🏈 Second Place Is on the Line Friday, the Library Fills the Week, and Two Dates to Pin Before November

Or: Pack the Lunches, Fill the Home Stands and Turn the Clocks Back Next Weekend

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, October 25, 2026

Good Sunday morning. The National Weather Service says it’ll be sunny today with a high near 73 and hardly a breath of wind. It’s a good day to set out the school clothes and fill the gas tank before the week starts.

A school week is like a pot of soup. If you get the chopping done on Sunday, the rest of the week mostly takes care of itself. So here’s your chopping list.

Here’s the roundup: Students have a full five-day week, Monday through Friday. The Indians and Giles County are tied at 3-1 in their region, so Friday’s home finale decides second place before the playoffs start Nov. 6. The Sequatchie County Public Library has free programs for every age all week, and its Fall Festival on Friday gives every child and teen a free book. And two dates to pin: clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1, and TN Promise is due Monday, Nov. 2.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• School: A full week, Oct. 26–30. The next day off on the district calendar is Wed., Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
• Friday, Oct. 30: Giles County at Sequatchie County. Both teams are 3-1 in Region 4-3A, so the winner finishes second. Listed kickoff times differ, so confirm before you go.
• Library all week: Free programs for babies, preschoolers, kids, teens and adults. No sign-up needed.
• Free books: Library Fall Festival, Fri., Oct. 30, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., 227 Cherry St. Costumes welcome. The child or teen needs to be there.
• Pin these: Clocks fall back Sun., Nov. 1. TN Promise is due Mon., Nov. 2, the same night as the school board meeting.
• Weather: Sunny or mostly sunny most days, highs in the 70s. Friday looks sunny, near 78.

🏈 Friday’s Home Finale Settles Second Place

The Indians finished Friday’s road trip to Walker Valley at 5-4, but that was a non-region game. What matters for playoff seeding is the region, and there the picture is simple. According to the TSSAA’s Region 4-3A standings, Forrest is 4-0, and Giles County and Sequatchie County are both 3-1. Watertown is 2-2.

Forrest edged Giles County 24-21 on a late field goal Friday night. Main Street Media of Tennessee reported that a win at Sequatchie County “would allow Giles County to finish second in the region.” Flip that around, and a home win for the Indians does the same thing for us.

Why second place matters: on the TSSAA’s Class 3A bracket, the No. 2 team from our region hosts a first-round game on Friday, Nov. 6, against the No. 3 team from Region 3. The No. 3 team from our region goes on the road. Region 3 is the Chattanooga group that includes Tyner and Chattanooga Prep. The playoff pairings become official once the TSSAA posts them.

About the kickoff time: MaxPreps lists 8 p.m. Giles County High School’s own calendar shows 7 p.m. Sequatchie County’s school schedule says its times are Central but doesn’t list a time for this game. Please check with the school or its social media before you leave the house.

What it means for you: This is the last regular-season game at home, and it means something. That’s the kind of night worth bundling up for. If you can only make one game this fall, make it this one, and come early for a good seat.

👉 Read more (TSSAA: Football region standings)

📚 A Library Week for Every Age, With Free Books Friday

The Sequatchie County Public Library at 227 Cherry Street has something nearly every day this week, and the library says no sign-up is needed for most programs:

• Mon., Oct. 26, 10 a.m.: Storytime Sprouts, for babies and toddlers up to age 3.
• Tue., Oct. 27, 4 p.m.: Thrive Tribe hangout for teens, with free coffee and tea, games and Wi-Fi.
• Wed., Oct. 28, 10 a.m.: Books & Beyond, for ages 5 to 12.
• Thu., Oct. 29: The library is closed on Thursdays.
• Fri., Oct. 30: Preschool Page Turners at 10 a.m. for ages 3 to 5, and the Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

At the Fall Festival, every child and teen who visits can pick out a free book until 5 p.m. There will be games, prizes and light snacks while they last. Family-friendly costumes are welcome, and the staff plans to dress in scarecrow and farm outfits. The child or teen needs to be there to get a book.

One more bit of good news: the library received a $970 grant from the Rural Technology Fund for robotics. It’s adding a Robo Explorers program for middle schoolers to its monthly STEAM Night. The next one is Monday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m.

What it means for you: If the grandkids are with you after school, the library is a free, warm place to spend an hour. Friday is a busy day, so plan it like a road trip with good stops: the library for a book after school, then supper, then the ballgame.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Public Library)

🎓 Seniors: TN Promise Is Due a Week From Monday

The TN Promise application for the Class of 2027 is due Monday, Nov. 2. According to collegefortn.org, it’s done online through the THEC Student Portal. The student will need their name as it appears on their Social Security card, their Social Security number, their date of birth and a personal email address, not a school one.

The 2027-28 FAFSA, the federal financial aid form, opened Oct. 1. To keep TN Promise, it’s due by April 1, 2027, but the state encourages families to file early because some aid is first-come, first-served.

What it means for you: TN Promise is like a free ticket you have to pick up before the gate closes. It can cover community college or technical college tuition. If you’ve got a senior at your table, ask tonight, “Did you do TN Promise yet?” It only takes a few minutes, and the school counseling office can help.

