Opening Drive (Oct. 19): Leverage

Many high-leverage games in region races take place in Week 10.

Nolensville and Tullahoma clash in a key Region 4-4A contest where the winner is in the driver’s seat entering the regular season finale. The Knights will have to earn it by going through Tullahoma and Marshall County in the final two weeks of the season.

Beech visits Gallatin and while the Green Wave are reeling having lost five straight, a win would lock up Region 6-5A for them. Beech can’t win it outright as the Buccaneers still have Hillwood, who’s 2-0 in region play as the Hilltoppers face Hillsboro.

The Henry County-Northeast winner wins Region 7-5A. It’s that simple.

Riverdale travels to Warren County hoping to rebound from their Battle of the ‘Boro loss to Oakland. It’s more critical for the Warriors than it is for Warren County, as the Pioneers will be in a winner-take-all game with Oakland for the Region 3-6A crown regardless of this week’s result.

Rossview and Hendersonville clash in a de facto semifinal, and if the Hawks win, they would take Region 4-6A with a win over Lebanon in Week 11. If Hendersonville wins, another Commando battle with Mt. Juliet in Week 11 would decide the region champion, as long as the Golden Bears take care of Station Camp in Week 10.

The Smyrna-La Vergne winner has the inside track on the Region 5-6A title, but neither team can clinch it unless Stewarts Creek loses to Overton.

Brentwood wins Region 6-6A if the Bruins defeat Independence. If the Eagles win, they’d need to beat Ravenwood next week for the region title.

Lipscomb Academy and CPA will duel for the Division II-AA Middle Region title in a winner-take-all game this week.

Brentwood Academy locks up Division II-AAA’s East Region by beating Ensworth, otherwise it’ll go down to next week’s games. MBA can keep Christian Brothers from clinching the West Region title with a win as well.

Meanwhile, catch up on what you might have missed from Week 9’s action: