MALE (4-1) AT BUTLER (3-2)
* Kickoff: 7 p.m.
* Storyline: Bulldogs averaging 43.8 points per game.
* Male: The No. 9 Bulldogs bounced back from their loss to Trinity with a 63-6 thrashing of Seneca last week. Senior quarterback T.J. Thomas threw four touchdown passes in the victory and has passed for 775 yards and 16 TDs with just two interceptions this season. Senior B.K. Smith (12 catches, 367 yards, four TDs) and junior Ethan Bibb (12-335-7) are the top receivers.
* Butler: The Bears pulled out an 18-14 victory over Doss last week as freshman quarterback Chaz Burks completed 11 of 15 passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore Eric Jackson rushed for 108 yards and a score. Bears coach Gary Wheeler said senior Blake Showalter will return at quarterback after recovering from a concussion. Wheeler said Jackson also will see time at quarterback.
* Quotable: “(Male) isn’t as good up front as they were last year, but you can see on film that those guys are getting better every week on the offensive line and defensive line,” Wheeler said. “They have great speed on the edges, and Coach (Chris) Wolfe and those guys do a great job over there.”
* The pick: Male 35-14.