Division II-A West Football: Can USJ win the region and make a return trip to the state championship game?
University School of Jackson was the team to beat in this region last season, and they made it all the way to the Division II-A state championship game.
The Bruins didn’t fare well in the state title game as Nashville Christian beat them 59-7.
In fact, Nashville Christian beat three teams from this region in the final three weeks of the playoffs, beating Jackson Christian 42-14 in the state quarterfinals, Trinity Christian Academy 41-7 in the semifinals and then USJ in the championship game.
USJ seems to be back and loaded for another strong season with a return trip to Chattanooga within its grasp.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. USJ
2. Jackson Christian
3. TCA
4. Tipton-Rosemark
5. Harding Academy
6. Fayette Academy
7. FACS
Top region games
TCA at USJ (Week 3; Sept. 4) – This game came down to a last second field goal by the Bruins to earn a 23-21 win. USJ is hosting this year, and the Bruins have more key players back from last season. TCA will need a solid offensive output to have a chance.
Jackson Christian at TCA (Week 7; Oct. 2) – The Lions managed to pull out a 31-28 victory last year, and that allowed TCA to stay away from Nashville Christian until the state semifinals. Both teams lost key players, but they both have leaders back on defense.
USJ at Jackson Christian (Week 11; Oct. 29) – The Bruins shutout the Eagles last season in Week 11, and USJ used the momentum from that game to make the run in the postseason. Jackson Christian has some young talent, but by Week 11, those young players will have nine games under their belt.
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?
Region 7-2A Football: Will Huntingdon make a run at a second straight state championship?
Region 7-3A Football: Can Westview repeat as region champion, state champion?
Region 8-4A Football: Will Haywood win the region championship again?
15 players to watch
Hardy Armour (Fayette Academy, Sr., RB/LB)
Harris Armour (Fayette Academy, Sr., QB/DB)
Carter Camacho (Harding Academy, Sr., QB)
Joe Cole (TCA, Jr., LB/RB)
Cayden Creech (USJ, Sr., QB)
Neyland Ezell (Tipton-Rosemark, Jr., WR/S)
Colby Funk (Tipton-Rosemark, Sr., RB)
James Martin, FACS, So., RB/LB)
Kelsey Rose Jr. (Jackson Christian, Sr., DE/WR)
Karson Scott (Jackson Christian, Fr., QB/DB)
Jacob Snider (USJ, Sr., WR/DB)
Bradley Stamper (USJ, Sr., WR/DB)
Tarhye Taylor (Jackson Christian, Sr., LB)
Reed Williamson (TCA, Sr., WR/CB)
Eli Yandell (USJ, Sr., LB)
Team Tidbits
Fayette Academy
Mascot: Vikings
2025 record: 1-9 (0-6)
Head coach: Robert Akins (1st season)
What to know: The Vikings were hit hard by injuries last season, and that resulted in the program’s worst record since 2014 when they went 0-10. The positive is that Fayette Academy only had two seniors, so they return a veteran group. Senior Harris Armour will be back under center after throwing for 601 yards with four touchdowns last season. Senior Hardy Armour is also back at running back after rushing for 786 yards and six touchdowns. The Vikings gave up 338 points last season, but the defense spent lots of time on the field as the offensive only accumulated 103 points. The VIkings will want to end their nine-game losing streak entering the season and try to add wins after that. New coach Robert Akins has been all over as a coach, so the hope is that he can get this group of players to peak in October.
First Assembly Christian
Mascot: Crusaders
2025 record: 2-8 (1-5)
Head coach: Doug Abernathy (1st season)
What to know: The Crusaders’ only win in Tennessee came in Week 11 with a seven-point victory over Fayette Academy. The other win was a 12-0 victory over Walnut (Miss.). The offense struggled last season with only 132 points scored. FACS must find a new quarterback as Jaden Santucci graduated, but a junior and freshman got some playing time last year. The Crusaders do return both running backs in senior Najja Williams and sophomore James Martin, and this team will rely heavily on the rushing game. FACS looks to have four seniors on the team as of the start of the season.
