With just 50 days remaining until the beginning of the 2023 regular season, we’ve put together our initial list of Spotlight Series games for August and September.
A reminder of how our Spotlight Series games are selected – no team can be involved more than once in the first five weeks or twice before Week 8. In October and during the playoffs, we will select games regardless of how many times a team has been selected. Games are subject to change.
There will be some new initiatives around our Spotlight Series games in 2023, which we’ll reveal closer to the season.
August
Week 1: Brentwood at Blackman (Aug. 18) – These two have put on two very good games since reacquainting themselves in 2021, with the home team winning both times (Blackman in 2021, Brentwood in 2022). The familiarity ratchets up even more, as it’s Matt Kriesky’s Blaze debut after coming over from Centennial – Brentwood’s former region rival.
Other games considered: Alcoa at Ravenwood, Pearl-Cohn at MBA, Rockvale at Nolensville, Smyrna at Riverdale, CPA at Brentwood Academy
Week 2: CPA at Pearl-Cohn (Aug. 25) – These two state title contenders last met in 2018 and have typically put on tight games when they do get together. Both defenses will face a tough task trying to slow down powerful running attacks.
Other games considered: Brentwood Academy at Brentwood, Cane Ridge at Ravenwood, Father Ryan at Pope Prep, MBA at Ensworth, Page at Independence, Rockvale at Smyrna, Smith County at DeKalb County
Week 3: Beech at Riverdale (Sept. 1) – Kaden Powell’s transfer to Beech makes the quarterback matchup intriguing, but don’t forget about the ground game and defense of both sides in this non-region battle in Murfreesboro. These two teams have not played since 1994, and Riverdale is 2-0 all-time in the series.
Other games considered: Centennial at Independence, CPA at Pope Prep, Mt. Juliet at Gallatin, Overton at East Nashville, Ravenwood at Blackman
September
Week 4: Brentwood Academy at Father Ryan (Sept. 8) – One of the top quarterback matchups in the Midstate this year features the Eagles’ George McIntyre and Father Ryan’s JoJo Crump. The Irish haven’t defeated the Eagles in 10 years and haven’t played them the past two seasons. The Irish will be making their Spotlight Series debut, the 52nd team we’ve highlighted since the start of this program in 2020.
Other games considered: Henry County at Brentwood, Hillsboro at Cane Ridge, MBA at CPA, Ravenwood at Smyrna, Rockvale at Stewarts Creek, Smith County at Macon County, Wilson Central at Green Hill
Week 5: Ensworth at Lipscomb Academy (Sept. 15) – Although it’s a non-region game for these two teams, the Mustangs will be looking for their first-ever win over the Tigers when they clash on Sept. 15. Ensworth will look for ways to figure out the Lipscomb Academy defense, which will be well-tested prior to this matchup.
Other games considered: Blackman at Oakland, Green Hill at Lebanon, Independence at Beech, MBA at Father Ryan, Rockvale at Riverdale, Springfield at Centennial
Week 6: Smith County at East Robertson (Sept. 22) – Smith County will need a new quarterback for 2023 but make no mistake, the Owls are still a contender in Class 2A, and their trip to Cross Plains will likely be the region title decider on Sept. 22. East Robertson still has quite a bit of talent in the fold and hopes to repeat as a region champion, but the Indians will need a win in this clash to do so.
Other games considered: Beech at Hendersonville, East Nashville at FRA, Friendship Christian at MTCS, Gallatin at Green Hill, Nolensville at Centennial, Oakland at Rockvale, Pope Prep at Davidson Academy, Ravenwood at Independence, Siegel at Blackman
Week 7: Macon County at DeKalb County (Helmet Madness winner special, Sept. 29) – Our Helmet Madness special for 2023 is a repeat of last year, as DeKalb County hopes to have a healthy Briz Trapp back at quarterback when Macon County comes calling again, led by Mr. Football finalist Gabe Borders. In this battle of Tigers, the winner has the inside track to land at least a top-2 finish in Region 4-4A.
Other games considered: Davidson Academy at FRA, East Nashville at Smyrna, Hillsboro at Nolensville, Wilson Central at Lebanon
October
Weeks 8-10: To be determined – These matchups will be determined closer to October as we’ll focus on key games down the stretch, and potentially see a team or two that we haven’t up to this point.
Week 11: Two games, to be determined – The final week of the regular season is split in half as both Thursday and Friday night will have loaded schedules with the new Week 11 plan. On Thursday, Oct. 26, games will feature teams in Class 1A, 3A, 5A, Division II-A and Division II-AAA. The other classes will play on Friday, Oct. 27. We’ll have a Spotlight Series double feature with a game each night, focusing on region title games or elimination games.
