The Five: Early Season Team Surprises
We have made it through three games of the 2021 Tennessee high school football season and we have already had some outstanding games and teams jump to fast starts.
There are a lot of teams that remain undefeated but this feature looks at five teams that have come from under the radar and out of nowhere to become region and or playoff contenders.
1. Station Camp Bison (3-0) – Class 5A
– Heading into the 2021 season, nobody saw the Bison starting off the season at 3-0 but it has happened and Station Camp has made it happen with a stingy defense and an attitude of don’t quit. Through all three games thus far, the Bison have had to play hard fought contests but have found a way to win each one. That’s a sign of a good team that plays well together and understands their roles. Led by senior safety Aden Murray, the Bison defense has led the way this year, playing at a high level thus far while their offense has done and scored enough points to walk away with victories. The Bison also have a solid back over on offense with Isaiah Brooks that has carried the ball very well thus far.
The schedule does get tougher as the Bison have looming games with Hendersonville and Mt. Juliet on the horizon but the path isn’t that difficult to where Station Camp can’t make the playoffs. Having this 3-0 start in hand, the Bison have positioned themselves well to earn a playoff spot but they must continue playing at a high level if they want to reach postseason play.
2. Giles Co. Bobcats (3-0) – Class 3A
– A fresh new season with a new territory, the Bobcats first year in Class 3A has started off great with a 3-0 start and big upset victory over a talented Nolensville team, 38-35. The most impressive aspect of the Bobcats team through the early season has been their offense. Through two played games, the Bobcats are averaging a little more than 40 points per game, mainly done by a strong rushing attack and a complimentary passing game. The Giles Co. offense is playing balanced football right now and certainly playing with ultimate confidence.
While the Bobcats offense has performed well thus far, the Giles Co. defense has been a mixed bag. They allowed Nolensville to score 35 points but the Knights have a talented offense, so it will be interesting to see how the Bobcats defense performs going forward. Moving down the 3A ball, Giles Co. has positioned themselves to reach bigger goals and this 3-0 start certainly places them on the path they want to be on.
3. South Gibson Hornets (3-0) – Class 4A
– The Hornets came into the 2021 season having to replace several key performers from last year’s team but thus far, it looks like those players have been replaced as South Gibson has started the year undefeated and have looked good doing so. Through three games, the Hornets have two big wins over two real good West Tennessee programs in Lexington and last week’s victory over Milan. The third win for the Hornets over Milan is the victory that stands out and impresses many around the state. Milan is viewed as a state title contender but the Hornets went toe to toe with them and never flinched. Led by stud receiver Brannon Brown Brannon Brown 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR South Gibson | 2022 State TN , It took 44 points to win the game but they got it done and are now playing with ultimate confidence going forward.
South Gibson has been a steady program over the past several years but has yet to really break through. It has yet to be seen if the 2021 season will be their year to go deep in the playoffs but a 3-0 start is definitely a great beginning.
4. Monterey Wildcats (3-0) – Class 2A
– One of the bigger surprises from the East Tennessee region are the Wildcats who have not only started off undefeated but done so in impressive fashion. The nice start can be attributed to not just one side of the ball but both, however if you asked the coaching staff which side has started out faster, it would be the Wildcat defense. So far through three games, the Monterey defense is allowing only six points a game and they have done a good job of playing fast on early downs and kept themselves fresh by getting off the field. They are also doing well against the run, which is always a main factor towards becoming a very good defense.
The Wildcats have a nice rushing attack on offense, led by junior Mr. Football candidate, Mason Bowman Mason Bowman 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Monterey | 2023 State TN . They also have a solid offensive front where senior Grant Hoover Grant Hoover 6'3" | 270 lbs | OL Monterey | 2022 TN paves the path for Bowman and other Wildcat running backs. Not to forget junior quarterback Matthew Montgomery Matthew Montgomery 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Monterey | 2023 TN , the Wildcats have a good offense that should only get better as the season goes along. This is a well balanced team that has the talent and the schedule to do some special things this year if everyone stays healthy and the team keeps playing at a high level like they currently are.
5. Rockvale Rockets (3-0) – Class 6A
– Besides Station Camp above, there is no bigger surprise right now in the Middle Tennessee area other than the Rockets being 3-0 and not just being undefeated but being competitive and looking good while winning. This Murfreesboro area, Class 6A school is a new program that walks onto the football field and is not intimidated by nobody. They embrace who they are and simply enjoy every little step along the way to build their team and turn it into a formidable program. This undefeated start tells you the coaching staff is legit and is developing their kids the right way but their work is far from over and the coaches know that.
This great start can only give confidence to the entire team as they look forward to the rest of their season. The Rockets schedule does get tougher with big region games looming with Oakland, Riverdale and Blackman but this Rockvale team will be ready and excited to face strong competition. If they can upset one or two more teams along the way, the Rockets could earn themselves a spot in the 2021 playoffs, which would be a huge feat for this young football program.
Other Teams of Note
– Cascade (3-0) – Class 2A
– Riverside (3-0) – Class 2A
– Signal Mountain (3-0) – Class 3A
– Montgomery Central (3-0) – Class 4A
– Macon Co. (3-0) – Class 4A
– Memp. Central (3-0) – Class 5A
– Brighton (2-0) – Class 5A
– Clarksville Academy (3-0) – D2-Class A
– Silverdale Academy (3-0) – D2-Class AA