Region 7-1A Football: Will Dresden repeat as the region champion?
Last season, Dresden was a cream of the Region 7-1A crop. The Lions won the region championship with an unbeaten record in region play, and running back Luke Di Pietro was named a Class 1A Mr. Football semifinalist.
Di Pietro and others graduated and a few more players transferred, so the Lions will have a new look this season.
Greenfield and South Fulton also reached the second round of the Class 1A playoffs last year, while Humboldt made the playoffs. So there will be plenty of teams trying to take that top spot from the Lions.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Humboldt
2. Dresden
3. Greenfield
4. South Fulton
5. Lake County
6. West Carroll
7. Gleason
Top region games
Greenfield at South Fulton (Week 4; Sept. 11) – If Greenfield wants to earn a home playoff, this game in the opening week of region play is a big first step. The Yellowjackets’ line will have to be clicking in this one as South Fulton finished as the region runner-up last year.
Humboldt at Dresden (Week 6; Sept. 25) – If the Vikings are going to climb up and win a region title for the first time since 1996, this would be the game to flex those muscles. Dresden’s younger players will have had five games to try and figure things out. Humboldt will have the athletes, but Dresden will have the bigger line.
Dresden at Greenfield (Week 8; Oct. 9) – This opens a three-game road stretch for the Lions to end the regular season. Dresden will have played at home five of the last six weeks. Greenfield will be coming off a trip to Humboldt, but the Yellowjackets will have to be ready for this one.
Read about other region breakdowns
Region 6-1A Football: Can McKenzie make another run at the Class 1A state championship game?
Region 5-2A Football: Can Adamsville or Riverside battle for the region championship?
15 players to watch
Edward Agnew (Humboldt, Sr., RB/LB)
Tyon Campbell (Humboldt, Sr., WR/DB)
Jaden Champion (Humboldt, Jr., ATH)
Brennen Cook (Gleason, Jr., OL/DL)
Nigel Clark (Lake County, Sr., TE/LB)
Ayden Flora (Dresden, Sr., WR/DB)
Cade Lanier (Lake County, QB/ATH, Jr.)
Jerrick McMullen (Greenfield, Sr., ATH/DB)
Cole Mueller (West Carroll, Sr., OL/DE)
Mason Parrish (South Fulton, Sr., WR/S)
Westin Porter (Greenfield, Jr., RB/LB)
Athan Spaulding (Dresden, So., QB)
Darion Taylor (Humboldt, Sr., WR/DB)
Sam Southerland (South Fulton, Sr., OL/DL)
Jacoby Sutton (Dresden, Sr., TE/DL)
Team tidbits
Dresden
Mascot: Lions
2025 record: 9-3 (6-0 7-1A)
Coach: Justin Cruse (3rd season: 14-8)
What to know: Last season saw the Lions rise back to the top of the Region 7-1A standings and spot in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs. But Dresden was hit hard by graduation – including Class 1A Mr. Football semifinalist Luke Di Pietro, who rushed for 1,652 yards and 26 touchdowns on 182 carries. The Lions also lost some key players as transfers – including starting quarterback Bruce Willis. So Dresden will be young this year. Sophomore Athan Spaulding has taken over at quarterback, and leading receiver Ayden Flora is also back for his senior year. The defense will have to lead the Lions at the start of the season with the offense picking up steam as the season progresses.
Gleason
Mascot: Bulldogs
2025 record: 3-7 (2-4 7-1A)
Coach: Noah Lampkins (24th season: 83-162)
What to know: The Bulldogs graduated nine seniors last year, and all of them played quality minutes. Gleason will be young this season with very few upperclassmen on the roster. So the Bulldogs will take some hits early, but this team should get better as those young players gain experience. Brennan Cook was Gleason’s best lineman last year, and he is back for his junior season. Bo Bailey got some playing time last year at quarterback when Drake Lehmkuhl was moved out to receiver. Junior James Flaurr has shown the ability to make plays and will be key in the Bulldogs’ passing game.
