(Records shown are last year’s regular season finishes)

Lookout Valley Yellow Jackets (9-1) at East Ridge Pioneers (4-6)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Lookout Valley’s Scott Webb (25-19); East Ridge’s Mike Martin (29-15)

Interesting stats: The Yellow Jackets started last season’s school-record 10-win season with a 25-20 victory over the Pioneers. Webb has the most wins of any football coach at Lookout Valley. East Ridge hasn’t won an opener since 2004 when the Pioneers, then coached by Tim James, bested Bradley Central 43-8.

What to watch: Lookout Valley is switching from a Wing-T offense to a more wide open spread offense, something Webb considered doing last year. The Yellow Jackets have a quick-footed quarterback with an above average arm in Tay Vaughn Wynn, and Derrick Pullom is capable of replacing graduated Chas Scruggs, the city’s career rushing leader. The Pioneers have struggled in the preseason in the offensive line but Martin, in his first year, has plenty of skill people including running back/receiver and linebacker Gunner Miller.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-5) vs. Central Purple Pounders (3-7) at Finley Stadium

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Notre Dame’s Charlie Wiggins (34-24); Central’s David Barger (31-24)

Interesting stat: Notre Dame last lost season openers in back-to-back seasons including 26-6 to the Purple Pounders last year. The Irish have had just one losing season in Wiggins’ five years as head coach. They were 1-9 in 2003, his first season. Central has won no more than three games in each of the last four seasons. Their last winning year, a playoff year, was 2004 when the Curt Jones-coached Pounders went 8-4.

What to watch: Central linebacker Jonathan Robinson, who had more than 100 tackles a year ago, will be licking his chops with visions of lost-yardage tackles and quarterback sacks if he sees film of the Irish’s jamboree quarter against Walker Valley. Wiggins has to be concerned about his quarterbacks having time to get the ball off and for diminutive running back Justin Deocampo to find any semblance of a hole. The Pounders are young — only four seniors — but the Irish are just as young and probably less experienced. Central’s primary offensive threat is Patrick Moore, a three-year starter. He’ll be looking to hook up with Robert Vipond, among others. Notre Dame fans will want to keep an eye on Brendan Dusevic to see how he adjusts to tight end/receiver/H-back after playing tackle last year.

Polk County Wildcats (7-3) at Bledsoe County Warriors (4-6)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Polk’s Derrick Davis (57-32); Bledsoe’s Hubert Roberson (4-6)

Interesting stat: Polk County has won seven straight season openers, last losing in Davis’ first year as head coach in 2000. Since then, Polk has won at least seven games and advanced to the playoffs every year. Bledsoe opened last year with four consecutive losses before putting together back-to-back wins against Stone Memorial and Marion County.

What to watch: Polk is fairly young, and a lot of sophomores were making strong preseason bids for playing time. One of those sophomores is Jared Allen, who is likely the quickest quarterback Davis has had. He is an outstanding athlete. Keep your eyes on Wildcats defensive tackle Zack Akins. Bledsoe will rely heavily on junior fullback Chase Brown in its first-year Wing T offense, and Nick Brown should anchor the defense from his noseguard position.

Whites Creek Cobras (0-10) at Ooltewah Owls (6-3)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Whites Creek’s Anthony Law (16-17); Ooltewah’s Benny Monroe (239-61)

Interesting stat: Whites Creek was shut out twice last year, by Ooltewah and Tullahoma, both by 28-0. The Cobras, though, averaged two TDs over their last six games.

What to watch: Ooltewah is likely to use the pass to set up the run, and why not with a quarterback like Brady Reed? The 6-foot-4 junior started every game a year ago. The Owls are setting the stage for a return to the Region 2-5A championship and may have to dig a little deeper into Monroe’s bag of tricks and depend heavily on what should be a stiff defense until the offensive line settles in. ... For those who were at the jamboree Friday and didn’t notice, a couple of the touted Ooltewah receivers were missing. They’ll be back. Of course, Ooltewah opened with a reverse to receiver Sammy Seamster and then threw him the ball on the next play. Get used to that. Monroe will invent ways to get the ball in the hands of the Division I prospect as often as possible. Key players for Whites Creek are junior Tory Booker, who already is drawing praise as Region 5-4A’s best lineman; junior Clifford Jetton, considered the team’s best skill position player; and senior Josh Thomas, who will anchor the team’s defensive unit.

Christian Academy of Knoxville Warriors (8-2) at Boyd-Buchanan Buccaneers (4-6)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: CAK’s Rusty Bradley (9-3); Boyd-Buchanan’s Grant Reynolds (8-12)

Interesting stat: Bucs quarterback Nick Hughes had more than 100 yards of offense in Boyd-Buchanan’s jamboree quarter. The senior threw for more than 80 yards, completing six of eight passes, and rushed for another 30.

What to watch: Boyd-Buchanan’s offensive line is huge, averaging better than 260 pounds per man. Now if Reynolds, calling the offensive plays for the first time, can decide out who other than Hughes is going to run the ball, they could have a potent scoring machine in Region 3-2A.

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