Jay Pace’s Tennessee Game Of The Week
- Sep 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Written By: Jay Pace (@TheRealPace)
Soddy-Daisy Trojans vs. Rhea County Golden Eagles
Kickoff
Friday, Sept. 12, 2025
at Soddy-Daisy
Records
Soddy Daisy (3–0
Rhea County (3-0)
Snapshot: Who They Are Right Now
Both teams meet with unblemished records led by second year head coaches.
Soddy Daisy (3-0)
Went 9–2 in year one under Josh Owensby. Prior to last year SD hadn’t won nine games in a season since 2004.
Rhea County (3–0)
Won two of its last three games to sneak into the playoffs and finish with a respectable 5-5 record in year one of the Taylor Harvey era.
COACHES CORNER
Soddy Daisy
Josh Owensby
2nd at SD 13-2
Overall 5th 23-23
Rhea County
Taylor Harvey
2nd at RCHS 8-5
Overall 8-5
RECENT HISTORY
The last time they met Soddy Daisy won a 49-42 shootout last year.
Rhea County won 34–0 in 2023 and holds a 6-4 advantage in their last 10 meetings.
Keep An Eye On…
Soddy Daisy Trojans
QB Tucker Ross- Sr.
Grizzled veteran who’s comfortable pushing the ball outside the numbers. Ross is a capable runner who can make plays on the ground or through the air.
WR Aiden Hollis- Sr.
A big play threat who leads the team in all major receiving categories.
RB Logan Alexander-Sr.
A shifty and balanced runner who provides a great option on the ground.
WR Elijah Waters- Sr.
Reliable route-runner with a big catch radius.
Defense
Veteran group that loves contact. The Trojans defensive unit pitched a 21–0 road shutout last week vs Signal Mountain.
Rhea County Golden Eagles
RB Mason Ford Sr.
A physical downhill runner who initiates contact at the point of attack. Ford sets the tone offensively. Wherever he goes, the Eagles follow. Expect 20+ touches from him come Friday night.
QB Jaxton Schmitt Jr.
His 6'4” frame helps in the RPO/play-action game.
ATH Aiden Wilkerson Sr.
An effective two-way player for RCHS. Wilkerson is a sure handed WR on offense who moves the chains. Defensively, he’s a head hunter who tackles well in space.
DB Austun Fugate Jr.
The Golden Eagles Swiss Army Knife. A ball hawking DB, Fugate recorded a pick six in last week's 34-0 route of Ooltewah. Fugate also handles all of the kicking duties for RCHS.
Defense
RCHS has allowed just 21 points through its first three games. Last week, the Golden Eagles had their best outing of the young season, blanking Ooltewah 34-0.
When Soddy-Daisy Has The Ball….
The Trojans lean on the run to set up the passing game featuring a Ross-to-Hollis connection on early downs. The O-Line is a physical group who will maul you upfront.
If RCHS brings the safeties down, Ross must hit the one-on-ones on the outside. His ability to do so will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.
When Rhea Co. Has The Ball…
Coach Harvey modernized the offense without forsaking RCHS identity. The Golden Eagles throw enough to keep defenses honest. But make no mistake, their bread and butter remains multiple back sets with plenty of motion and misdirection.
The Way We See It…
This game has an old school appeal with both teams prescribing to a physical brand of football bolstered by strong rushing attacks. Defensively, both teams are anchored by experienced veterans who aren't afraid of contact.
Expect a fairly low scoring, four quarter trench fight with a premium on field position and special teams.
How It Will End…
Soddy Daisy and Rhea County are two unbeaten rivals with second-year coaches whose teams have established their identities in the first three weeks of the season. I trust Soddy-Daisy’s line and home crowd to squeeze just enough possessions to take home the W.
Soddy-Daisy 24
Rhea County 21
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