District football races are heating up in Week 8 of high school football and Friday night will feature several games that could give teams a stranglehold on a potential title.

East Ridge finds itself in unfamiliar territory, undefeated after six games for the first time since 2010. The Knights have come a long way since suffering an 0-10 season in 2021.

Head coach Donnie Burchfield leads East Ridge (6-0, 1-0 in district play) into a game that likely decides the Class 7A, District 9 title, as Dr. Phillips (5-1, 1-0) visits Friday night. It’s his third season at the helm and the turnaround he has orchestrated is a strong testament to the buy-in his seniors have had.

Dr. Phillips is No. 4 in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll. East Ridge remains unranked.

Third-year East Ridge coach

See Full Page