Region 5-2A Football: Can Adamsville or Riverside battle for the region championship?
Last season was tough for Riverside. The Panthers are usually in the mix to win region championships, but last year, the team had its first losing season since 2015.
Adamsville was in the mix, but the Cardinals couldn’t break into the top two – Lewis County and Mt. Pleasant – and earn a home playoff game.
Both are trying to be in the mix for the top spot in the region this season.
Scotts Hill didn’t win a game last year, but the Lions were young, and they are hoping that the experience from last year leads to more success this year.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Mt. Pleasant
2. Lewis County
3. Riverside
4. Adamsville
5. Summertown
6. Loretto
7. Scotts Hill
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Top region games
Riverside at Adamsville (Week 4; Sept. 11) – The two West Tennessee teams in the region face off in the region opener. If Riverside is going to be in the discussion for a region title, this will be a big game for the Panthers to prove that. Adamsville earned the win last year to help the Cardinals finish third in the region.
Lewis County at Mt. Pleasant (Week 10; Oct. 23) – These were the top two teams in the region last year, and the same could be true this season. Winning the region title is important to stay at home in the second round of the playoffs.
Lewis County at Riverside (Week 11; Oct. 30) – If the Panthers want to earn a home playoff game, a win here is necessary. Lewis County will be coming off a tough game at Mt. Pleasant the week before, and the team will have to come to Decaturville for this one.
15 players to watch
Colston Anderson (Mt. Pleasant, Sr., OL/DL)
Colby Cates (Lewis County, Sr., DE)
Jack Cupples (Riverside, Sr., QB/ATH)
Max Dillard (Summertown, Sr., ATH/S)
Kobe Feichtinger (Lewis County, Sr., WR/DB)
Kaden Henderson (Scotts Hill, Sr., LB/RB)
Brayden Jones (Adamsville, Sr., OL/DL)
Kaden McCrory (Mt. Pleasant, Sr., RB/LB)
Merrel Perez (Riverside, Jr., RB/LB)
Christopher Pitmon (Riverside, Sr., OL/DL)
Brayden Cooper (Lewis County, So., LB/TE)
Kale Scott (Mt. Pleasant, Sr., QB)
Asah Story (Adamsville, Sr., LB)
Easton Thompson (Adamsville, Sr., OL/DL)
Vinny Veloz (Loretto, Sr., ATH/S)
Team tidbits
Adamsville
Mascot: Cardinals
2025 record: 7-4 (4-2 5-2A)
Coach: Brandon Gray (21st season: 130-86)
What to know: After a two-year hiatus, the Cardinals were back in the Class 2A playoffs last season. But they ran into East Nashville in the opening round. Adamsville was a senior-laden team last season, so Brandon Gray has been working on rebuilding in the offseason. Ben Hill and Avery Burks aren’t going to be in the backfield. Senior JC Gray got some playing time last year at quarterback – going 9-for-11 for 158 yards with two touchdowns – but he was the team’s leading receiver with 48 catches for 665 yards and four touchdowns. Look for Lucas Hughes to be the leading receiver this season. Adamsville’s defense will have to lead this team this season, and that group is led by senior Asah Story at linebacker. Jackson Johnson also had a strong freshman season last year on defense.
Lewis County
Mascot: Panthers
2025 record: 10-2 (6-0 5-2A)
Coach: Ronnie Yeisler (4th season: 25-9)
What to know: Last year brought the Panthers back to where they are used to sitting – on top of the region. Lewis County won the Region 5-2A crown before running into eventual state champion Huntingdon in the second round of the playoffs. But now coach Ronnie Yeisler will have to work to keep the Panthers on top of the region after losing key players on both sides of the ball. Kolt Skelton threw for 1,668 yards with 17 touchdowns last season, and Drew Ray rushed for 1,642 yards and 32 touchdowns. But both were seniors and have graduated. Kobe Feichtinger led the team in receiving with 547 yards and five touchdowns, and he is back for his senior season. Lewis County was led by a freshman on defense last year as Brayden Cooper had 102 total tackles with eight tackles for loss.
Loretto
Mascot: Mustangs
2024 record: 2-8 (1-5 5-2A)
Coach: Bryce Glass (2nd season: 2-8)
What to know: The Mustangs struggled last season and ended the season on a five-game losing streak. Loretto only scored 21 points in the final four weeks of the season. But the Mustangs were a young team last year that gained needed experience. The key is how those players continued in the offseason.
Mt. Pleasant
Mascot: Tigers
2025 record: 9-3 (5-1 5-2A)
Coach: Kit Hartsfield (6th season: 34-19)
What to know: The Tigers won seven of their first eight games last season to finish second in Region 5-2A. But Mt. Pleasant fell to Milan in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. Kale Scott is back for his senior season after throwing for 2,076 yards with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions last year in his first season under center. The Tigers also return leading running back in senior Kayden McCrory, who rushed for 958 yards and 19 touchdowns, but they did graduate leading receiver Payton Niehaus, who had 1,040 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Mt. Pleasant will try to win its first region title since 2022 this season. Defensively, the Tigers return the top two tacklers from last season in junior AJ Seiber (97 total tackles) and senior Braydon Parish (77 tackles).
Riverside
Mascot: Panthers
2025 record: 3-8 (3-3 5-2A)
Coach: Johnnie Frost (11th season: 89-41)
What to know: Losing seasons are not commonplace through recent years for the Panthers. Last season was the first losing season since 2015. Riverside started the season 0-5, but the team won three games in the second half of the season to earn a playoff spot. The positive is that the Panthers return some key players that have gained a year of experience. Junior running back Merrel Perez will be back to lead the rushing attack. Riverside should have a strong offensive line for Perez to run behind led by seniors Christopher Pitmon and Jon Parker Graves. Senior quarterback Jack Cupples is also set to return. So the Panthers have skilled players and a strong line, but the question is how strong the defense will be after giving up 31.5 points per game last year.
Scotts Hill
Mascot: Lions
2025 record: 0-10 (0-6 5-2A)
Coach: Kyle McDaniel (1st season)
What to know: The Lions will continue to work through a rebuild as the program has gone 1-19 over the past two seasons. Scotts Hill moved down from Class 3A to Class 2A last season, but that didn’t result in any wins. Scotts Hill has a new head coach in Kyle McDaniel, becoming the sixth head coach since 2016. The Lions scored 62 points last season, but 22 of those points came in Week 11 against Franklin Christian.
Summertown
Mascot: Eagles
2025 record: 4-6 (2-4 5-2A)
Coach: Dan Winfree (4th season: 13-18)
What to know: The Eagles ended the season on a three-game losing streak and missed out on the Class 2A playoffs. But they did score 43 points in wins over Scotts Hill and Loretto. Senior Max DIlliard returns at quarterback, where he threw for 509 yards and rushed for 626 yards last season with a total of 14 touchdowns. DIlliard will be the key to Summertown’s success this season. Senior Colton Pugh returns at running back. If the Eagles can develop an offensive line, Summertown has the rushing ability to make a push for a playoff spot. Senior McKeleb Powell also returns after leading the team in receiving yards with 211 to go with four touchdowns. Summertown will be a team to watch this season to see if last year’s experience can result in a return trip to the playoffs for the second time in three years.
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.
