615 Preps Spotlight Series games for the first half of the 2022 season

For the third consecutive year, 615 Preps is featuring some of the area’s best games as our Spotlight Series games each week.

Formerly known as the Spotlight Game of the Week, the 615 Preps Spotlight Series games are determined much like in the first two seasons. However, there is a minor change for 2022 in that teams can be featured for a second time beginning with Week 6 instead of Week 7.

From weeks 6 through 10, teams can be featured more than once, though we prefer to highlight as many different teams as possible.

The Week 11 game will be either a region championship game or a game where a team must win to make the playoffs. Playoff Spotlight games will feature two coverage area teams at least for the first three rounds, if any of those matchups are still in play.

With those scheduling guidelines in place, we have determined the Spotlight games for the first five weeks of the season.

Week 1 – Friday, August 19: Independence at CPA

Both teams start new quarterbacks in 2021, but both offenses have skill players that could turn this opener into a shootout in the Lions’ den.

Week 2 – Friday, August 26: Pearl-Cohn at MBA

The Firebirds have won the last two meetings in this yearly matchup, which features a strong ground game for Pearl-Cohn, MBA’s Marcel Reed and two defenses tasked with slowing down both.

Week 3 – Thursday, September 1: Macon County at DeKalb County (Helmet Madness Special)

This rivalry has been contested every year since 1991 and opens region play for both teams that need the win to help potentially secure a home playoff game in November. DeKalb County won our annual Helmet Madness contest in the spring, helping the Tigers earn a home game visit from us this year.

Week 4 – Friday, September 9: Oakland at Ravenwood

Could this be a BlueCross Bowl preview? Both teams have their sights on it and despite only being one county apart, could very well get to Chattanooga to face each other again for the 6A title in December.

Week 5 – Friday, September 16: Gallatin at Hendersonville

An old-school rivalry gets a Spotlight look in Week 5 as these long-time Sumner County rivals renew their acquaintances. Hendersonville won both meetings last season, including shutting out the Green Wave in the second round of the 6A playoffs.

Sponsorships are available for all of these games, so please contact us at 615preps@gmail.com for more information and pricing.