Greenfield
Mascot: Yellowjackets
2025 record: 7-5 (4-2 7-1A)
Coach: Don Pitt (14th season: 57-79)
What to know: The Yellowjackets finished third in Region 7-1A last season and reached the second round of the Class 1A playoffs with a win over Oakhaven. Quarterback Easton Sullivan was a dual threat last year with 1,200 passing yards and 1,200 rushing yards. Knox Liggett is set to take over the duties at quarterback. Junior Westin Porter is back after rushing for 797 yards and 13 touchdowns, while recording 406 receiving yards with two touchdowns. Senior Jerrick McMullen is expected to have a breakout season after rushing for 212 yards and having 184 receiving yards. A big question is the line as Cevon McMullen and Caden Sparkman were the leaders last year, but both were seniors. Greenfield does return a majority of the defense, so those guys should set the tone every game. Junior Brock King is a big part of the defense because of his versatility after finishing with 85 total tackles last season with 40 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.
Humboldt
Mascot: Vikings
2025 record: 5-6 (3-3 7-1A)
Coach: Hayden Williams (3rd season: 8-13)
What to know: For the second straight year, the Vikings improved under coach Hayden Williams as the team reached the Class 1A playoffs. This year’s team should compete for the region championship, if everyone stays healthy. Humboldt will have to replace KD Taylor, who was a utility player last year, he completed 133-of-178 passes for 2,341 yards and 28 touchdowns, rushed the ball 44 times for 507 yards and six touchdowns and caught six passes for 106 yards. Senior Darion Taylor is back as a leader at receiver and defensive back. He recorded 101 tackles with one sack, one interception and three forced fumbles, while also recording 819 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Tyon Campbell complements Taylor well on the field. He had 52 catches with 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns, while also recording 104 tackles with three sacks and two interceptions last season. The Vikings got a transfer in senior Edward Agnew from Peabody that is a big addition at running back. Sophomores Jaden Champion and De’Andre Emerson along with freshman Dee Westbrook will also play a large role for the Vikings.
Lake County
Mascot: Falcons
2025 record: 5-5 (2-4 7-1A)
Coach: Hunter Short (3rd season: 10-11)
What to know: After a large graduating class in 2024, the Falcons were young last season. A year of experience could help this team. Short has worked in the offseason to try and get the pieces to fall together, and the Falcons still have the potential for a strong season. Junior Cade Lanier is back at quarterback after throwing for 659 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 559 yards and five touchdowns. But the Falcons graduated running back Ka’Devon Gross, who rushed for 1,475 yards and 24 touchdowns with eight 100-yard games last season. Senior Nigel Clark is back at linebacker to lead the defense. Lake County was inconsistent last year. The Falcons shutout Ripley, scored 90 points in consecutive wins over Fulton County (Ky.) and West Carroll) and beat South Fulton, who ended the season second in Region 7-1A, but they also lost to Gleason 50-34 and ended the season with three straight losses to Humboldt, Greenfield and Dresden.
South Fulton
Mascot: Red Devils
2025 record: 9-3 (4-2 7-1A)
Coach: Cole Clanton (2nd season: 9-3)
What to know: The Red Devils managed to finish runner-up in Region 7-1A last season, and they reached the second round of the Class 1A playoffs after beating Westwood. South Fulton lost the top two running backs to graduation from last season in Josh McKnight and Charlie Mike Mulcahy. Junior Grant Joyner is set to return to lead the offense, but he has to have weapons around him, and the Red Devils are working to develop those. Senior Trevor Stunson is expected to be one of those guys. South Fulton’s strength last season was the strength of the team, giving up 133 points during the regular season with four shutouts. The Red Devils return six of those starters. Seniors Sam Sutherland and Gavin Dixon will be leaders on defense.
West Carroll
Mascot: War Eagles
2025 record: 1-9 (0-6 7-1A)
Coach: Nick Cobb (1st season)
What to know: The War Eagles have had a different head coach for each of the past four years, and Cobb is the five head coach of the program since 2020. Cobb was on Jay Taylor’s staff last season, so the players are accustomed to his ways. West Carroll has to figure out a way to move the ball and score as the team only had 134 points last season, and the top player in total yardage – Mason Taylor – has transferred to Milan. West Carroll ended the season holding South Fulton to 17 points, and that is what the program has tried to build on during the offseason. Cole Mueller and Noah Cecchini will be leaders on the defensive line, Caleb Vermillion and Keegan Mealer will be key in the linebacking corps and Braden Marise is hoping to be back from injury to lead the secondary. Sophomore Parker Newman is back at quarterback after starting last season, but now he has a year of experience under his belt.
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.
