The Five: Under the Radar Title Teams

Week eight of the 2021 football season is upon us here in Tennessee but we still have a ways to go before we put an end to our football year.

Soon enough it will be time for postseason play and we have several teams who have established themselves as clear cut favorites but how about the teams right behind them, sitting under the radar ready to strike?

Below we look at five teams who have the talent, leadership and team makeup to make some waves in the playoffs and even play their way to the title game.

1. Brentwood Academy Eagles (4-3)

– The D2-Class AAA ranks could be the toughest classification in the state, so if the Eagles plan to compete for a state title, it will be hard but they have the talent to do so. Brentwood Academy is a historic high school program that has won a lot of state championships, so this program knows how to compete in postseason play. This is a young team that is learning on the go but they have handled themselves well this season, especially with victories over Whitehaven and Christian Brothers.

The Eagles have had some struggles but have picked themselves back up and kept plugging along and have gotten better as the season goes on. Other schools in the D2-Class AAA ranks are better suited for a deep playoff run but they must not sleep on this Eagles team because they can and will compete with anybody. The path will be tough for BA but Ian Scott Ian Scott 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Brentwood Academy | 2023 State TN , Kaleb Lyons Kaleb Lyons 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Brentwood Academy | 2022 State TN and more should be battle tested and ready for the competition ahead.

2. Whitehaven Tigers (4-3)

– Over the past five games, the Tigers are 2-3 and have struggled but they have faced a tough schedule, which in turn should have them tested and ready to compete in the Class 6A playoffs. This is a perennial state title contending program that nobody should ever sleep on and these Tigers while young are still talented and could make whoever steps in their path a tough out.

This season has been a big learning session for these Tigers as many players are having to learn on the job while having a small senior class lead the way. The offense is still a work in progress but the Tigers defense is quite talented, led by a senior laden secondary with JaQuez Bradley JaQuez Bradley 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Whitehaven | 2022 State TN , Cam Robertson Cam Robertson 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Whitehaven | 2022 State TN and A.J. Robinson A.J. Robinson 5'9" | 180 lbs | DB Whitehaven | 2022 State TN running the show. The Tigers also have a feared pass rusher up front in Javante Mackey Javante Mackey 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Whitehaven | 2022 State TN that causes havoc in the backfield. The pieces are there on defense to take the Tigers deep into the playoffs but if their offense can come around, a state title could be reached.

3. Independence Eagles (3-4)

– Nobody in this state has played a tougher schedule than these Eagles and by the time we reach postseason action, this Williamson Co. program should be ready to face off with anyone that steps on the field with them. It has been a rough path thus far for Independence as they have faced state title contending teams like CPA, Lipscomb Academy, Pope Prep and this week against the Summit Spartans but the Eagles should be better for it and fearless against whoever they see the rest of the way.

Once we reach postseason play, Independence should have a path that helps them get to Chattanooga. Now they will have to defeat some high caliber teams, including some they have already seen but they have “dudes” in Ty Lockwood Ty Lockwood 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Independence | 2023 State TN , Joseph Cummings Joseph Cummings 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB Independence | 2022 State TN , Tre Hartwell Tre Hartwell 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Independence | 2023 State TN , Jack Rummell and others that can beat anybody if they are playing at a high level. Offensively is the area where the Eagles can excel but if their defense can step up, Independence could sneak up, defeat some good teams and find themselves competing for a Class 6A state title. We shall see what happens but these Eagles have pieces to cause some serious damage.

4. Milan Bulldogs (3-4)

– Prior to the start of the 2021 season, many around the state saw Milan as one of the top teams in the Class 4A ranks and prime contenders to compete for a state championship but it has been a tough road thus far for the Bulldogs however their flame hasn’t been extinguished just yet. Last week in their win over Crockett County, the Bulldogs had their best offensive performance of the year and that should give them confidence going forward as this is still a talented team that can cause damage in the upcoming playoffs.

Anytime you have a star player and one of the best prospects in the state, you have someone to lean on and lead ya to the promiseland. Current Arkansas commit, safety Anthony Brown Anthony Brown 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB Milan | 2022 State TN is an athletic playmaker that plays both ways for his Bulldogs team and can be a player that puts the team on his way and leads them all the way but he will need a little bit of help. Hopefully over the final weeks of the regular season, his teammates can pick it up and start playing at a higher level and being in the 4A ranks, it could put them in the mix to make it to Chattanooga.

5. Henry Co. Patriots (3-4)

– This season has not gone the way the Patriots hoped it would headed into the year but they can still salvage the rest of the regular season and position themselves as contenders in the 2021 playoffs. Multiple facets on this team have not gelled or gone how the staff or players envisioned it would but they have started to play better football and could be finally starting to hit their stride at the right time of the year.

The first half of their schedule didn’t do them any favors as they faced some stiff competition, however it should make this Patriots team battle tested for postseason action. They have the pieces and some star power to lean on in Ryan Damron Ryan Damron 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Henry Co. | 2023 State TN , Zamaryion Kendall Zamaryion Kendall 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Lausanne | 2023 State TN , Jayce Kendall Jayce Kendall 5'8" | 165 lbs | WR Henry Co. | 2023 TN and Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN to lead and push the rest of the Patriots deep into the playoffs but they must all continue working hard and start playing at an even higher level compared to the last few weeks. The 5A Classification presents a challenge for a state title but these Patriots can manage those waters and possibly come out on top as the best team.