Opening Drive (Sept. 23): Paths to victory

Last week, we took the list of unbeaten teams that had been playing since Week 1 and graded their chances of finishing the regular season unbeaten.

This week, we’ll try to do the same with those teams that have yet to win through five weeks of play (only counting the teams allowed to play at the beginning of the season).

Before we do, a quick update on that list of unbeatens – Fairview had to miss last week’s game due to COVID-19 cases, but it will be made up at Sycamore on Oct. 8, so they’re not off the list yet. Pope John Paul II fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a loss to Christian Brothers.

We’ll grade them on their chances of avoiding a winless season. Now, on to the winless teams, starting in 1A:

Red Boiling Springs (0-5): The Bulldogs have only reached double digits once this season, a 44-14 loss to the Middle Tennessee Heat. Their chances of avoiding an 0-for-the-season finish rest on their Oct. 23 game at Pickett County. They did win that game last season, so it’s possible history repeats itself. Winless avoidance chances: C

Mt. Pleasant (0-3): The Tigers will have a shot at multiple wins down the stretch. Their schedule’s favorable enough. Winless avoidance chances: A

Cannon County (0-5): The Lions have been outscored 209-26 through five games and didn’t score until their fourth game of the season. They have a three-game stretch (vs. Grundy County, at Cascade, vs. Smith County) that gives them a chance to win one somewhere. Winless avoidance chances: B-

Sycamore (0-4): The War Eagles’ schedule doesn’t get any easier until they play the next team on this list on Oct. 23. It’s setting up to be their only shot. Winless avoidance chances: D-

Cheatham County (0-5): The Cubs, despite only scoring 13 points in four games, could get off the list this week against East Hickman, or by taking down Sycamore on Oct. 23. If those don’t happen, it’ll come down to beating Harpeth in Week 11. Winless avoidance chances: C

Spring Hill (0-3): Missing a couple of games due to COVID-19 cases didn’t help the Raiders’ chances of getting one in the win column. They get Maplewood at home next week, and that really seems to be their best bet at avoiding a winless season. Winless avoidance chances: D+

Siegel (0-5): Circle Oct. 30 at home against Rockvale. Hard to see them getting one before then with all region games remaining. Winless avoidance chances: D

Station Camp (0-5): Just 18 points in five games and it doesn’t look good from here. Extremely hard to find a win for them. Winless avoidance chances: D-

Mt. Juliet Christian (0-5): The Saints’ best bet looks to be Oct. 9 at The Webb School. It’s tough to find another one. Winless avoidance chances: D+

Columbia Academy (0-4): They’re shut down for the next two weeks, losing two region games in the process. Their last two games, on the road at Clarksville Academy and Fayette Academy, represent their best chances at getting wins in 2020. Winless avoidance chances: C+

In the meantime, catch up on what you might have missed Tuesday: