South Gibson’s Cason Coggins (14) looks to pass the ball against Trezevant during a Week 5 high school football game.

“Tough weekend?” Victor Parkins asked as I walked into the office, already knowing the answer.

“Yea, my wife Jean lost the matriarch of her family and the funeral was Saturday,” I replied. “It’s never easy to lose a special leader of the family that had four children, eight grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, along with other members that married into the family.”

“Very true, Michael, very true,” Parkins replied.

“So for this week, I remember the life of Doris Marie Pledge,” I said. “In Mike Hauser’s poem ‘The Family Matriarch,”

“She is the hope in all of us

The shining light, the path of love

She is the strength from out the start

The very beat deep in the heart”

“But know Victor, I am now right on your heels in our pick’em contest as I beat you by two and am only one game behind,” I said.

In the weekly pick’em contest, I went 13-2 last week with my best week of the season, beating Parkins by two as he went 11-4.

I was 4-0 in picking games involving Gibson County area teams, while Parkins went 3-1, missing Humboldt’s win over West Carroll. I am now 20-3 (.869 winning percentage) with my county picks, while Parkins is 18-5 (.783).

Last week, we both missed Gleason’s win over Lake County and North Side’s win over Dyer County, while Parkins also missed Munford’s win over Haywood.

After five weeks, I am 56-19 (.747) with my picks across West Tennessee, while Parkins is 57-18 (.760).

So here is to another strong week in Week 6:

JCM (1-4, 0-2 7-2A) at Milan (5-0, 2-0)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

This was the Bulldogs’ only misstep last season during the regular season. Expect Milan to come out ready to play and not wanting this one to get away from them as they try to repeat as the Region 7-2A champion.

Odom’s Pick: Milan 28, JCM 7

Vic’s Pick: Milan 31, JCM 30

Union City (2-3, 1-0 7-2A) at Peabody (5-0, 2-0)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

This rivalry returns as Union City jumped up from Class 1A following last season. Union City picked up its first region win last week, but Peabody will provide a tougher test than Halls.

Odom’s Pick: Peabody 34, Union City 24

Vic’s Pick: Peabody 40, Union City 14

Dyer County (4-1, 2-1 7-4A) at South Gibson (2-3, 1-1)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The Choctaws gave up 57 points last week to North Side. The Hornets will want to try and score early and often this week. But Dyer County won the first four games of the 2025 season for a reason. 

Odom’s Pick: Dyer County 28, South Gibson 24

Vic’s Pick: Dyer County 21, South Gibson 17

Huntingdon (4-1, 2-1 7-2A) at Gibson County (0-5, 0-2)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The Pioneers go from hosting Milan to hosting a team that is only one step behind the Bulldogs in a tough Huntingdon team.

Odom’s Pick: Huntingdon 42, Gibson County 6

Vic’s Pick: Huntingdon 56, Gibson County 13

Dresden (2-3, 1-1 7-1A) at Humboldt (2-3, 1-1)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The Vikings have now won back-to-back games, but the defense showed holes last week against West Carroll. Humboldt needs to clean that up before playing Dresden this week. 

Odom’s Pick: Dresden 35, Humboldt 20

Vic’s Pick: Dresden 38, Humboldt 16

Greenfield (2-3, 0-1 7-1A) at West Carroll (1-4, 0-2)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The War Eagles got a spark offensively last week at Humboldt, so they will try to get that again along with a few defensive stops to earn a Region 7-1A victory.

Odom’s Pick: Greenfield 32, West Carroll 8

Vic’s Pick: Greenfield 40, West Carroll 16

Best of the West

Perry County (2-3) at Gleason (2-3)

Odom’s Pick: Gleason

Vic’s Pick: Gleason

Lausanne (1-2) at Westview (4-0)

Odom’s Pick: Westview

Vic’s Pick: Westview

Halls (1-4) at Fayette Academy (1-4)

Odom’s Pick: Halls

Vic’s Pick: Halls

Fayette-Ware (2-3, 0-2 8-4A) at Haywood (3-2, 2-0)

Odom’s Pick: Haywood

Vic’s Pick: Haywood

Jackson Christian (5-0, 1-0 D2-A) at Tipton-Rosemark (3-2, 2-0)

Odom’s Pick: Jackson Christian

Vic’s Pick: Jackson Christian

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

Odom’s Pick: North Side

Vic’s Pick: Crockett County

Lexington (4-1, 2-1 7-4A) at South Side (3-2, 1-1)

Odom’s Pick: Lexington

Vic’s Pick: South Side

McNairy Central (1-4, 0-2 7-3A) at Bolivar (3-2, 1-1)

Odom’s Pick: Bolivar

Vic’s Pick: Bolivar

McKenzie (4-1) at Chester County (2-3)

Odom’s Pick: McKenzie

Vic’s Pick: McKenzie

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.