Oakland’s Brendon Matthews
A look at the top large high school football teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by the USA Today Sports network. Large schools consist of teams from Class 4A, Class 5A, Class 6A and Division II-AA.
1. Oakland (8-0) — The Patriots, coming off a 35-7 win over rival Riverdale, have outscored their first Region 2-6A opponents by a combined 288-14 margin. Last week: No. 1. This week: Friday vs. Cookeville.
2. MBA (7-1) — The Big Red can secure a Division II-AA East/Middle Region championship by closing out the season with wins over Baylor and Ensworth. Last week: No. 2. This week: Friday vs. Baylor.
3. Brentwood Academy (6-2) — The Eagles rebounded from their Week 8 loss to MBA with a thoroughly one-sided 52-3 rout of East/Middle Region foe Father Ryan. Last week: No. 3. This week: Idle.
4. Independence (8-0) — The Eagles, who had won their first four 5-5A games by a combined 173-41 score, claimed their most lopsided region contest to date on Friday — 53-7 over winless Columbia. Last week: No. 4. This week: Friday at Franklin County.
5. Cane Ridge (8-0) — The Ravens, who are coming off a bye, can secure their first region championship in program history with wins over Station Camp and Gallatin to close out the season. Last week: No. 5. This week: Friday vs. Station Camp.
6. Franklin (7-1) — The Rebels, winners of seven in a row, have eclipsed the 40-point mark in each of their previous three games, including Friday’s 48-21 triumph over McGavock. Last week: No. 6. This week: Friday at Mt. Juliet.
7. Pearl-Cohn (7-1) — Firebirds quarterback Xavier Shepherd racked up 289 total yards and accounted for five touchdowns in Friday’s 48-0 win over White House. Last week: No. 7. This week: Friday vs. Tullahoma.
8. Centennial (7-1) — The Cougars, who with Henry County atop the Region 7-5A standings, amassed almost 400 yards rushing in Friday’s 27-17 win over Brentwood. Last week: No 8.
9. Ensworth (5-3) — Tigers junior Nicky Clifton has rushed for 929 yards and seven touchdowns in just five games since returning from an early season injury. Last week: No. 9. This week: Friday at Father Ryan.
10. Blackman (5-3) — After a 1-3 start, the Blaze, led by running back Master Teague, can secure a runner-up finish in Region 2-6A by closing out the season with wins over Coffee County and Warren County. Last week: NR. This week: Friday at Coffee County.
Related
- The Tennessean’s top performers from Week 9
- Scoreboard: High school football scores from Week 9
- Photos: High school football, Week 9
- Kreager: Game stopped when fan confronts referee
- Game of the Week: Centennial wears down Brentwood in 27-17 win
- Top games: Shelbyville outlasts Stewarts Creek 49-47
- Week 9: How Middle Tennessee’s Top 10 large schools fared
- Week 9: How Middle Tennessee’s Top 10 small schools fared
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports .
MOST POPULAR STORIES
Should affordable housing have ‘conduct’ rules for tenants?
CMT Artists of the Year: The best moments
Vegas showdown: Catch up on what you missed in the final debate
Westboro Baptist to picket Nashville LGBT center, universities
Keith Urban and the art of living in the now
Centennial High School head coach Matt Kriesky
Montgomery Bell Academy head coach Marty Euverard
Brentwood Academy’s Lawrence Segree (9) and Gavin Schoenwald (10)
Blackman running back Master Teague (33)
Pearl-Cohn quarterback Xavier Shepherd (8)
Franklin wide receiver Alex Gace (5)
Ensworth coach Ricky Bowers
Independence coach Scott Blade.
