Football Recap: Bartlett Takes Loss Despite Strong Performances from Jaibriel Bowers and Aiden Jackson + How To Watch

Bartlett had lost four straight on the road dating back to last season, but on Friday they dropped down to 2-5 to make it five. They fell just short of the Pearl-Cohn Firebirds by a score of 31-28. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Tennessee football rankings (they are ranked 132nd, while the Firebirds are ranked 43rd).

Bartlett's loss came despite strong showings from Aiden Jackson and Jaibriel Bowers. Jackson rushed for 145 yards and one TD on only 11 carries, while Bowers rushed for 154 yards and one score. Bowers didn't just play on offense: he also made seven total tackles and defended two passes.

As for Pearl-Cohn, the victory (which was their third in a row) raised their record to 3-4. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 28.3 points over those games.

LJ FUNK went supernova, throwing for 319 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 12.3 yards per attempt. What's more, he racked up 147.3 passer rating, the most he's had since back in November of 2024.

Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming contests. Bartlett will face off against Cordova at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The Panthers will be up against the Wolves' rather soft defense (which has allowed 28 points per game), so fans could be in store for a big offensive performance. As for Pearl-Cohn, they will challenge Greenbrier at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The Firebirds will be up against the Bobcats' rather soft defense (which has allowed 30.43 points per matchup), so fans could be in store for a big offensive performance.