🏫 The Week Ahead: A Tuesday Playoff, a Friday Road Trip and Five Sunny School Days

Or: Two Big Games on Chattanooga Time, One Last ACT Window and a Week of Blue Skies

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, October 18, 2026

Good morning. Homecoming is behind us, the coffee’s on, and this is the Sunday porch talk — the one where we look down the road at the week coming up.

And it’s a good week to look at. No days off, no dress-up themes, no surprises on the calendar. Just five regular school days and blue sky in the forecast every one of them.

Here’s what’s ahead: everybody is back in class Monday, Oct. 19. The Lady Indians (14-2-1) play Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA) in a TSSAA region semifinal Tuesday. The Indians (5-3) visit Walker Valley (7-1) on Friday. Both games are listed at 7 p.m. Eastern — that’s 6 p.m. in Dunlap. It’s the last week of the ACT Event 2 online window for seniors, TN Promise is due Nov. 2, national Red Ribbon Week begins Friday, and the clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Monday: Normal school day. The district calendar shows no days off this week.
• Tuesday soccer: Lady Indians at CSLA in Chattanooga, region semifinal, 7 p.m. Eastern = 6 p.m. Central.
• Friday football: Indians at Walker Valley in Cleveland, 7 p.m. Eastern = 6 p.m. Central.
• Seniors: ACT Event 2 online window ends Fri., Oct. 23. TN Promise due Nov. 2.
• Red Ribbon Week: Oct. 23–31, nationwide. Watch the backpack for any school plans.
• Weather: Sunny all week, highs in the 70s, mornings near 40–45°F.
• Remember: Clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1.

🍂 Monday Starts a Plain, Full Five-Day Week

The Sequatchie County Schools 2026-27 calendar shows no days off and no special days for the week of Oct. 19–23. Fall break and homecoming are both behind us, so this is the first ordinary week in a while.

A few notes from our neighbors’ calendars:

• Marion County Schools lists report cards on Friday, Oct. 23.
• Bledsoe County Schools lists a student early release day at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, and no school on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (Election Day).

What it means for you: A plain week is a gift — like a clean kitchen table on a Monday morning. It’s a good time to settle back into bedtimes and a regular homework spot after two busy weeks. If you have grandkids in Marion County, Friday is a nice day to ask to see that report card and praise one thing on it.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Schools 2026-27 calendar, PDF)

⚽ Tuesday: Lady Indians Open the Region Tournament at CSLA

The Lady Indians’ season keeps going. The TSSAA’s Division I Class A region tournament bracket lists Sequatchie County, the District 4 runner-up, at CSLA, the District 3 winner, on Tuesday, Oct. 20. MaxPreps lists it as a region semifinal at 7 p.m. Eastern in Chattanooga — 6 p.m. our time.

Sequatchie County comes in at 14-2-1, went 4-0 in district regular-season play, and has outscored opponents 73 to 10 this fall, according to MaxPreps. CSLA is listed at 8-7-1. On the TSSAA schedule, the winners of Tuesday’s games play again in the region finals on Thursday, Oct. 22.

What it means for you: Chattanooga runs an hour ahead of us, so a “7 o’clock” game there starts at 6 by the kitchen clock. Leave Dunlap by about 5 to find parking and a seat. And if Tuesday goes well, keep Thursday evening open.

👉 Read more (MaxPreps: Sequatchie County at CSLA, Oct. 20)

🏈 Friday: A Road Trip to Walker Valley — 6 p.m. by Our Clocks

After last week’s 50-7 homecoming win, the Indians (5-3) travel to Cleveland to play Walker Valley on Friday, Oct. 23. The TSSAA schedule lists kickoff at 7:00 p.m. and notes that all times are local — and Cleveland is on Eastern time. That makes it 6 p.m. Central for Dunlap folks.

Walker Valley is a bigger Class 5A school and comes in at 7-1; TSSAA shows the Mustangs beat Lenoir City 31-10 on Oct. 16. Neither team’s schedule marks Friday’s game as a district game. The Indians come home for the regular-season finale against Giles County on Friday, Oct. 30. GoFan has an event page listed for Friday’s game.

