The USA Today High School Sports Game of the Week features Webb and Catholic in the Battle of the Bluff. You can see the game on cable channel 10News2.
The Spartans stomped Catholic 42-14 in last year's meeting but expect a closer game this time. The Fighting Irish won only four games last season but are off to a 3-1 start this year including last week's 33-10 district win over William Blount.
Webb (3-1, 1-0) is still considered the favorite, with its three wins coming by a combined score of 130-12. Catholic hasn't beaten the Spartans since 2008, the year it went undefeated and won its only state championship.
Expect a lot of hand-offs, tosses and option runs as both schools run a variation of the Wing-T offense. The stars to look for are Webb running back Aaron Blance, safety/running back Todd Kelly Jr. and Catholic running back and reigning Offensive Player of the Week Nolan Coulter.
Coulter surpassed the 3,000 yard career rushing mark last week and has racked up over 800 yards in four games this season. Eastern Kentucky and Virginia Military Institute, among other schools, have shown interest in Coulter.
Kelly has received scholarship offers from 23 schools including eight in the SEC, according to Rivals.com.
In other action, Alcoa will host Greeneville in a match-up of two powerful programs.
The Greene Devils have won two straight 4A state championships. Alcoa won seven titles in a row from 2004 to 2010.
Greeneville beat an injury depleted Alcoa team 42-14 last season in the schools' first meeting since 1967.
Another defending champion, CAK, will face a test on Friday night. The Warriors (5-0) will head to Corryton to take on Gibbs (4-1). The Eagles option attack led by quarterback Jay Cade looked strong through the first four games before falling flat at Gatlinburg-Pittman in a 42-7 loss last week.
For a complete list of games, click here.
