TN Prep Football

Powell (1-1, #4 AP 5A) @ Oak Ridge (1-0):  These teams are no longer region opponents, but this game looms as a large test for both teams early in the season. Their Week 1 win against Jefferson County was a step in the right direction, but a win over Powell vaults the Wildcats onto a shortlist of 5A title contenders. Maryville (2-0,#3 AP 6A) @ Bradley Central (2-0, #2 AP 6A): For the last 25 years, the Rebels have had a death grip on their district/region, winning 22 championships in a row. Bradley Central represents the biggest threat to that streak in recent memory, featuring 4 skill players with offers from Power 5 programs. It's the classic speed v. power match-up.  Beech (1-1, #8 AP 5A) @ Riverdale ( 1-1, #8 AP 6A): A contest of 2 teams that are eager to get back on the right track after tough losses to West TN programs. Both will play a physical brand of football but go different ways about it. Riverdale's passing attack v. Beech secondary will be a key matchup that coul...

Class 5A & 6A - Shelbyville surprised alot of people across their mid-state with their upset of Marshall County. It was a big step forward for a program that has had a tough couple of years. The big key in their win was defensive adjustments made at halftime. If they can continue that, Shelbyville should win 5-5A pretty easily and might. D able to make some noise in the postseason. - August 25th, 2023 will always be remembered fondly for those around the Brentwood program as they secured their first win over Brentwood Academy, 21-18. Combination of solid defense and a great performance by QB Baylor Hayes. Their win over BA gives the Bruins legitimacy as a 6A title contender  - In all the pre-season talk about Region 2-6A, Farragut has been a team largely ignored. That changed in Week 2 when the Admirals were able to grind Powell down for a 28-21 victory. Their upcoming Gans against West gives them a chance for se real momentum before they enter region play - Henry County's vaun...

Class 6A 1.) Oakland (1-1). Next: @ Haywood  2.) Maryville (2-0). Next: @ Bradley Central  3.) Germantown (2-0). Next: @ Houston 4.) Bradley Central (2-0). Next: Maryville  5.) Brentwood (2-0). Next: @ Hendersonville  6.) Mt. Juliet (2-0). Next: @ Gallatin  7.) Collierville (2-0). Next: @ Bartlett  8.) Riverdale (1-1). Next: Beech 9.) Cleveland (2-0). Next: @ Walker Valley  10.) Bartlett (1-1). Next: Collierville  Class 5A 1.) Knoxville West (2-0). Next: Farragut  2.) Henry County (2-0). Next: Springfield  3.) Oak Ridge (1-0). Next: Powell 4.) Beech (1-1). Next: @ Riverdale  5.) Centennial (2-0). Next: @ Independence  6.) Powell (1-1). Next: @ Oak Ridge  7.) Munford (2-0). Next: Melrose  8.) Page (1-1). Next: Franklin  9.) Nolensville (2-0). Next: @ McGavock 10.) Hendersonville (2-0). Next: Brentwood  Class 4A 1.) Pearl-Cohn (2-0). Next: @ Creek Wood 2.) Greeneville (1-0). Next: Cherokee 3.) Elizabethton (2-...

Let's get into some short analysis for Week 2 along with some picks.... Lipscomb Academy @ Saraland (AL): LA gets a second chance to score a impressive out of state win and thus one will be nationally televised. Saraland has a ton of starters getting P5 offers. They're not exactly IMG, but still impressive. Prediction: Lipscomb Academy  Oakland @ Center Grove (Ind ): Oakland travels north to Indiana to face a program that is much like itself, having also dominated Class 6A in their own state with 3 straight titles. The key matchup should be the Oakland secondary against Center Grove QB Tyler Cherry, who is committed to Duke. Prediction: Center Grove Riverdale @ Henry County: For the first time since 1998, a team from Rutherford County will face off against Henry Co. This is the first time these two programs have met, also notable that Riverdale HC Will Kriesky played at Henry County. Prediction: Riverdale Bearden @ Alcoa: For the 2nd week in a row, Alcoa faces off against a 6A ...

- One of the games that got my attention was Bartlett's 37-0 defeat at the hands of MUS. Alot of people considered Bartlett a contender ( maybe even the favorite prior to this game) to represent the West in the BlueCross Bowl. The Panthers still can be that team. Their matchup against Lausanne will be worth paying attention to. - QB's Thomas Santeel (Siegel) and Mason Baker ( Hendersonville) both had massive games Friday, accumulating over 1,000 yards of total offense ( Santeel v. Shelbyville,  Baker v. Gallatin). 2 names worth keeping an eye  - Knoxville West rode a stingy defense with just enough offense to secure a 14-10 victory over Bearden. Their offense is very much a work in progress, but they have the defense to mount a successful title defense.  - Powell and Page both had nice wins to start the season against Anderson County and Giles County respectively.  - The Chandler Tygard era at Cleveland got off to a good start with the Blue Raiders with a 49-36 win o...

Class 6A 1.) Oakland  2.) Maryville   3.) Germantown  4.) Riverdale  5.) Bradley Central  6.) Brentwood  7.) Mt. Juliet  8.) Collierville  9.) Cleveland 10.) Bartlett Class 5A 1.) West 2.) Beech 3.) Powell 4.) Oak Ridge 5.) Henry County 6.) Page 7.) Centennial  8.) Munford 9.) Nolensville  10.) Hendersonville Class 4A 1.) Pearl-Cohn 2.) Anderson County  3.) Greeneville  4.) Elizabethton 5.) Red Bank 6.) Upperman 7.) Haywood 8.) Marshall County 9.) Hardin County 10.) South Gibson Class 3A  1.) Alcoa 2.) East Nashville  3.) Gatlinburg-Pittman  4.) Dyersburg  5.) Giles County 6.) Covington  7.) Westview  8.) Sweetwater 9.) Pigeon Forge  10.) Fairview  Class 2A 1.) Riverside  2.) East Robertson  3.) Mt. Pleasant 4.) Smith County 5.) Milan 6.) Huntingdon  7.) Fayetteville  8.) Fairley  9.) Marion County 10.) Hampton  Class 1A 1.) South Pittsburg  2.) Uni...

Class 6A 1.) Oakland 2.) Maryville 3.) Germantown  4.) Riverdale  5.) Bradley Central  6.) Bartlett  7.) Brentwood  8.) Mt. Juliet  9.) Collierville 10.) Bearden Overview: Oakland and Maryville get the top spots by default, while both will have to go through competition to make another deep run, they've both earned the benefit of the doubt.  I think the difference bewteen 3-6 is paper thin, Riverdale @ Germantown has the makings of a potential title game preview. Bradley probably has the deepest group of skill players among these 4 teams, but their achilles heel has always been line play, I need to see more from them upfront. 7-10 are all teams that will be led by good qb's and have the potential to make a deep run. I really like Collierville as a darkhorse, alot of FBS talent on the roster. Bottom line, this is the deepest 6A has been, coming up with just 10 was really hard. Predictions: Semis- Oakland over Maryville, Germantown over Brentwood. Champ...