Marshall County Tribune: High School Sports: Down to the nitty-gritty (10/26/12)

Photo by chapelhillbill.com Forrest running back Brandon Beech (3) scored three touchdowns versus Cascade last week and the Rockets need another strong performance this week from Beech if they want to defeat Moore County.

The final week of the prep football season promises some high drama with all three county gridiron squads in playoff contention, beginning with the Forrest Rockets, who punched their ticket into the post-season, thanks to their three-game winning streak that began in Week 8.

The Rockets solidified their playoff position with a dramatic 33-27 overtime win last week versus Cascade at "The Rock" in Chapel Hill.

The win over the Champions gives the Rockets a chance to win District 9-A with a victory over Moore County at home and some help by the Champions, who must beat Eagleville to allow FHS to claim the top spot and garner a first-round bye that goes along with the automatic bid.

Tiger quarterback Austin Stacey (16) will lead the Tigers to the playoffs with a high-flying effort at East Hickman this week. Tribune photo by Louis G. Scheuchenzuber

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Forrest's only league setback this season was a lackluster 32-7 road loss to the Eagles in Week 7.

Raiders dominate

The Rockets have beaten Moore County just once in the past 25 years and that came in 2009 when they trounced the Raiders 46-10 in Chapel Hill.

Cornersville QB Hayden McMahon (10) will need another big ballgame at Richland this week if the Bulldogs want to play in the postseason. Tribune photo by Louis G. Scheuchenzuber

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One week later, Marion County knocked the Rockets out of the playoffs.

Forrest has lost their last two match-ups versus Moore County in Lynchburg, but both have been decided by a touchdown or less and Friday night's senior night match-up in Chapel Hill should be a barn- burner with the Rockets squeezing out a 30-28 win and then waiting on word from Wartrace to hear the result from that game and their playoff fate.

Tigers

The Marshall County Tigers kept their playoff hopes alive with a huge 28-27 win over Page at Preston Hopkins Field in the My TV 30 Thursday Night Lights Game of the Week.

This week, the Tigers (4-5, 3-4) head to Lyles in a must-win situation versus East Hickman (4-5, 2-5).

MCHS has won all three previous matchups versus the Eagles, who have a pair of impressive wins this season over Loretto in Week Zero and a big 21-20 victory at Hickman County last week.

This is what you play for, a chance to extend the season and the Tigers will make the most of it in a close 28-27 win over the Eagles to make a return trip to the post-season.

Bulldogs

If they can get a fourth win, the Cornersville Bulldogs (3-6, 2-3) have a very good chance to sneak their way into the post-season.

It will not be easy as the Dawgs take the short trip to Richland in a rivalry match-up versus the Raiders (1-8, 1-5).

Since 2001, the two squads have met five times with the Bulldogs winning the last three games in relatively easy fashion in two of those games.

Cornersville's offense has been solid all year, averaging 28.3 points per game, but the defense has been suspect, allowing opposing teams to score at a 36-points-per-game clip.

Richland's defensive numbers are almost identical to the Bulldogs, as they have given up 35.5 points per game.

The Raiders offense is not nearly as explosive as Cornersville, scoring 20.7 points per game, and that will be the difference as the Dawgs go wild in a 50-35 win to make it into the second season.