The Five: Sleeper Title Teams (Class 4A-6A)

<h2>At the mid-way point of the season, these teams listed below might not have had the start they wanted but they do have the talent to turn things around and sneak their way into title contention! </h2>     1. Pearl Cohn Firebirds (3-2) - Class 4A   - It was a rough start to the 2022 season for these Firebirds but they appear to have gotten things back on track and with the talent they have, watch out because this Middle Tennessee team has the chops to make some noise come playoff season. After beginning the year at 0-2, Pearl Cohn has reeled off three wins in a row, playing better football on both sides of the ball and beginning to live up to their preseason expectations.    Led by junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='258845' first='Keshawn' last='Tarleton'], the Firebirds offense is stacked with athletic skill players that can change the game in an instance, especially running back [player_tooltip player_id='239250' first='Malachi' last='Cromwell'], who can hit the homerun anytime the ball touches his hands. Pearl Cohn has a solid offensive line as well, so the pieces are there on offense to produce big points and give opposing defenses problems. Defensively, these Firebirds are young but talented and are finally starting to gel into the unit the coaching staff was hoping for headed into the season. They still have some work to do but the defense could turn out to be the major factor that pulls these Firebirds deep into the playoffs.    Five games remain for Pearl Cohn and the region title is still in play, which means a #1 seed in the playoffs is up for grabs as well. The game that could dictate the region title will come in a few weeks when these Firebirds host undefeated Marshall Co. in what should be a de-facto region championship game. No matter how that plays out, Pearl Cohn will not be an easy out come postseason and they have the talent to not only make noise but play their way to Chattanooga and win the Class 4A title.    Games Remaining: vs. Tullahoma (9/23), vs. Glencliff (9/30), vs. Marshall Co. (10/7), at Greenbrier (10/14), at Montgomery Cent. (10/28)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/ktarleton-crop-1639x1076-1663792584.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-452610"/><figcaption>Photo: stateoftennesseehsfb.com</figcaption></figure>     2. Mt. Juliet Golden Bears (3-1) - Class 5A    - Much like the team above, Mt. Juliet didn't have a great start to their season with a season opening loss to Gallatin but maybe that's behind them now, especially after a big region win last week against White County. These Golden Bears had high expectations headed into the season and after three wins in a row, those expectations remain as a region title and a top spot in the coming playoffs are still in play.    The Golden Bears had to make some adjustments after the first week of the season when starting senior stars [player_tooltip player_id='157392' first='Griffin' last='Throneberry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='102205' first='Ethan' last='Crisp'] went down with season ending injuries but the coaching staff and team have adjusted well and are now leaning on some new players to lead the way. Two of those players who have taken bigger roles and stepped forward are senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='451935' first='DeAirrus' last='Morton'] and sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='219402' first='Tyler' last='Travers']. These two along with a deep running back group and a solid defense that shows flashes of dominating play provide this team an opportunity to chase after that region title and place themselves in good position when it comes to postseason play.    While these Golden Bears have a legit shot at winning their region, do they have enough talent and juice to make it all the way to Chattanooga? I think they can, especially if they lean on their run game and their defense steps it up in the trenches. The skill talent is there and they have a young but talented quarterback to make all the throws, so yes this is a sleeper title team that could go on the run through the back half of the season and position themselves as a top contender come playoff season.    Games Remaining: at Wilson Central (9/23), vs. Station Camp (9/29), vs. Lebanon (10/6), vs. RePublic (10/13), at Hillsboro (10/21), at Green Hill (10/28)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/20220916_215509-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-448307" width="659" height="371"/></figure>     3. Bartlett Panthers (3-2) - Class 6A    - The early half of the 2022 season has been a tough path for these Panthers as they have faced some high level teams, which has put their record at 3-2 but the adversity they have gone through could enhance their game play down the stretch and become someone you don't want to play during the postseason. What Bartlett has compared to the other teams on this list is a loaded roster that could beat just about anybody but they must gel together as a team and put it to action down the stretch of the season.    