Three of the county’s four varsity football programs are in action this week, while Munford enjoys a scheduled bye after posting the most lopsided start of any team in the area.
Brighton welcomes Jackson Central-Merry and hopes to go 3-0, Covington hopes to regroup, and Tipton-Rosemark Academy opens Division II-A West Region play Thursday at Harding Academy.
Brighton chasing 3-0 after explosive start
Riding the high of two nail-biting victories to open the season, Brighton returns home Friday looking to protect its unblemished record and settle a score when Jackson Central-Merry visits for a non-region clash.
The Cardinals (2-0) have developed a flair for fourth-quarter drama under head coach Keith Setler. After edging PURE Academy 23-22 in a season-opening thriller, Brighton proved its resilience again last week, fending off Class 3A power Dyersburg 32-28. Brighton’s ability to pull out one-possession games has placed the Cardinals in a three-way tie atop the Class 5A Region 8 standings alongside county neighbor Munford and Memphis powerhouse Class 6A Southwind.
Jackson Central-Merry (1-1) arrives in Tipton County carrying plenty of momentum of its own after bouncing back in Week 2. Following a tight 12-6 defensive battle against crosstown rival Jackson North Side in their opener, the Class 2A Cougars unleashed their offense last Friday, rolling past Jackson South Side 36-7. Led by head coach Erit Turner, JCM relies on an athletic, downhill defensive front and a perimeter running game designed to test opponents in space.
Friday’s showdown also doubles as a revenge spot for the Cardinals. In last year’s meeting in Jackson, JCM controlled the trenches from start to finish, shutting out Brighton 30-0.
With the annual rivalry clash against Covington looming in Week 4, Brighton cannot afford to look ahead. Against a physical JCM defense capable of stacking the box, the Cardinals will need to protect the football, sustain drives, and match the Cougars’ physicality along the line of scrimmage to keep their perfect start intact.
Game details
Matchup: Jackson Central-Merry Cougars at Brighton Cardinals
Kickoff: Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.
Location: Brighton High School, Brighton
Classifications: Brighton (Class 5A, Region 8) vs. Jackson Central-Merry (Class 2A, Region 6)
Last meeting (2025): Jackson Central-Merry 30, Brighton 0
Next up: Brighton travels to Covington on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
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Covington hosts Frederick Douglass
Covington enters Week 3 looking to regroup after a 36-14 home loss to rival Haywood, welcoming a winless Frederick Douglass squad to George Pinner Stadium on Friday night.
For the Chargers (1-1), who sit in a crowded Class 3A Region 7 field, the Week 2 setback served as a measuring stick against a physical Class 4A opponent. While the final score swung in the Tomcats’ favor, the contest highlighted the razor-thin margin for error when stepping up in classification. Covington actually generated more first downs against Haywood (19) than in its 47-13 season-opening win over Lakeland Prep (18), but finishing drives proved far more difficult against 4A size and speed. The Chargers saw their rushing average compress from an explosive 8.4 yards per carry in Week 1 to 5.9 against Haywood, managing one rushing touchdown after racking up five in the opener.
Haywood’s athletic secondary also shut down the vertical passing attack, holding senior quarterback Colby Labermeier to 6 yards and picking off two passes after he tossed two long touchdowns on two attempts at Lakeland. Still, Covington proved its offensive line and backfield committee can sustain drives under duress. With lead rusher Nic’kylan Murray sidelined following a four-touchdown performance in Week 1, the Chargers leaned on a diversified ground attack. Makaviyon McKinnie led the way with 92 yards and a score on eight carries, freshman Cordarius Byars grounded out 88 yards on 13 carries, and Collen Winfrey chipped in 33 yards after missing the opener.
Special teams remain an explosive weapon for Covington. Defensive back Quindaris Alexander enters Friday averaging 43 yards per kickoff return, highlighted by a touchdown in the opener.
Frederick Douglass (0-2) travels north seeking its first victory under head coach Brodrick Stevens. The Red Devils, members of Class 3A Region 8, have struggled to gain traction early, dropping consecutive road matchups to Oakhaven (44-20) and Hillcrest (20-6). Douglass is averaging just 13 points per game while surrendering 32 points per contest, presenting a favorable setup for Covington’s ground attack to reestablish rhythm. The Chargers overwhelmed the Red Devils 58-0 in Memphis last season, gashing them for 237 rushing yards on only 20 touches alongside three passing scores.
