#TNHSFB Playoff Primer: D2-Class A-AAA

Rounding out our preview of the upcoming playoffs here in Tennessee, we look at the Private Schools and the teams from D2-Class A through AAA ranks and where things stack up headed into Friday’s action. 

Several teams listed below have some power programs that are poised for a title run but nobody better sleep on an opponent because everybody here has the talent to upset somebody and win multiple games in a row. 

D2-Class A Brackets/Matchups

W #1 USJ (8-2)

BYE 

E #2 King’s Academy (7-3)  (Home)

M #4 Franklin-Grace (6-4)

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M #1 DCA (9-1)

BYE

W #4 Tipton-Rosemark (6-3)

E #3 Friendship Christian (6-4)  (Home)

——-

E #1 MTCS (7-3)

BYE

W #3 Trinity Christian (3-6)

M #3 Columbia Academy (3-6)  (Home)

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M #2 Nash. Christian (8-2)  (Home)

E #4 Lakeway Christian (4-6) 

W #2 Jackson Christian (8-2)  (Home)

W #5 First Assembly (4-6)

Top Title Contenders: USJ, DCA, MTCS, Nash. Christian

Sleeper Team: Friendship Christian

Players to Know: (DT) Joshua Jones Joshua Jones 6'1" | 285 lbs | DL USJ | 2022 State TN , (RB) Steele Haynes Steele Haynes 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB USJ | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (TE/DE) Raleigh Seals Raleigh Seals 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE USJ | 2023 TN – USJ, (RB) Nakelin McAfee Nakelin McAfee 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB King's Academy | 2022 State TN – King’s Acad., (QB) Bradford Gaines, (WR) Dayton Sneed, ‘23 (LB/FB) Brady Russell – DCA, (QB) Aden Hooper Aden Hooper 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB MTCS | 2022 State TN , (OT/G) Aleric Watson Aleric Watson 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL MTCS | 2022 State TN – MTCS, (LB) Collins Malone Collins Malone 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Columbia Academy | 2022 TN – Columbia Acad., (RB) Josh Strickland, jr Josh Strickland, jr 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Nash. Christian | 2022 State TN , (WR) Jaelyn Marsh Jaelyn Marsh 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Nash. Christian | 2022 State TN – NCS, (OL) Luke Moore Luke Moore 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL First Assembly | 2022 State TN – FACS 

Best 1st Rd Game: King’s Acad. (7-3) vs. Franklin-Grace (6-4)

Title Game: USJ vs. Nash. Christian 

Champion: USJ Bruins 

D2-Class AA Brackets/Matchups 

W #1 Lausanne (8-1)

BYE

M #3 BGA (5-5)  (Home)

E #4 Chatt. Christian (5-4)

——-

M #2 CPA (8-2)  (Home)

E #5 Boyd Buchanan (4-5)

E #2 CAK (7-2)

M #5 FRA (4-6)

——-

M #1 Lipscomb Academy (9-1)

BYE 

E #3 Silverdale Academy (8-2)  (Home)

W #3 Northpoint Chrst. (5-5)

——-

E #1 Knox. Webb (6-2)

BYE 

W #2 ECS (6-3)  (Home)

M #4 Davidson Academy (6-4)

Top Title Contenders: Lausanne, CPA, Lipscomb Academy 

Sleeper Teams: Chatt. Christian, Knox. Webb 

Players to Know: (LB) Ben Bolton Ben Bolton 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Lausanne | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (QB) Brock Glenn Brock Glenn 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Lausanne | 2023 State TN , ‘23 (DB) Langston Rogers Langston Rogers 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lausanne | 2023 State TN , ‘23 (OL) Tyler Bell Tyler Bell 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Lausanne | 2023 State TN , ‘23 (LB) Drew Scott Drew Scott 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Lausanne | 2023 State TN – Lausanne, (RB) Sean Williams Sean Williams 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB BGA | 2022 State TN , (WR) Daniel Morra Daniel Morra 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Battle Ground Academy | 2022 State TN – BGA, ‘24 (Ath) Boo Carter Boo Carter 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Bradley Central | 2024 State TN – Chatt. Chrst., (QB) Cade Law Cade Law 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB CPA | 2022 State TN , (Ath) Reid Williford Reid Williford 6'2" | 195 lbs | ATH CPA | 2022 State TN , (OT/G) Evan Carney Evan Carney 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL CPA | 2022 State TN , (LB) Langston Patterson Langston Patterson 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Presbyterian | 2022 State TN – CPA, (TE) Karson Gay Karson Gay 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Boyd Buchanan | 2022 State TN – Boyd Buchanan, (RB) J.D. Dunn J.D. Dunn 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB CAK | 2022 State TN , (DT) Malachi Harrison Malachi Harrison 6'1" | 280 lbs | DL CAK | 2022 State TN – CAK, (RB) Jeffrey Vercher, Jr Jeffrey Vercher, Jr 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB FRA | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (OT/G) Joe Crocker Joe Crocker 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL FRA | 2023 State TN – FRA