The Panthers have one of the best quarterbacks in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='102304' first='Braylen' last='Ragland'] along with one of the top secondaries in the state as well. Bartlett also has some beef in the trenches as well, so this team has the talent and overall depth to make some waves throughout the rest of the year and who knows, they could maneuver their way to Chattanooga and compete for the 6A title as well.   Getting to the promiseland won't be easy for these Panthers as they have some tough matchups upcoming with Houston, Collierville and Whitehaven but the talent is there to not only compete with these teams but beat a few of them as well. No matter what happens the rest of the regular season, if these Panthers reach postseason play, they will be battle tested and ready for anybody that steps in their direction. Keep your ears and eyes open to these Panthers as they could be your surprise playoff team this Fall.    Games Remaining: vs. White Station (9/23), at Houston (9/30), at Cordova (10/7), vs. Collierville (10/21), at Whitehaven (10/28)     4. Hardin Co. Tigers (4-1) - Class 4A   - Through five weeks of the season, the Class 4A ranks looks loaded with several teams sitting undefeated and eyeing a trip to Chattanooga but these Tigers could have something to say about that come November. Sitting with a 4-1 record, Hardin Co. has been tested already with a loss but washed it off quickly and moved back into winning games and now looks like a well oiled machine that should be ready for postseason play once we arrive there.    Every championship caliber team has to have a quarterback leading the way and these Tigers have one of the best in the state with junior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='207322' first='Carter' last='Smith']. The 6'3 gunslinger is putting up big numbers and spreading the ball around the multiple receivers thus far and I can only see this offense getting better game by game. While the offense has been scoring big points, it's been their defense that has surprised as they are allowing less than 15 points per game and playing consistent football through each game.    Both sides of the ball are playing at a high level right now for Hardin Co. and that's a good recipe once we get into postseason play, especially a defense that is stingy and tough to compete with in the trenches. These Tigers know what it's like to compete in playoff games as they have been consistent members of postseason play over the last several years, so they won't be intimidated by anyone nor back down from competition, so this is a definite team to watch in November and a sleeper team to reach Chattanooga.    Games Remaining: vs. McNairy Cent. (9/22), at Lexington (9/30), vs. Liberty Tech (10/14), at Milan (10/21), vs. PURE Acad. (10/28)     5. Lebanon Blue Devils (3-2) - Class 6A   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/adonald.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-452611"/></figure>   - Headed into the season, Lebanon was viewed as a dark horse to win the Class 6A title and that still remains the case even with these Blue Devils having two losses and looking for answers. After winning their first three games, Lebanon has lost two in a row and while they were close losses, they were defeats that probably shouldn't have happened, especially with the talent that these Blue Devils have. All is ok however as we still have several weeks remaining in the season and plenty of time for Lebanon to right the ship.    What these Blue Devils must do is lean on their senior class and have them play up to the next level they were expected going into the season. They have a talented senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='123166' first='Jaylen' last='Abston'] leading the way and a stout O-line with future college prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='102231' first='Eli' last='Freeman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='225975' first='Aidan' last='Donald']. Stud wideout [player_tooltip player_id='297330' first='Anthony' last='Crowell'] is a big time playmaker that can change the game. The Blue Devils also have a strong defense with standouts up front in [player_tooltip player_id='102200' first='Demonte' last='Cook'] and Jack Clinnard.    Lebanon has the pieces to not only make a run throughout the rest of the regular season but also in the playoffs as well. A deep and talented senior class is definitely something many schools wish they had and it's a big factor towards a possible state championship and that's exactly what these Blue Devils have. The first part of the year might not have gone the way they wanted but they can make things right and get back on path, competing for a shot at the Class 6A title.    Games Remaining: vs. Lincoln Co. (9/23), at Shelbyville (9/30), at Mt. Juliet (10/6), at Gallatin (10/21), vs. Warren Co. (10/28)     Other Teams Considered: Stone Memorial (5-0), Upperman (3-2), White Co. (4-1), Henry Co. (3-2), Oak Ridge (3-2), Beech (3-1), Brentwood (3-2)