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Taking a different approach to this week’s Saturday six, as we focus on region title races and who’s still in contention for No. 1 seeds:
1A, 2A area teams have it cut-and-dried: The drama for region title battles in Regions 4-1A and 4-2A will only build until their respective Week 11 showdowns. Gordonsville hosts Clay County for the region crown in 4-1A, while Trousdale County will host Watertown in the 4-2A finale.
3A regions lining up for showdowns, too: Cannon County gets its crack at the Region 4-3A title in Week 11 when Giles County visits, while East Nashville will host Smith County for the 5-3A title the same week. White House has a firm grip on first place in 6-3A, though White House Heritage can set up a winner-take-all Week 11 showdown by beating Waverly and Stewart County.
Montgomery Central staking a claim in 4A, but challenges remain: Montgomery Central improved to 7-0 with a 12-6 victory over visiting Greenbrier. The Indians last started 7-0 in 2018, matching the team’s best-ever start. They’ve allowed 25 points in six games on the field this year (their opener was a COVID-19 win over Sycamore), but their challenge ramps up this week as their final stretch of games comes against the other three playoff contenders in Region 5-4A. They visit Tullahoma this week before their open date, then host Marshall County on Oct. 22 before finishing at Pearl-Cohn on Oct. 29.
Region 4-4A’s title goes to Upperman if the Bees defeat DeKalb County. If not, several possibilities are unlocked for three-team tiebreakers with Macon County involved, should they defeat Stone Memorial.
5A regions could settle early: Class 5A’s western half of the playoff bracket (Regions 5-8) could produce any number of teams in Chattanooga. Station Camp’s Thursday night win over Mt. Juliet sets up their Oct. 22 date with Green Hill as a potential region title game in 5-5A. Page moved a step closer to a 6-5A title with a win over Columbia and can win it in Week 8 with a win over Nolensville. Springfield’s 6-3 win at Henry County puts the Yellow Jackets in position to clinch with a win at Portland on Oct. 22.
6A regions working themselves out: Lebanon is a win or one Warren County loss from winning its first region title since 1990 in 3-6A. Riverdale and Oakland settle 4-6A on Oct. 15, while Rockvale moved closer to getting in for the first time with a win over Stewarts Creek. They’ll need one more win to ensure it, either over Blackman to get to three region wins, or locking up an overall wins tiebreaker by beating Coffee County in Week 10. Stewarts Creek also gets in with a win over Siegel.
Hendersonville can clinch 5-6A with a win over Rossview on Oct. 22, while Cane Ridge would lock up 6-6A with a win at Overton next week. Summit claims the 7-6A crown with a win over Independence next week.
Division II regions headed toward showdowns, too: Smaller regions and backloaded region schedules mean Division II region races are still forming. But it certainly looks like Week 11 will have several winner-take-all region title games between Friendship Christian and MTCS (Division II-A East), Nashville Christian and DCA (DII-A Middle), and Briarcrest Christian and Ensworth (DII-AA West). Then there’s the CPA-Lipscomb Academy tilt in Week 10 that’ll decide the Middle Region crown in Class AA. MBA’s still in play for the East Region crown in Class AAA, but they’ll need two McCallie losses and a win over Knoxville Catholic to get that done.
