Nov. 28, 2025: Westview 40, Covington 34. Covington’s season: over.

Dec. 5, 2025: Martin Westview Chargers. State champs.

Martin Westview beat Covington twice in a month, then finished the job with a championship run. Now Westview is back in Covington for the 2026 regular-season finale. With Charger faithful behind them at George Pinner Field, the Covington Chargers get another shot at the team that ended their title chase.

Westview makes the trip down Hwy. 51 unbeaten, led by quarterback Graham Simpson and a roster drawing plenty of college attention. 247Sports lists offers for Simpson from Alabama, Oregon, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, among others. Running back Asa Barnes is committed to Tennessee.

That résumé turns heads, but Covington is built to win as a team. The Covington Chargers aren’t defined by one superstar. They bring a roster of reliable, hard-working players who block for each other, finish tackles and keep coming snap after snap. Against Westview’s star power, Covington’s answer is simple: play together, do the job and make every Charger count.

Covington has the tools to put that plan to work. The Chargers have rushed for 3,727 yards and 52 touchdowns through nine games. A deep stable of backs and a physical offensive line can wear down defenders and keep Simpson waiting on the sideline. Run hard, control the clock and limit Westview’s possessions.

Dyersburg nearly pulled it off last week. The Trojans ran 59 plays to Westview’s 24, held the Westview offense to 188 yards and had a chance on the final play before losing 21-17.

Covington pushed Dyersburg to the edge, too, losing 28-27 while gaining 369 yards, including 322 on the ground. Dyersburg ran for 256 yards against Covington and 215 against Westview. Covington’s offense has shown it can move the ball, but its defense will need to slow the run.

Then there’s Simpson. He threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns against Lausanne this season. In 2024, he set Tennessee single-game records against Covington with 620 passing yards and eight touchdown passes.

Covington’s pass defense has struggled at times. Haywood, Brighton and McNairy Central each threw for more yards against Covington than its season average. Against one of the state’s top passers, every stop matters and every stop can put the ball back in the hands of Covington’s ground game.

There’s more than pride at stake. Covington has secured a playoff berth, but Thursday’s result can change its seed. If Covington loses, current TSSAA scenarios place the Covington Chargers at No. 3, regardless of Dyersburg’s result against Ripley. If Covington wins and Dyersburg loses, Covington can move to No. 1. If Covington and Dyersburg both win, the current projection still places Covington at No. 3.

Two teams. One regular-season game left. A year of unfinished business. Westview has owned the recent series, but Thursday night is Covington’s chance to change that.

Bring the noise, Covington.

Westview visits Covington High School at 7 p.m. Thursday. Get tickets through GoFan.

Brighton, Overton meet with Region 8 seeding on the line

Brighton’s regular-season finale comes with playoff seeding at stake. The Cardinals host Memphis Overton on Thursday in a game that, under TSSAA’s current scenarios, will decide which team finishes third in Region 8-5A and which takes fourth.

The Cardinals come in at 4-5 overall and 1-2 in region play, with momentum after a 34-13 win at Millington Central. That victory followed a 42-7 loss to Munford.

Brighton has had its share of tight finishes this season. The Cardinals opened with a one-point win over PURE Academy, then beat Dyersburg by four. They also lost by a point to McCracken County (Kentucky). Now they get a chance to finish the region schedule with a win.

Overton brings a 5-4 record and the same 1-2 region mark. The Wolverines beat Kingsbury 22-6 on Oct. 16, then had an open week before the trip to Brighton.

The playoff picture gives Thursday’s matchup extra juice. Brighton can finish the regular season with a win at home and head into the playoffs as the region’s No. 3 seed.

Memphis Overton visits Brighton High School at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Munford heads to Memphis with Region 8 crown on the line

Munford has spent the past month climbing back to the top of Region 8. Friday, the Cougars get the game they’ve been waiting for: a road showdown with Memphis Central, with the region title and No. 1 playoff seed up for grabs.

Both teams enter 8-1 overall and 3-0 in region play. TSSAA’s playoff scenarios put the winner in the top spot and the loser at No. 2. The stakes are clear: one game for the region championship.

Munford brings a four-game winning streak into the matchup. The Cougars have rolled through Region 8, including shutout wins over Kingsbury and Overton and a 42-7 victory over Brighton. Last week, they had to dig deeper, edging Germantown 15-13 on the road.

Memphis Central has been just as tough in region play, beating Brighton, Overton and Kingsbury. The Warriors are coming off a 58-6 win over Kingsbury and have scored freely throughout the season. Their only loss came against Memphis University School.

Now the Cougars head into Central’s Senior Night with the region’s top seed within reach. Munford has handled its business all season; Friday is its chance to finish the job and claim the crown outright.

Munford visits Memphis Central at 7 p.m. Friday.

Rosemark gets Senior Night shot at Trinity Christian

Tipton-Rosemark Academy closes its season at home against one of the region’s top teams. The Rebels host Trinity Christian Academy on Friday for Senior Night, with the Lions bringing a strong record and postseason positioning to TRA’s turf.

Trinity Christian is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the West Region. The Lions are tied with Jackson Christian in the region standings, and TSSAA’s playoff scenarios place them as high as second or as low as third, depending on Friday’s results. Rosemark is 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the region; current scenarios project the Rebels sixth of seven teams.

The records make Trinity Christian the clear favorite, but Senior Night gives the Rebels one more chance to compete. Their lone win came against First Assembly Christian School, 42-6.

For the Lions, the assignment is to win and hold their place near the top of the region. For Rosemark, it’s a chance to protect its home field, spoil the Lions’ seeding plans and give its seniors a proper send-off.

Trinity Christian visits Tipton-Rosemark Academy at 7 p.m. Friday.