Opening Drive (Nov. 18): Cutting the field

Sixteen area teams dropped out of the playoffs on Friday, leaving 19 squads still fighting for their state title dreams across the nine classifications.

There is at least one team still standing in each class, and at least two teams will get to punch their tickets to Cookeville when Division II semifinals wrap up this week.

Gordonsville (5-7) is the last area team standing in Class 1A, as the Tigers travel to South Pittsburg (11-0) for a quarterfinal contest on Friday.

A Region 4-2A rematch will determine the final 2A area team when Trousdale County (10-1) visits Watertown (10-2).

In 3A, Pearl-Cohn (12-0) is the final area team in contention, as the Firebirds play host to Giles County in the quarterfinal round.

One of DeKalb County (8-4) or Nolensville (10-2) will play on Black Friday as the winner of that contest will advance to the 4A semifinals. On the western half of the bracket, Springfield (9-3) has reached the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season.

Summit (10-2) is the final Class 5A team standing from the coverage area, and the Spartans are headed to Shelbyville (11-1) for a quarterfinal rematch.

Two teams are guaranteed to get a Thanksgiving practice in Class 6A. Both will come from rivalry rematches, as Blackman (8-4) visits Oakland (12-0) and Ravenwood (11-1) travels to Brentwood (10-2).

At least one Division II-A team from the area will get to Cookeville when Davidson Academy (10-2) visits Friendship Christian (10-2), while Nashville Christian (11-0) also can get to the BlueCross Bowl when the Eagles host USJ (9-3).

The last team standing in Division II-AA will be either Lipscomb Academy (7-5) or CPA (6-6), as the two region foes meet on in Friday’s semifinals.

In Division II-AAA, nothing is certain for Ensworth (8-3) or MBA (7-4). The Tigers travel to McCallie (9-2) in one semifinal, while the Big Red take their defense to MUS (10-1) in the other.

(A quick note: If your team’s region has announced its All-Region Team, please send those to us at midstateprepsplus@gmail.com. We’d like to spread the word of those players’ accomplishments.)

Catch up on everything that happened in round two:

Gallery: Summit 28, Page 3 | Midstate Preps Plus

Gallery: Ravenwood 35, Cane Ridge 0 | Midstate Preps Plus

The Saturday Six – Round 2 | Midstate Preps Plus

Reggie Grimes II, Ravenwood continue hot defensive play, shut out Cane Ridge in 6A second round | Tennessean

TSSAA high school football playoffs: Second round scoreboard | Tennessean

TSSAA football playoffs: Nashville area second-round roundup | Tennessean

5 takeaways: Lipscomb Academy reaches semifinals in coach Trent Dilfer’s first season | Tennessean

Nashville area high school football top performers for second round of TSSAA playoffs | Tennessean

Murfreesboro area second-round playoff roundup: Blackman-Oakland rematch set | Daily News Journal

Blackman rides defense in second half to stymie Hendersonville, advance to quarterfinals | Daily News Journal

Trailing for first time in third quarter, Oakland goes Wildcat to beat Mt. Juliet | Daily News Journal