Region 8-4A Football: Will Haywood win the region championship again?

During the 2025 season, Haywood dominated play in Region 8-4A. The Tomcats went 6-0 in region play and outscored their opponents 300-62 in those six games.

The Tomcats lost some key players, so will a year of experience help any of the other six teams be in the mix for the region championship?

Haywood still has some guys that are battle-tested and ready to lead this program back to the top.

Fayette-Ware came close to a playoff bid last season, and the Wildcats are hoping to be in that mix for a home playoff game and hopefully the region championship.

But don’t count out teams like Kirby, Lakeland Prep and Millington.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Haywood

2. Fayette-Ware

3. Millington

4. Lakeland Prep

5. Kirby

6. Ridgeway

7. Craigmont

Top region games

Millington at Fayette-Ware (Week 4; Sept. 11) – If the Wildcats are going to be in the running for a playoff spot, they have to open the region schedule with a win over the Trojans. Fayette-Ware has the weapons, but can the team put it all together in this one.

Haywood at Fayette-Ware (Week 6; Sept. 25) – If these two are expected to be the top two teams in the region, this could be Fayette-Ware’s biggest game in a long time. Haywood will have played a tough schedule in the first five weeks and be coming off a trip to 5A Munford.

Haywood at Kirby (Week 11; Oct. 30) – This was the region championship last year, but Haywood had little trouble earning the win. Haywood will want all the momentum possible going into the playoffs, so a win here is crucial.

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?

15 players to watch

Layquan Armour (Fayette-Ware, Sr., DB/WR)

Jaden Butler (Haywood, Sr., ATH/DB)

Tezaion Cook (Kirby, Sr., OL/DL)

Kylon Gipson (Ridgeway, Sr., ATH)

Brett Godwin (Lakeland Prep, Sr., QB)

AJ Green (Haywood, Jr., DE/OL)

Braden Harvey (Haywood, Sr., RB)

Cole Hawkins (Millington, Jr., QB/DB)

Kayden Hicks (Craigmont, Jr., ATH)

Jameson Hines (Haywood, Jr., ATH/DB)

Connor Jones (Lakeland Prep, Sr., WR/DB)

Justin Price (Fayette-Ware, Sr., QB)

Noah Thomas (Millington, So., RB/LB)

Braylon Walker (Fayette-Ware, Jr., RB)

Elon Weathers (Fayette-Ware, Sr., ATH)

Tidbits

Craigmont

Mascot: Chiefs

2025 record: 3-7 (0-6)

Coach: Reginald Neloms (2nd season; 3-7)

What to know: For the second straight season, the Chiefs did not win a region game last season. In fact, Craigmont didn’t score a point in three region games and only scored six points in two others. In Region 8-4A play, the Chiefs were outscored 26-205. The team did start the 2025 season well with wins over Cordova (8-7) and Raleigh-Egypt, but a Week 3 game against Haywood brought the team back to reality. Craigmont was shutout four times last season. There are lots of unknowns going into the season, and the Chiefs have a long way to go to be competitive against region teams.

Fayette-Ware

Mascot: Wildcats

2025 record: 5-5 (2-4)

Coach: Howard Bush (4th season: 6-23)

What to know: After only winning one game in Bush’s first two seasons in charge, the Wildcats won five games last season and were one win away from reaching the playoffs. Fayette-Ware won three of its final four games to end the season on a strong note, and this team will try to carry the momentum into the 2026 season. Leading tackler Tarhye Taylor has transferred to Jackson Christian, so the WIldcats will be trying to figure out who will lead the defense. Senior Elon Weathers should play a big role in the defense after transferring in from Covington.
Fayette-Ware still has lots of skill guys back. Justin Price returns at quarterback for a third season under center. He completed 100-of-134 passes for 1,820 yards with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Layquan Armour has offers from Arkansas Baptist and Henderson State, and he will be the top playmaker for the WIldcats. He had 825 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns last season. Senior Braylon Walker and junior Reynaldeus Raimey are a tough 1-2 combo at running back as the two combined for over 1,000 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

Haywood

Mascot: Tomcats

2025 record: 8-3 (6-0)

Coach: Josh Puckett (4th season: 27-10)

