Region 7-4A Football: Will Dyer County or Chester County repeat as region champion?
When the new classification parameters were set, the two West Tennessee regions Class 4A in 2024 seemed to be smushed together beginning with the 2025 season.
Region 6-4A teams of Chester County, Hardin County, Lexington, North Side, South Gibson and South Side were moved to Region 7-4A to join up with Crockett County and Dyer County, who were in 7-4A last year.
Fayette-Ware and Haywood moved from 7-4A to 8-4A and Obion County dropped to Class 3A.
Chester County won 6-4A last year and Dyer County won 7-4A last year. Now that those two teams are in the same region, will one of those two win another region title or will someone new take the No. 1 spot?
Predicted Order of Finish
- Crockett County
- North Side
- Chester County
- South Gibson
- Lexington
- Dyer County
- Hardin County
- South Side
Top region games
Crockett County at North Side (Week 5; Sept. 26) – AN early region matchup that will be key to deciding the region champion. Both of these teams have NCAA Division I talent, and both will look to play well and put it all out in this one to take the early lead in the region standings.
Chester County at Crockett County (Week 10; Oct. 24) – The final two weeks of the season are huge for the Eagles. Chester County won a region title last year, and with a strong finish, could do the same this year. But the Eagles will have to win at Crockett County. The Cavaliers have lots of athletes that can get up and down the field.
North Side at Chester County (Week 11; Oct. 30) – These two battled it out for the 6-4A title last year, and if both can beat Crockett County, this matchup could decide the region champion again. This game is at Henderson, so Chester County will want to end the regular season strong.
16 players to watch
Amarion Arnold (Lexington, Sr., RB)
Landon Daniels (Dyer County, Sr., QB)
Yahya Gaad (South Gibson, Sr., TE/DL)
Simeon Graham (South Side, Sr., TE/LB)
Jaidden Green (Hardin County, Jr., OL/DL)
Devin Hayward (Dyer County, Sr., WR/S)
Jordan Hunt (Chester County, Jr., WR/DB)
Chris Newbold (South Side, Sr., RB)
Jaydon Reed (South Gibson, Sr., RB)
Aiden Seaton (Lexington, Jr., LB)
Javonte Smith (North Side, Sr., WR/DB)
Georgie Starr (North Side, Sr., LB)
Cayden Talley (Chester County, Sr., OL/DL)
Dre Walker (Crockett County, Sr., TE/LB)
D.K. Woods (Crockett County, Jr., RB)
Lamarion Wyke (Hardin County, Sr., WR/DB)
Tidbits
Chester County
Mascot: Eagles
2024 record: 8-4 (5-0 6-4A)
Coach: Dewond Johnson (4th season: 17-16)
What to know: The Eagles won Region 6-4A last season, so time will tell if the program can win back-to-back titles. Senior Ethan Burks returns at quarterback after leading the team last season. Chester County must figure out the running back position after last year’s go-to guy graduated. Burks will have options at receiver led by junior Jordan Hunt. The Eagles also return senior Cayden Talley and junior Luke Wilson to lead the offensive line, and those two guys will also lead the defensive line. Senior Jayden Williams will be the leader of the defense from his linebacker position. If Coach Johnson can get the inexperienced players to buy into their new roles, Chester County will be back in the hunt for a playoff spot and maybe a home game in the playoffs.
Crockett County
Mascot: Cavaliers
2024 record: 8-4 (2-2 7-4A)
Coach: Kevin Ward (15th season: 88-70)
What to know: The Cavaliers have the type of team to make noise in this new region and battle for the region championship. Junior Ben Burgess is back at quarterback, and his 6-foot-2 frame makes him the perfect fit at that position. Coach Ward brings back lots of experience on the offensive line with Carson Bridger, Austin Carroll, Zerafin Guardian, Joshua Simmons and Nolan Turner. And Crockett County has plenty of skill players, who are led by senior Dre Walker and junior D.K. Woods. Senior Jake Knox will lead the linebacking corps, and the defensive backs are loaded with seniors like Amarion Hobson, Demarrius Pickens and Gabe Dupree.
Dyer County
Mascot: Choctaws
2024 record: 11-2 (4-0 7-4A)
Coach: Justin Dubriel (1st season)
What to know: The Choctaws won Region 7-4A last season, but they had around 25 seniors on the roster. So Dyer County will have lots of new faces on the field along with a new head coach in Dubriel. Senior quarterback Landon Daniels is back under center, so that will be a huge asset going into the season. Senior Devin Hayward at wide receiver and junior Kory Taylor will be called upon to move the ball down the field. One big question mark is the offensive line with little experience returning. Seniors Eric Cowen and Jonathan Byrd and junior Kelvin Redden will need to be leaders on the defensive line. Like the offensive line, the linebackers must figure things out, but the secondary has depth and the only question is who is ready to step in and be a starter.