With Region 7 play looming later this fall, Friday offers head coach J.R. Kirby’s squad an ideal opportunity to clean up turnovers, control the line of scrimmage early, and regain momentum before hosting county rival Brighton next week.
Game details
Matchup: Frederick Douglass Red Devils at Covington Chargers
Kickoff: Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.
Location: George Pinner Stadium, Covington
Classifications: Covington (Class 3A, Region 7) vs. Frederick Douglass (Class 3A, Region 8)
Next up: Covington hosts Brighton on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
Tipton-Rosemark Academy opens region play at Harding Academy
Tipton-Rosemark Academy hits the road for the first time this season, heading into East Memphis on Thursday night looking to bounce back from a 0-2 start as Division II-A West Region play gets underway against Harding Academy.
The Rebels (0-2) enter the matchup following back-to-back home setbacks to open the campaign. After falling 42-7 to private-school powerhouse Donelson Christian Academy in Week 1, TRA showed improved fight last Thursday against Class 2A Halls but couldn’t dig out of an early hole, falling 28-17 to the Tigers. First-year head coach and TRA alumnus Shane O’Brien will look to steady his squad away from home, focusing on sustaining drives and shoring up run defense in the second half.
Harding Academy (1-1) enters Thursday looking to regain its season-opening form after dropping its home opener last Friday in a 23-0 shutout against St. George’s Independent School. That setback followed an explosive season-opening win on Aug. 21, when the Lions dominated Memphis Kingsbury 41-6. Against St. George’s, Harding managed few sustained drives, struggling to generate running lanes and falling behind early.
Thursday’s region opener presents an immediate opportunity for both squads to reset their trajectories in a competitive Division II-A West league that features Fayette Academy, First Assembly Christian School, Jackson Christian, Trinity Christian and University School of Jackson.
The Rebels hold fond memories in this series. At last year’s meeting in Rosemark, TRA lit up the scoreboard with a 49-19 rout of the Lions. For O’Brien’s squad to capture its first win of 2026, the Rebels must maintain discipline, contain Harding’s perimeter speed, and establish the ground game early before returning home for next week’s homecoming clash against First Assembly Christian School.
Game details
Matchup: Tipton-Rosemark Academy Rebels at Harding Academy Lions
Kickoff: Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m.
Location: Harding Academy, Memphis
Classifications: Both programs compete in Division II-A, West Region
Last meeting (2025): Tipton-Rosemark Academy 49, Harding Academy 19
Next up: TRA hosts First Assembly Christian School for homecoming on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
Munford idle after 61-0 rout of Millington
Munford enters its Week 3 open date in full command of its non-region schedule after delivering a 61-0 rout of border rival Millington Central on Friday night at Dr. Sid Witherington Field.
The victory marked the Cougars’ 12th consecutive triumph over the Trojans in the annual M&M Bowl rivalry series, extending a dominant streak that dates back to 2015. For head coach Slade Calhoun’s squad, the shutout built directly on an equally emphatic opening-week showing, following a 58-0 win over Memphis Business Academy. Through two games, the Cougars (2-0) have outscored their opponents by a combined 119-0 margin.
Friday’s contest was decided early as Munford established authority along both sides of the line of scrimmage, stifling Millington’s offense from the opening series and routinely converting short fields into points. Millington (0-2) crossed midfield only sparingly, unable to counter Munford’s defensive pursuit.
Sitting atop Class 5A Region 8 alongside fellow unbeatens Brighton and Memphis Central, the Cougars now head into a scheduled bye week before taking on a rare out-of-state challenge. Munford returns to action Friday, Sept. 11, hosting Kentucky power Woodford County at 7 p.m.
Game details
Record: 2-0 (Class 5A, Region 8)
Week 3 opponent: Bye week
Points scored / allowed: 119 PF / 0 PA
Rivalry streak: 12 consecutive wins vs. Millington (2015–2026)
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, vs. Woodford County (Ky.), 7 p.m., Dr. Sid Witherington Field
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