Marshall County Tribune: High School Sports: Now is the time to win (10/19/12)

Forrest's Brooks Lamb (14) makes a great over the shoulder catch for an interception versus Community earlier this season. Lamb and the Rockets will have to play some tough 'D" this week if they want to take down the 8th ranked Cascade Champions at "The Rock" in Chapel Hill with game time set for 7 p.m. Photo by chapelhillbill.com

It's Fall Break for Marshall County students, but not for the football players as they tee it up for a pair of crucial Friday night match-ups in the next to the last week of the regular season.

Starting in Chapel Hill, Week 10 pits Forrest versus archrival Cascade at "The Rock" in a ballgame that should be a good one as the 8th ranked Champions look to break a two-game losing streak against the Rockets.

Both teams will be playing in the post-season and this could be for a first round, TSSAA playoff home game.

Cornersville's Chance Dyer (15) and the Bulldogs are hoping to rebound from their tough loss last week versus CA as they travel to Collinwood this week for a crucial Region 6A match-up versus the Trojans. Photo by Pap

Forrest is coming off a big 42-20 win at Huntland last week, while the Champions eked out a two-point home win over their Bedford County foe Community 29-27.

How to win

The key to a Rockets' win is simple, continue to run the ball as they the last couple of weeks and by all means, stay away from turnovers and stay aggressive with the home field advantage.

Both teams have been good in league play this year as Forrest is one point better on offense in four district contests, while the Champions are a little stingier defensively, holding a 50-72 edge in points allowed.

Richie Smith has been awesome the last couple of weeks for Forrest, spearheading a bruising running game that has worn down opponents and that is the plan for Friday.

There should be a huge crowd on hand for this one and it will be a pleasant night for the hometown faithful as they watch the blue and white, squash the orange and black 17-13 in a defensive battle.

Bulldog battle

The Cornersville Bulldogs have their backs against the wall after a 56-46 shootout loss at home last week versus Columbia Academy.

It will be tough sledding this week for the Dawgs as they make the long trek to "The Bowl" in Collinwood (6-2, 4-1) where the Trojans have not lost this season.

Collinwood's only league loss this season is to Region 6A first place Mt. Pleasant, while they have defeated some quality opponents in Eagleville, Loretto and Forrest.

The Trojans' only other loss this year was a 29-6 setback at the hands of 2A AP Top Ten Adamsville (6th).

Tough task

Cornersville has lost three of their last four games and the Dawgs' record versus the Trojans is not good, winning just one game (Last year 38-26) since 1998 against Collinwood.

The Bulldogs can score points and will again this week, but defensively, Cornersville has given up a whopping one hundred more points than Collinwood (96-196) in five Region 6A match-ups so far this season.

Pay the fee to get in the gate to watch this one as it could turn out to be one the best games in the area as the Bulldogs put it all on the line in a 41-38 win in Wayne County.