What it means for you: Think of it like setting two clocks in the same house — just remember which one you’re reading. Write “6:00 our time” on the fridge so nobody pulls in at halftime. Friday night looks clear, with a low near 45, so bring a jacket for the fourth quarter.

👉 Read more (TSSAA: Walker Valley football schedule)

📝 Seniors: Last Week of ACT Event 2 — and TN Promise in Two Weeks

Tennessee’s free school-day ACT retake for public high school seniors keeps rolling. ACT’s Tennessee schedule lists:

• Event 2: the online window’s final stretch is Oct. 19–23
• Event 3: paper on Tue., Oct. 27; online windows Oct. 27–30 and Nov. 2–6

Each school picks its own test day, so the SCHS counseling office is the place to ask.

Tennessee Promise is due Monday, Nov. 2 for the Class of 2027. The application is done through the THEC Student Portal, linked from collegefortn.org. The state says a student needs their name as it appears on their Social Security card, their Social Security number, date of birth and a personal email address — not a school email. Sequatchie, Marion, Hamilton and Grundy seniors work with tnAchieves; Bledsoe and Van Buren seniors work with The Ayers Foundation Trust.

What it means for you: The personal email is the part folks forget — that’s where reminders and meeting dates will go after graduation. Help your senior pick one they’ll actually check, and the rest of the form goes quick, like filling the woodbox before the cold sets in.

👉 Read more (TN Promise overview)

🎗️ Red Ribbon Week Starts Friday

Red Ribbon Week runs Oct. 23–31 every year across the country. It’s a week for schools and families to talk about healthy choices. This year’s national theme is “Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free.” It was written by a middle school student in Connecticut, who said, “Heroes help each other.”

This is a national campaign. We haven’t seen a posted schedule from our local schools yet, so watch your child’s folder or the school’s page for any plans.

What it means for you: Kids often carry these messages home better than any lecture. If a red ribbon or a flyer turns up in the backpack, ask, “Who’s a hero to you?” and let them talk.

👉 Read more (Red Ribbon Week 2026 theme)

🗓️ Dates to Pin — Plus Two Things Still Not Posted

• Tue., Oct. 27: Sequatchie County school board working session
• Sun., Nov. 1, 2 a.m.: Daylight saving time ends — clocks go back one hour
• Mon., Nov. 2: Regular school board meeting, and the TN Promise deadline
• Mon., Nov. 9, 3 p.m.: Special education consultation for private-school and homeschool families, at the Board of Education

Two things we’re still waiting on as of Sunday morning: the results of the board’s Oct. 12 meeting (the district’s board page still shows only the agenda) and the homecoming court winners. We’ll share both once the school posts them.

What it means for you: The time change brings lighter mornings at the bus stop, which early risers will like. Set the stove and car clocks back on Saturday night, Oct. 31, and Sunday morning won’t fool anybody.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Schools: Board agendas)

☀️ A Week of Blue Skies — Cool Mornings, Warm Afternoons

The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap calls for sunshine every day this week with calm winds. Monday’s high is near 71, then the middle of the week warms into the mid-70s: near 76 Tuesday, 77 Wednesday, 76 Thursday and 75 Friday. Mornings start cool, with lows near 40 tonight and in the low to mid-40s the rest of the week.

What it means for you: This is “layers” weather — a jacket at the bus stop and short sleeves by recess. Put a name in every jacket, because a few are bound to get left on the playground.