Previous Spotlight Series Games and results
2022
- Aug. 19: Independence at CPA (42-24, CPA)
- Aug. 26: Pearl-Cohn at MBA (49-6, MBA)
- Sept. 1: Macon County at DeKalb County (21-13, MC)
- Sept. 9: Oakland at Ravenwood (45-31, OHS)
- Sept. 16: Gallatin at Hendersonville (22-9, HHS)
- Sept. 23: MBA at Brentwood Academy (35-21, MBA)
- Sept. 30: Oakland at Blackman (53-18, OHS)
- Oct. 7: Page at Nolensville (OT 27-21, NHS)
- Oct. 14: East Robertson at Westmoreland (29-7, ER)
- Oct. 20: Brentwood Academy at Ensworth (10-7, BA)
- Oct. 27: MTCS at Friendship Christian (28-14, FCS)
- Oct. 28: Mt. Juliet at Green Hill (26-19, MJ)
- Nov. 4: Riverdale at Lebanon (2 OT, 41-34 LHS)
- Nov. 11: Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy (38-7, BA)
- Nov. 18: Page at Nolensville (35-28, PHS)
- Nov. 25: Maryville at Oakland (38-15, OHS)
- Dec. 1: CPA vs. Lipscomb Academy (42-0, LA)
- Dec. 1: Friendship Christian vs. Nashville Christian (34-27, FCS)
- Dec. 1: Baylor vs. MBA (38-34, BAY)
- Dec. 2: Alcoa vs. East Nashville (45-26, AHS)
- Dec. 2: Knoxville West vs. Page (47-13, KW)
- Dec. 3: Anderson County vs. Pearl-Cohn (34-30, AC)
- Dec. 3: Oakland vs. Beech (42-6, OHS)
2021
- Aug. 19: Pearl-Cohn at Cane Ridge (38-19, PC)
- Aug. 20: DCA at MTCS (48-16, DCA)
- Aug. 27: Springfield at Clarksville (27-10, SHS)
- Sept. 3: Riverdale at Blackman (49-18, RHS)
- Sept. 10: Eagleville at Gordonsville (28-14, GHS)
- Sept. 17: Ravenwood at Brentwood (21-16, RHS)
- Sept. 23: Lipscomb Academy at Oakland (29-21, OHS)
- Sept. 24: Beech at Summit (39-7, SHS)
- Oct. 1: Pope Prep at MBA (20-17, MBA)
- Oct. 7: CPA at Oakland (27-24, OHS)
- Oct. 8: Mt. Juliet at Lebanon (35-0, LHS)
- Oct. 15: Riverdale at Oakland (24-7, OHS)
- Oct. 22: CPA at Lipscomb Academy (38-0, LA)
- Oct. 29: Nashville Christian at DCA (7-3, DCA)
- Nov. 5: Stewarts Creek at Lebanon (42-7, LHS)
- Nov. 12: Nolensville at Page (20-15, PHS)
- Nov. 19: Trousdale County at Watertown (23-0, TC)
- Nov. 26: Summit at Hendersonville (28-7, SHS)
- Dec. 2: Lipscomb Academy vs. CPA (27-0, LA)
- Dec. 2: Nashville Christian vs. DCA (31-7, DCA)
- Dec. 2: MBA vs. McCallie (28-7, MCC)
- Dec. 3: East Nashville vs. Alcoa (45-14, AHS)
- Dec. 3: Page vs. Powell (42-34, POW)
- Dec. 4: Summit vs. Oakland (43-26, OHS)
2020
- Aug. 21: Stewarts Creek at Mt. Juliet (30-16, MJ)
- Aug. 29: Gordonsville at Smith County (28-0, GHS)
- Sept. 4: Watertown at Trousdale County (9-7, WHS)
- Sept. 11: Hendersonville at Beech (28-14, BHS)
- Sept. 18: Brentwood at Ravenwood (OT 28-21, BHS)
- Sept. 25: MBA at Ensworth (31-21, MBA)
- Oct. 2: Cane Ridge at Smyrna (27-24, SHS)
- Oct. 9: MBA at Brentwood Academy (28-14, BA)
- Oct. 16: Oakland at Ravenwood (30-7, OHS)
- Oct. 23: CPA at Lipscomb Academy (20-14 LA)
- Oct. 30: Creek Wood at Springfield (38-14, SHS)
- Nov. 6: Cane Ridge at Brentwood (45-13, BHS)
- Nov. 13: East Nashville at Pearl-Cohn (41-0, PC)
- Nov. 20: Riverdale at Oakland (39-14, OHS)
- Nov. 27: Maryville at Oakland (49-7, OHS)
- Dec. 3: Lipscomb Academy vs. CPA (35-28, CPA)
- Dec. 3: Davidson Academy vs. USJ (53-35, DA)
- Dec. 4: Oak Ridge vs. Summit (28-7, SHS)
- Dec. 5: Oakland vs. Brentwood (56-33, OHS)