Harding Academy
Mascot: Lions
2025 record: 4-6 (2-4)
Head coach: Herbert Kendall (5th season; 7-33)
What to know: Last season’s four wins the most for the Lions since they went 6-5 in 2018. The wins were spread out throughout the season, so this team will try to string a couple wins together to climb up the region standings. Hardin Academy scored 170 points, the most points in a season in six years, and the team gave up 276 points, which was the lowest in four years. Harding Academy is set to return the leading passer, rusher and receiver this season. Senior Carter Camacho led the Lions with 750 yards passing and nine touchdowns, senior Justin Barham had 499 yards rushing and six touchdowns and senior Darius Oliver had 21 receptions for 368 yards and six touchdowns.
Jackson Christian
Mascot: Eagles
2025 record: 9-3 (4-2)
Head coach: Darby Palmer (10th season; 68-35)
What to know: The Eagles finished third in the region last season, but they made the run all the way to the Division II-A state quarterfinals. Defensive end Kelsey Rose Jr. is one of the best in the position in the area, and he has committed to South Florida. Senior Tarhye Taylor transferred from Fayette-Ware after leading the Wildcats in tackles last season. Jackson Christian will have new pieces in the passing and receiving game, but senior Jay Pirtle rushed for 767 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Jackson Christian has made the playoffs every season since 2019, and the team has been to the quarterfinals each of the past five years.
Tipton-Rosemark
Mascot: Rebels
2025 record: 4-7 (3-3)
Head coach: Shannon O’Brien (7th season; 25-35)
What to know: No team in this region will have more of a different look than the Rebels. Nix Fullen has been a Tennessee Titans Division II-A Mr. Football finalist each of the past two seasons, but he has graduated. Fullen rushed for 1,979 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. The second leading rusher was Colby Funk with 75 yards. Junior Jackson Posey was the quarterback last season, and he threw for 779 yards and five touchdowns, so he should be back and ready to lead the offense. But Fullen was the leading receiver with 25 catches for 313 yards. Junior Neyland Ezell does return after catching 20 passes for 144 yards. Tipton-Rosemark hasn’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs since 2005, and the Rebels enter this season on a four-game losing streak.
Trinity Christian Academy
Mascot: Lions
2025 record: 10-3 (5-1)
Head coach: Darren Bowling (4th season; 25-11)
What to know: The Lions went on a postseason run to reach the Division II-A semifinals before losing to Nashville Christian. They won nine straight games after starting the season 1-2. Last year’s 10 wins was the first double-digit wins since 2013 when TCA went 11-2. The Lions graduated Owen Atwood, who threw for 1,723 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, but junior Greg Carter is back, and Milan transfer Ryder Weaver is also eligible. TCA will also have to find a new running back as Hank Miller and Atwood each rushed for over 900 yards and combined for 31 touchdowns. Added to the graduated leaders is Gabe Lee, who led the Lions in receiving with 955 yards and 18 touchdowns. TCA does return one of the top linebackers in West Tennessee in junior Joe Cole, who finished last season with 115 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
University School of Jackson
Mascot: Bruins
2025 record: 11-2 (6-0)
Head coach: Derrick Pritchard (4th season: 28-9)
What to know: After winning the region last season, the Bruins went all the way to the Division II-A West state championship game before losing to Nashville Christian 59-7. It was the team’s four region championship in five years, and it was the team’s first state championship appearance since 2020. USJ had only lost one game prior to the championship game, and it was a one-point loss to Dyer County (27-26). The Bruins return senior quarterback Cayden Creech, who has committed to Marist. Last season, he threw for 2,563 yards with 33 touchdowns and four interceptions. USJ also returns three of their top four receivers in senior Jacob Snider (321 yards), junior Jake Payne (298) and senior Bradley Stamper (210). Stamper is a Memphis commitment. The Bruins will have to replace running back Jackson Pugh, who rushed for 1,872 yards and 21 touchdowns. Senior Drew Davis and junior Ben Spencer combined to rush for 500 yards with nine touchdowns. USJ also has its defensive leader back in Eli Yandell, who finished last season with 115 total tackles and 14 tackles for loss.
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.