(QB) Luther Richesson Luther Richesson 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN , (RB) Alex Broome Alex Broome 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN , (WR) Coleman Baker Coleman Baker 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (LB) Bryan Longwell Bryan Longwell 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Lipscomb Academy | 2023 State TN , ‘24 (DB) Kaleb Beasley Kaleb Beasley 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Lipscomb Academy | 2024 State TN – Lipscomb Acad., (RB) Connor Delashmitt Connor Delashmitt 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Silverdale Academy | 2022 State TN – Silverdale Acad., (DB) Bradee McCoy Bradee McCoy 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Knox. Webb | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (QB) Charles Robinson, ‘24 (WR) Brandon Winton Brandon Winton 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Bradenton IMG Academy | 2024 FL – Knox. Webb, (Ath) Caiden Hill Caiden Hill 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH ECS | 2022 State TN – ECS, (TE) Brown Norton Brown Norton 6'3" | 230 lbs | TE Davidson Academy | 2022 State TN , (RB) Diivonta Phillips Diivonta Phillips 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Davidson Academy | 2022 State TN , (DE) Kendyle Ball Kendyle Ball 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Davidson Academy | 2022 State TN , (DT/OL) Jalen Brockman Jalen Brockman 6'3" | 275 lbs | DL Davidson Academy | 2022 State TN – Davidson Acad. 

Best 1st Rd Game: BGA (5-5) vs. Chatt. Christian (5-4)

Title Game: CPA vs. Lipscomb Academy 

Champion: Lipscomb Academy Mustangs 

D2-Class AAA Brackets/Matchups 

E #5 Father Ryan (6-4)

W #4 MUS (6-4)  (Home)

E #1 McCallie (10-0)

BYE

——–

W #6 St. Benedict (0-9)

E #3 Pope Prep (6-4)  (Home)

W #2 Brentwood Academy (7-3)

BYE

——–

E #6 Baylor (6-4)

W #3 Ensworth (7-3)  (Home)

E #2 MBA (7-3)

BYE

——-

W #5 Christian Brothers (6-4)

E #4 Knox. Catholic (5-4)  (Home)

W #1 Briarcrest Christian (9-1)

BYE 

Top Title Contenders: McCallie, Briarcrest

Sleeper Teams: Ensworth, Christian Brothers 

Players to Know: (DB) Alex Ford Alex Ford 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Father Ryan | 2022 State TN , (DB) James Reed, ‘23 (DT/OL) Drake Carlson Drake Carlson 6'4" | 275 lbs | DL Father Ryan | 2023 State TN – Father Ryan, (QB) George Hamsley George Hamsley 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB MUS | 2022 State TN , (WR) Clarkson Shoaf Clarkson Shoaf 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR MUS | 2022 State TN , (WR) Mac Owen Mac Owen 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR MUS | 2022 State TN , (Ath) Hunter Barnes Hunter Barnes 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH MUS | 2022 State TN – MUS, (S) Jackson Noble Jackson Noble 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB JP2 | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (QB) Kenny Minchey Kenny Minchey 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Pope Prep | 2023 State TN , ‘23 (WR) Colin Cook Colin Cook 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Pope John Paul | 2023 State TN – Pope Prep, (DB) Kaleb Lyons Kaleb Lyons 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Brentwood Academy | 2022 State TN , (LB) Reggie Reed Reggie Reed 6'4" | 220 lbs | LB Brentwood Academy | 2022 State TN – Brentwood Acad.

(QB) Cooper Wick Cooper Wick 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Baylor | 2022 State TN , (LB) Trey McDonald Trey McDonald 6'4" | 210 lbs | LB Baylor | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (OT/G) Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN , (DB) Evan Haynie Evan Haynie 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Baylor School | 2023 State TN – Baylor, (OL) Philip Gray, (DB) Charles Ingram V Charles Ingram V 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Ensworth | 2022 State TN , (DB) Roland McGhee Roland McGhee 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Ensworth | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (WR) Shamar Porter Shamar Porter 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR/TE Ensworth | 2023 State TN , ‘23 (WR) Jacob Page Jacob Page 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Blackman | 2023 State TN – Ensworth, (OT/G) Grayson Morgan Grayson Morgan 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL MBA | 2022 State TN , (DT) Harrison Jackson Harrison Jackson 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL MBA | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (QB) Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN – MBA, (RB) Dallan Hayden Dallan Hayden 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN , (OT/DT) Patrick Kutas Patrick Kutas 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN , (OL) Ben Caviness Ben Caviness 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (DB) Jaxon Hammond Jaxon Hammond 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Christian Brothers | 2023 State TN – CBHS, (RB) Keondre Jarmon Keondre Jarmon 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Knox. Catholic | 2022 State TN , (OL) Hayden Todd Hayden Todd 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Knox. Catholic | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (OL/DL) Trevor Duncan Trevor Duncan 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Knox. Catholic | 2023 State TN – KCHS, (OL) Wesley Davis Wesley Davis 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Briarcrest Christian | 2022 State TN , ‘23 (RB) Ahmad Miller Ahmad Miller 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Whitehaven | 2023 State TN , (QB) JD Sherrod JD Sherrod 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Briarcrest Chrst. | 2023 State TN , (Ath) Reed Linder Reed Linder 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Briarcrest Christian | 2023 State TN , (OL) Nate Bledsoe Nate Bledsoe 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Briarcrest Christian | 2023 State TN – Briarcrest 

Best 1st Rd Game: Baylor (6-4) at Ensworth (7-3)

Title Game: McCallie vs. Briarcrest 

Champion: McCallie Blue Tornado