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Now that the stage is set for the regular-season finale for all teams, this week’s Saturday Six focuses on the games that mean the most next week (without the headache-inducing tiebreaker scenario we presented last week coming to pass):
Title fights aplenty on the Week 11 card: When the schedule aligns with the region title being decided straight-up in Week 11, that’s the good stuff. And there are seven such games with area teams coming in Week 11, where the winner wins the region title without needing any outside help whatsoever. Those games include Clay County at Gordonsville (4-1A), Watertown at Trousdale County (4-2A), Giles County at Cannon County (4-3A), Smith County at East Nashville (5-3A), Rockvale at Oakland (4-6A), Friendship Christian at MTCS (DII-A East), and Nashville Christian at DCA (DII-A Middle).
Elimination games, too: Four games have the highest stakes when it comes to playoff spots, with the winner getting a playoff spot, while the loser packs it up for the season. Those games include Whites Creek at East Robertson (4-2A), Hillsboro at Wilson Central (5-5A), La Vergne at McGavock (6-6A), and FRA at Goodpasture (DII-AA Middle). There are others with similar situations, but these are the ones where neither team needs help to reach the postseason.
Home playoff games at stake: There are a few games where the winner gets a home game in the first round of the playoffs as well. Among those matchups are Waverly at Fairview (Region 6-3A), Montgomery Central at Pearl-Cohn (5-4A), Overton at Smyrna (6-6A), and Grace Christian at Columbia Academy (Division II-A Middle).
Region 5-5A settles things: Green Hill should probably send Hillsboro a card for the holidays this year, as the Burros’ win at Mt. Juliet allowed the Hawks to clinch their first region title in their first year of eligibility. Hillsboro did itself a favor as well, jumping into third place in Region 5-5A with the win, but it’s not a done deal for the Burros to reach the 5A playoffs. If Hillsboro defeats Wilson Central, the Burros are third and Mt. Juliet finishes fourth. If Wilson Central wins, Mt. Juliet is third and Wilson Central is fourth. It is, however, a lot easier scenario than last week’s possibility.
The 7-6A finish: Spots 2-4 in Region 7-6A aren’t iced yet, either. Independence at Ravenwood and Brentwood and Centennial will take care of that in Week 11. Four possible scenarios could play out:
- Ravenwood, Brentwood win: Ravenwood is second, Brentwood is third, Independence is fourth.
- Ravenwood, Centennial win: Ravenwood is second, Centennial is third, Brentwood is fourth.
- Independence, Brentwood win: Ravenwood is second, Independence is third, Brentwood is fourth.
- Independence, Centennial win: Independence is second, Ravenwood is third, Centennial is fourth.
Region champions list grows: Hendersonville and Springfield joined Green Hill on Friday as teams that clinched their respective region championships in Week 10. So far among area teams, White House (6-3A), Green Hill (5-5A), Page (6-5A), Springfield (7-5A), Lebanon (3-6A), Hendersonville (5-6A), Cane Ridge (6-6A) and Summit (7-6A) have officially clinched their respective region titles with one week to play.