What to know: The Tomcats haven’t been happy with how the last two postseasons have gone. Last year, Haywood won the region but was upset by Lexington (25-22) in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. The Tomcats graduated Georgia signee Caden Harris, and this team enters the season with question marks. Haywood does return senior Jaden Butler – a University of Tennessee commit – and he will be all over the field on offense. The Tomcats also return junior Braden Harvery at running back with a year of experience. Senior Jameson Hines will also play a role on offense with his versatility to play multiple positions. The Tomcats will have to rely on their defense early in the season. Junior AJ Green is one of the top defensive ends in West Tennessee, and Vinson Sturdivant will be key at linebacker. This team will continue to develop as the season progresses to try and claim another region title.

Kirby

Mascot: Cougars

2024 record: 6-4 (3-1 8-4A)

Coach: Chester Flowers (11th season: 51-47)

What to know: The Cougars are never an easy team to beat, and this year will be no different. Kirby has a new quarterback as Malcolm Jack transferred over from Bartlett, and he should be the starter. Everette Walker will be the go-to running back with the ability to rush for over 1,000 yards, if he stays healthy. Sophomore Nasir Hammond will lead the receiving corps. Kirby is also big up front with guys that will play on both sides of the ball. Terzaion Cook, Rashard Jones, Willie Price and Kingston Whitley are the players to watch up front. That front will give everything behind them time to develop as they are ready to play with the potential to excel and have Kirby fighting for a home playoff game in November.

Lakeland Prep

Mascot: Lions

2025 record: 4-7 (4-2)

Coach: Tyler White (4th season: 9-21)

What to know: In the third year of varsity, the Lions made their first-ever appearance in the Class 4A state playoffs. Lakeland Prep finished as the No. 3 seed and traveled to Dyer County in the first round, losing 52-14. The Lions had one of the best receivers in Class 3A as he had 91 receptions for 1,197 yards and 14 touchdowns, but Anders Quinn graduated. Brett Godwin returns for his senior season at quarterback, and he was tough to stop last year. He completed 179-of-318 passes for 2,298 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Senior Connor Jones will be the top returning receiver as he caught 47 passes for 630 yards with eight touchdowns, and senior Bryce Roberson followed him with 21 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Colten Kirby was just short of being a 1,000-yard rusher last season as he rushed for 935 yards and seven touchdowns, but like Quinn, he was also a senior. But the defense will have to be more consistent after giving up 56 points to Covington, 53 points to Fayette-Ware, 52 points to Dyer County and 45 points to Haywood.

Millington

Mascot: Trojans

2025 record: 4-7 (3-3)

Coach: Scott Blair (1st season)

What to know: The Trojans made the Class 4A playoffs last season as the No. 4 seed from the region, but they went on the road and fell to South Gibson 49-7. At the end of the school year, Chris Michaels returned after 16 seasons in charge of the Trojans. Scott Blair took over and has worked this team over the offseason to try for a better playoff seed. Millington has made the playoffs every season since 2011. Last season was either feast or famine for the Trojans and a lot of that started on the defensive end. In the four wins last season, Millington gave up a total of nine points with shutouts in region wins over Fayette-Ware (21-0) and Craigmont (20-0) and a 33-2 win over Ridgeway. In the seven losses, the Trojans gave up at least 19 points and gave up over 40 points in five of the losses. Junior Cole Hawkins stepped into the quarterback role and threw for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. Sophomore Noah Thomas, senior BJ Martin and Hawkins all rushed for over 200 yards and combined for seven touchdowns.

Ridgeway

Mascot: Roadrunners

2025 record: 1-9 (1-5)

Coach: Jeremy Stewart (1st season)

What to know: After a one-win season last year, coach Duron Sutton was named the new head coach at Germantown. His longtime assistant Jeremy Stewart was named the new head coach. Sutton was at RIdgeway for 16 years. Ridgeway is looking for its first multi-win season since 2022 when the team went 3-8. If everyone returns, the Roadrunners will have some key guys back on the offensive line. Ridgeway’s lone win was an 8-6 victory over Craigmont, and the Roadrunners went five straight weeks without scoring a point. Ridgeway scored 42 points in 10 games last season

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.