#TNHSFB: Top Games – Week One
In this article:
Opening week of high school football in Tennessee is here and I know everybody at Prep RedZone Tennessee and everybody across the state is excited to get things started!
Here in a new series that will come every Sunday, we take a look at the top games on the schedule and boy do we have a great opening weekend!!
(Games are placed in random order)
1. Milan at Peabody (Thursday)
– Big time showdown in West Tennessee kicks off the 2021 high school season on Thursday night with the now former Class 2A two time state champ Golden Tide hosting a talented Bulldogs team in what should be a close fought contest that is not settled until the final whistle. Both teams have good athletes like Khalk Ganaway from Peabody and Anthony Brown Anthony Brown 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB Milan | 2022 State TN from Milan and a winning pedigree, so the key to winning this game will be who wins the line of scrimmage.
2. Summit at Henry Co. (Friday)
– Two of the best programs from the Middle Tennessee region clash in Paris, Tennessee on Friday night in what should be an outstanding atmosphere and two teams with their eyes on Cookeville. Summit brings back virtually everybody from last season’s title team while the Patriots are led by a strong junior class with (QB) Ryan Damron Ryan Damron 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Henry Co. | 2023 State TN at the helm. The key to Henry Co. pulling out the win will be keeping the Wade brothers at bay and making others beat them. This should be an entertaining game to watch as both teams will compete to the very end.
3. MBA at Ravenwood (Friday)
– This could be the top overall game of the entire slate as it lines up possibly the two best in-state quarterbacks for the 2023 class and two teams with a strong shot at winning state titles. The home Raptors sport FSU commit Chris Parson Chris Parson 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Ravenwood | 2023 State TN while the Big Red will bring Power Five offered signal caller Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN , so all eyes will be glued on these two all night long. Whoever stops or slows down the other quarterback enough, their team should come away with a well earned victory.
4. CPA at Independence (Friday)
– This should be a high scoring, offensive contest between two teams with state title aspirations. The Lions begin their title defense behind key seniors Cade Law Cade Law 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB CPA | 2022 State TN and Langston Patterson Langston Patterson 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Presbyterian | 2022 State TN against a very talented Eagles team led by key offensive prospects Joseph Cummings Joseph Cummings 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB Independence | 2022 State TN and junior tight end Ty Lockwood Ty Lockwood 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Independence | 2023 State TN . Independence will have to play lights out as CPA may have the edge in trenches and on defense but they have the offensive firepower to go toe to toe and even possibly win the game.
5. Anderson Co. at Powell (Friday)
– Two East Tennessee programs will kick off their season’s in strong fashion as one of these teams will walk away with a loss but it will help both develop and learn for the remainder of the year. The home Panthers are loaded on offense with skill everywhere while the Mavericks have a strong mix of veteran and youthful talent that play strong, cohesive football. Powell will have the edge with overall talent but they best not sleep on the Mavs as they will come ready to compete.
6. South Doyle at Oak Ridge (Thursday)
– One of a handful of games kicking the season off on Thursday pits two East Tennessee programs that are perennial playoff contenders and that will be no different this year. Oak Ridge should be quite forceful this year on offense, led by (RB) Kendall Jackson Kendall Jackson 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Oak Ridge | 2022 State TN while the Cherokees sport a defense that will be formidable this season and against the Wildcats on Thursday. This early in the year could be the right time for South Doyle to pull the road upset, so the Wildcats better watch out.
7. Farragut at Beech (Friday)
– East Tennessee meets Middle Tennessee in Hendersonville this Friday with two programs that consistently win but only one shall survive opening weekend with a victory. Beech is considered the favorite with two studs on offense in TE’s Jackson Long Jackson Long 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Beech | 2022 State TN and Andrew Paige Andrew Paige 6'4" | 210 lbs | TE Beech | 2022 State TN but they must not sleep on the Admirals as they have some talent too, including a senior quarterback in Dawson Moore Dawson Moore 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Farragut | 2022 State TN that can really sling the ball. Whichever defense is able to gain the most stops, should be the eventual winner.
8. DCA at MTCS (Friday)
– Possibly the biggest game for both the Wildcats and Cougars happen on opening weekend as both programs have their eyes on Cookeville this season and a D2-Class A state championship. Both teams are led by the quarterbacks, DCA’s Bradford Gaines and the home Cougars, Aden Hooper Aden Hooper 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB MTCS | 2022 State TN and both have pieces around them to put up a lot of points and a lot of victories. The team that endures and fights till the end can win this game but it will be tough as neither will give in nor want to lose the first game of the year.
9. Greater ATL Christian (Ga) at Lipscomb Academy (Friday)
– The first of two big matchups of in-state programs versus out-of-state teams that pits a power out of Atlanta against the Mustangs who are poised for a big 2021 season. This should be a great opening contest for Lipscomb to see how good they really could be and what areas of improvement must be made before they start the main portion of their schedule. The Mustangs offense led by Luther Richesson Luther Richesson 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN and running back Alex Broome Alex Broome 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN will be the fun and interesting part of this game to see as they will be competing against some stellar defensive athletes from GAC.
10. Rabun Gap (Ga) at Baylor (Friday)
– Another Peach state program is competing against a Tennessee power with Rabun-Gap traveling up to Chattanooga to face off with a Baylor team that is stacked with talent and ready for a big year. The trenches is where the show is for me in this game as you have 2023 (OT/G) Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN going up against Vanderbilt commits Darren Agu and Linus Zink. That should be a fun battle to watch and could be the key to a victory for either team. No matter who wins as it should be a great game, it should provide great experience for the Red Raiders and their hopes at a 2021 state title.
Other Games of Note: Pearl Cohn at Cane Ridge (Thurs), Oakland at Hendersonville , Huntingdon at McKenzie, Cleveland at Red Bank, Boyd Buchanan at Greenback, BGA at Nolensville, Brentwood Academy at Florence (AL), Watertown at Fayetteville, Greeneville at Knox. Central