get to cover Milan for one week, and we have to have temperatures in the 90s with the sun blazing down on Bob Parkins Field like we are in the middle of July,” I scoffed back. “I had sweat through my shirt before the game even started, and that is with me drinking two Powerades from the concession stand.”

“Well, I sat at home and watched the Tennessee-Georgia game, and well, I wasn’t in a good mood after that,” Parkins said.

“Yea, Max Gilbert didn’t make any friends on Saturday,” I laughed. “And the positive is I got one game back on you.”

I went 11-4 last week, beating Parkins’ 10-5 record by one game. The one game difference came with Odom correctly picking Peabody’s win over Jackson Central-Merry.

So Odom went 4-1 with Gibson County area games and Parkins went 3-2 as both missed South Side’s win over South Gibson.

Outside of the county, we both missed Lexington’s win over North Side, Dyer County’s win over Crockett County and Millington’s win over Fayette-Ware.

Parkins holds the lead after four weeks as he is 46-14 (.767 winning percentage), and I am 43-17 (.717).

Here is to an even better Week 5:

Milan (4-0, 1-0 7-2A) at Gibson County (0-4, 0-1)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

These two programs are at two different points of development. Gibson County is trying to grow the program and find new talent, while Milan is trying to get back to Chattanooga for a chance to win the Class 2A state title.

Odom’s Pick: Milan 42, Gibson County 6

Parkins’ Pick: Milan 56, Gibson County 6

Douglass (0-4) at Peabody (4-0)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The Golden Tide are hitting their stride on the season, while Douglass is yet to score a point. Peabody shouldn’t have any trouble with this one.

Odom’s Pick: Peabody 45, Douglass 0

Parkins’ Pick: Peabody 49, Douglass 12

Trezevant (1-3) at South Gibson (1-3)

When: 7 p.m., Thursday

The Hornets are playing a day early this week. But after Friday’s loss to South Side, South Gibson will want to get that bad taste out of their mouths. The Bears are on a three-game losing streak.

Odom’s Pick: South Gibson 35, Trezevant 6

Parkins’ Pick: South Gibson 45, Trezevant 0

West Carroll (1-3, 0-1 7-1A) at Humboldt (1-3, 0-1)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The Vikings are coming off their first win on the season. Humboldt will have more weapons, and the team will try to use those to pick up the first Region 7-1A win of the season.

Odom’s Pick: Humboldt 38, West Carroll 18

Parkins’ Pick: West Carroll 20, Humboldt 18

Best of the West

Ripley (0-4) at Dresden (2-2)

Odom’s Pick: Dresden

Parkins’ Pick: Dresden

Westview (3-0, 1-0 7-3A) at McNairy Central (1-3, 0-1)

Odom’s Pick: Westview

Parkins’ Pick: Westview

Gleason (1-3, 0-1 7-1A) at Lake County (2-1, 0-0)

Odom’s Pick: Lake County

Parkins’ Pick: Lake County

Fulton County (Ky.) (0-4) at Greenfield (1-3)

Odom’s Pick: Greenfield

Parkins’ Pick: Greenfield

Munford (3-0) at Haywood (3-1)

Odom’s Pick: Munford

Parkins’ Pick: Haywood

Lakeland Prep (1-3, 1-1 8-4A) at Fayette-Ware (2-2, 0-1)

Odom’s Pick: Lakeland Prep

Parkins’ Pick: Lakeland Prep

Fayette Academy (1-3, 0-1 D2-A) at Jackson Christian (4-0, 0-0)

Odom’s Pick: Jackson Christian

Parkins’ Pick: Jackson Christian

North Side (2-1, 1-1 7-4A) at Dyer County (3-0, 2-0)

Odom’s Pick: Dyer County

Parkins’ Pick: Dyer County

JCM (1-3, 0-1 7-2A) at Huntingdon (3-1, 1-1)

Odom’s Pick: Huntingdon

Parkins’ Pick: Huntingdon

Chester County (2-2, 1-1 7-4A) at Lexington (3-1, 1-1)

Odom’s Pick: Lexington

Parkins’ Pick: Lexington

Hardin County (1-3, 0-2 7-4A) at Crockett County (3-1, 1-1)

Odom’s Pick: Crockett County

Parkins’ Pick: Crockett County

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.