Let the Games Begin

Back in early December 2015 the TSSAA crowned eight new state champions. In the 6A bracket we had Ravenwood knock off the Juggernaut Maryville 26-17, avenging their overtime loss the year prior, while in the 5A bracket we had Williamson County favorite Independence go undefeated 15-0 beating Sevier County 49 – 14. The 4A bracket was wrapped up with Knoxville Catholic knocking off Metro Nashville Pearl Cohn Firebirds 48 – 8, while in the 3A bracket East Tennessee Alcoa beat Christ Presbyterian Academy representing Middle Tennessee 20-0. In the 2A bracket West Tennessee powerhouse Trezevant won a squeaker barely winning over Marion County 40-35. The 1A bracket was another Middle Tennessee team with Nashville Christian beating Greenback High school 42-14. Rounding out the private schools we had Brentwood Academy beating Montgomery Bell Academy 56 – 55 with Jeremiah oatsvall putting his team on his back to knock off The Big Red. Lastly in the Division 2 1A bracket we had St.George beating North Point Christian 50-20.

Six of the eight state championship games had Middle Tennessee ties, with four of the eight bringing back the state championship to Middle Tennessee. Football is back and our Middle Tennessee teams are poised to make another run at the state championships.

Let’s first take a look at the 6A. Ravenwood loses head coach Will Hester as he takes on duties as Athletics Director and Head Coach  at the newly built Nolensville High School. However in the 6A bracket you still have Maryville who is the preseason number one in front of Oakland High School out of Murfreesboro and Whitehaven out of Memphis. Oakland led by head coach Kevin Creasy and LSU commit Jacoby Stevens have another opportunity this season to avenge last year’s semi final lost at the hands of Maryville 27 – 13. Whitehaven has an opportunity also to avenge their semifinal loss to Ravenwood 20-13. Other teams we see potentially making a big run at the 6A title this fall are a big Mount Juliet football team as well as Wilson Central and Nashville Overton. Riverdale, Blackman and Smyrna High School are potential sleeper teams coming to make some noise.