👉 Read more (collegefortn.org: TN Promise)

🗓️ Dates to Pin

• Mon.–Fri., Oct. 26–30: A full school week in Sequatchie County.
• Fri., Oct. 30: Library Fall Festival and free books, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Giles County at Sequatchie County that night. Confirm the kickoff time.
• Sat., Oct. 31: Halloween.
• Sun., Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour. Change them before bed Saturday.
• Mon., Nov. 2: TN Promise deadline. The Sequatchie County Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. at the central office, 878 Cordell Drive. The meeting is open to the public.
• Fri., Nov. 6: First round of the Class 3A football playoffs.
• Wed., Nov. 11: Veterans Day. No school on the district calendar.

The Marion County Board of Education met Thursday in Jasper with a teacher agreement and a five-year bus contract on its agenda. As of this morning, we still haven’t seen the results reported. We’ll pass them along once they’re posted.

What it means for you: If you only write down two things, make them Nov. 1, clocks back, and Nov. 2, TN Promise due.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Schools: School board agendas)

🌤️ A Sunny, Easy Week for the Bus Stop

The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap calls for sunny skies and a high near 73 today. Monday brings increasing clouds and a high near 74. Tuesday is mostly sunny, near 77. Wednesday is partly sunny, near 73, and Thursday is sunny, near 76. Friday looks sunny, near 78, and Friday night drops only to about 53. Halloween Saturday looks partly sunny, near 78. Most nights fall into the mid-40s.

What it means for you: Chilly mornings and warm afternoons mean layers. Send a jacket the kids can stuff in a backpack by lunchtime. Friday night should be mild for the ballgame.

👉 Read more (NWS: Dunlap point forecast)

✅ Your Sunday Fridge Checklist

• ✅ Full school week, Oct. 26–30. Pack a jacket for cool mornings.
• ✅ Fri., Oct. 30: home finale vs. Giles County. Second place is on the line. Check the kickoff time first.
• ✅ Fri., Oct. 30: free book for every child and teen at the library, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Costumes welcome.
• ✅ Little ones: Storytime Sprouts, Mon. at 10 a.m.
• ✅ Seniors: TN Promise by Mon., Nov. 2.
• ✅ Clocks fall back Sun., Nov. 1.
• ✅ School board meets Mon., Nov. 2, at 6 p.m.

Practical rule: Get the week’s chopping done on Sunday, write the two big dates on the fridge, and save Friday night for the home stands.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English School Glossary

• Region standings: The win-loss records that count only games against teams in the same region. They decide playoff seeding.
• Seed: A team’s playoff ranking from its region. Higher seeds usually host early playoff games.
• Non-region game: A game that counts in a team’s overall record but not in the region standings.
• Home finale: The last regular-season game played at home.
• TN Promise: A Tennessee scholarship and mentoring program that covers community or technical college tuition not paid by other gift aid.
• FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the main form for college grants and aid.
• THEC Student Portal: The Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s website where students apply for TN Promise.
• STEAM: Science, technology, engineering, art and math.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is there school every day this week?

Yes. The district calendar shows a full week, Oct. 26–30. The next day off is Veterans Day, Wed., Nov. 11.

Why is Friday’s game so important?

Sequatchie County and Giles County are both 3-1 in Region 4-3A, behind 4-0 Forrest. The winner finishes second, and on the TSSAA bracket the No. 2 team hosts a first-round playoff game on Nov. 6.

What time is kickoff Friday?

MaxPreps lists 8 p.m., and Giles County High School’s calendar shows 7 p.m. Please confirm with Sequatchie County High School before you go.

How does my child get a free book?

Come to the library’s Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 30, at 227 Cherry Street. Every child and teen who visits can pick a free book until 5 p.m., and they need to be there to get one.

Do I need to sign up for the library’s kids’ programs?

The library says no sign-up is required for Storytime Sprouts, Books & Beyond, Preschool Page Turners or Thrive Tribe. Just come.

When is TN Promise due, and where do seniors apply?

Monday, Nov. 2, through the THEC Student Portal. The student needs a personal email address, not a school one.

When do clocks fall back?

Sunday, Nov. 1. Set clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night.

🔗 Other Resources

• TSSAA: Football region standings
• Main Street Media of Tennessee: Late field goal lifts Forrest past Giles County
• TSSAA: 2026 Class 3A playoff bracket
• MaxPreps: Sequatchie County Indians schedule
• Giles County High School calendar
• Sequatchie County Schools: Football schedule
• Sequatchie County Public Library
• Sequatchie County Schools: 2026-27 calendar (PDF)
• collegefortn.org: TN Promise and FAFSA
• Sequatchie County Schools: Board agendas
• Marion County: School Board Meeting, Oct. 22
• NWS Dunlap point forecast

🏠 Keep Learning — Stay Calm

A full week of class, a home game that matters, a library full of free fun and a week of sunshine. There’s nothing here to worry over, just a few things to plan. Pin the two dates, check the kickoff time, and we’ll see you in the home stands Friday.

For more calm, practical Valley news you can use, keep reading Dunlap.Today.