👉 Read more (NWS: Dunlap point forecast)

✅ Your Sunday Fridge Checklist

• ✅ Monday is a regular school day — no days off this week.
• ✅ Lady Indians at CSLA, Tue., Oct. 20, 6 p.m. our time. Keep Thursday open if they win.
• ✅ Indians at Walker Valley, Fri., Oct. 23, 6 p.m. our time. Bring a jacket.
• ✅ Seniors: ask which day you test — Event 2 online ends Oct. 23, Event 3 starts Oct. 27.
• ✅ Seniors: TN Promise by Nov. 2 — use a personal email, not a school one.
• ✅ Watch the backpack for Red Ribbon Week notes starting Friday.
• ✅ Marion County families: report cards Friday.
• ✅ Pin Oct. 27, Nov. 1 (clocks back), Nov. 2 and Nov. 9 on the fridge calendar.
• ✅ Write names in jackets — cool mornings, warm afternoons.

Practical rule: When a game is in Chattanooga or Cleveland, subtract an hour — 7 there is 6 here.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English School Glossary

• Region semifinal: An early playoff round after the district tournament. Winners move on to the region final.
• District runner-up: The team that finished second in its district tournament. It still earns a place in the region tournament.
• TSSAA: The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, which runs high school sports and playoffs in Tennessee.
• Eastern vs. Central time: Dunlap is on Central time. Chattanooga and Cleveland are on Eastern time, one hour ahead.
• Class 5A: A TSSAA size group. Bigger schools play in higher classes.
• ACT Senior Retake: A free, state-paid chance for public school seniors to take the ACT again during the school day.
• TN Promise: A last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees at Tennessee community colleges and colleges of applied technology after other gift aid.
• THEC Student Portal: The state’s online account where students file the TN Promise application.
• Red Ribbon Week: A national week each fall, Oct. 23–31, for encouraging healthy, drug-free choices.
• Working session: A school board meeting to talk through issues in detail. Official votes usually happen at the regular meeting.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is there school every day this week?

Yes. The Sequatchie County Schools calendar shows no days off for Oct. 19–23.

What time is Tuesday’s soccer game, in our time?

MaxPreps lists the region semifinal at CSLA for 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Oct. 20. That’s 6 p.m. Central, Dunlap time.

What happens if the Lady Indians win Tuesday?

On the TSSAA region tournament schedule, Tuesday’s winners play in the region finals on Thursday, Oct. 22. Check the school or MaxPreps for the time and place.

What time is Friday’s football game at Walker Valley?

The TSSAA schedule lists 7:00 p.m. local time in Cleveland, which is Eastern. That’s 6 p.m. Central. Confirm with the school before you leave.

When is my senior’s ACT retake?

Each school picks its day inside the state windows: Event 2 online through Oct. 23, and Event 3 on Oct. 27 (paper) or Oct. 27–30 and Nov. 2–6 (online). Ask the SCHS counseling office.

What does my senior need for the TN Promise application?

A THEC Student Portal account, plus their name as it appears on their Social Security card, their Social Security number, date of birth and a personal (not school) email address. The deadline is Nov. 2.

Have the homecoming court winners or the Oct. 12 board results been posted?

Not that we’ve seen as of Sunday morning. We’ll share both once the school posts them.

When do the clocks change?

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. Set clocks back one hour.

🔗 Other Resources

• MaxPreps: Sequatchie County at CSLA, Oct. 20
• TSSAA: Division I Class A girls soccer region tournaments
• MaxPreps: Lady Indians soccer schedule
• MaxPreps: Indians football schedule
• TSSAA: Walker Valley football schedule
• GoFan: Walker Valley vs. Sequatchie County, Oct. 23
• ACT: Tennessee Senior Retake dates
• TN Promise overview (collegefortn.org)
• Red Ribbon Week 2026 theme
• Sequatchie County Schools 2026-27 calendar (PDF)
• Marion County Schools 2026-27 calendar (PDF)
• Bledsoe County Schools 2026-27 calendar (PDF)
• Sequatchie County Schools: Board agendas
• Daylight saving time 2026 dates
• NWS Dunlap point forecast

🏠 Keep Learning — Stay Calm

This is the kind of week that’s easy to love: steady school days, sunshine from Monday to Friday and two chances to cheer for our kids under the lights. Keep the clocks straight, keep the dates on the fridge, and let the week roll along like a slow drive down the valley.

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