Hardin County
Mascot: Tigers
2024 record: 3-7 (1-4 6-4A)
Coach: Alex Seaton (2nd season: 3-7)
What to know: Seaton will try to continue to build the Tigers back to a program that competes for the region championship. Hardin County wasn’t there last year, and that same might be true this season. Junior Aidan Coleman has the potential to start at quarterback. But the skill players that will surround him and make plays is up in the air. Outside of Jaidden Green the offensive line will also enter the season with questions. With seniors Caleb Murphy and Chris Rodriguez back in the defensive line, Hardin County has a little more to build around. The secondary will be led by senior Lamarion Wyke, but the other positions seem to be wide open.
Lexington
Mascot: Tigers
2024 record: 3-7 (2-3 6-4A)
Coach: Derek Carr (2nd season: 3-7)
What to know: The Tigers picked up three wins in Carr’s first season in charge. Lexington is young, so it will be interesting who steps into starting roles offensively. The two players that the offense are built around are senior quarterback Ross McDaniel and senior running back Amarion Arnold. Those two will have to carry the offense especially in the early stages as young players learn to step into starting roles. But the Tigers should be solid on the defensive side of the ball. Junior linebacker Aiden Seaton will be the leader on the defense and make sure that everyone is lined up correctly. The defensive line will be built around senior Trace Swearingen. The secondary has some of the pieces with Arnold, junior Cameren Gorden and sophomore Aviance Huddleston, so the key will be how they mesh together.
North Side
Mascot: Indians
2024 record: 6-5 (4-1 6-4A)
Coach: Woodrow Lowe Jr. (3rd season: 10-12)
What to know: The Indians should be right there in the mix for the region championship like they were last year in Region 6-4A. North Side has the skill players to compete with any team in the region. Senior Quinn Jenkins is back at quarterback. Senior Javonta Smith recently committed to Tennessee, and he is definitely a playmaker. But the Indians will have to develop an offensive line. Senior Donta Sawyer will be an anchor on both sides of the line for the Indians. But North Side might be even better on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Chance Simmons joins Sawyer as the big names on the defensive line. The linebacking corps is scary good with seniors Georgie Starr and K.J. Hector and junior Isaiah Burton leading the group. Seniors Davien Caruthers and Smith are shut-down corners that can defend almost anyone.
South Gibson
Mascot: Hornets
2024 record: 4-7 (2-3 6-4A)
Coach: Ben Johnson (4th season: 19-15)
What to know: The Hornets had a rare losing season last year, so they will be focused on trying to bounce back. The key to success will be the size that South Gibson has on both sides of the ball. Senior Yahya Gaad, a UCLA commitment, will anchor the defensive line and will work to stay in the opposing team’s back field. Senior Jack Smith will also be on the defensive line, trying to draw the attention of the offensive line to free other players up. And on the back side of the defense, there is senior Jaydon Reed at linebacker and sophomore Drey Scott at defensive back to create problems. Offensively, the biggest question is quarterback. Johnson went with a single-wing backfield last year, and that could be true again this year. Reed rushed for 1,200 yards last year, so he will be featured again to carry the load with three or four others ready to step into his spot to give him rest. Those guys will lean on the offensive line to open holes. WIth Smith along with junior Max Paschall leading the way, Reed and others should easily be able to get through the line of scrimmage.
South Side
Mascot: Hawks
2024 record: 3-6 (1-4 6-4A)
Coach: Lester Narcisse (3rd season: 5-14)
What to know: The Hawks only won one region game last year and that came in Week 11 against South Gibson. South Side is going to have to find something to be able to compete in this new region. The Hawks are looking for a new quarterback to lead the offense. But they do have senior Chris Newbold back to lead the rushing game. Senior Simeon Graham has gotten some NCAA FCS offers, and he will be a target in the passing game. As South Side tries to figure out the skill players, the team will also have to figure out an inexperienced offensive line, but the coaching staff does have seniors Spencer Ammons and Brady Markham in the mix. There are questions defensively also. The strongest part of the defense will be the linebackers. Graham will be key outside, while senior Greg Green and junior Landon Grandberry will also be key in the middle.
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.
