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The question was posed to our staff following this year’s BlueCross Bowls:
When looking at the Midstate, what are some of the best area rivalry games that take place in our coverage area?
We decided that with the offseason now here, we may as well go ahead and dive deep into that question. So with that in mind, here’s part one of a three-part series where we’ll examine some of the best rivalries in the 615 Preps coverage.
Note: The rivalries included in this series will only include schools in our coverage area. You can see the full list of schools in our coverage area here.
FINAL 2023 RANKINGS: 615 Preps rankings after BlueCross Bowls
WAY-TOO-EARLY PICKS: 615 Preps picks its 2024 state champions
WAY-TOO-EARLY RANKINGS: 615 Preps large, medium and small class rankings entering 2024
Brentwood Academy vs. MBA
First Meeting: 1995
There’s no denying that Brentwood Academy and MBA are two of the most storied programs in state history. Between the two schools, they’ve won 24 state titles including some against each other.
Since 1996, the schools have played 11 times in the postseason with the Eagles holding a slim 6-5 lead there. The Big Red and Eagles have played each other 31 times in total since 2001. Eight of those games came in the postseason including five state championship meetings.
During this stretch, MBA holds a 17-14 lead over their rivals nine miles south of them.
Brentwood vs. Ravenwood
First Meeting: 2003
Who’s the real Wood? You ask students at either school and they’ll tell you that there’s only one real answer and it isn’t the other school.
Between the pranks leading up to the game to the game day environment, the Battle of the Woods has quickly become one of the most fun rivalries in the entire state.
These teams have played every year since Ravenwood opened in 2003 with Brentwood holding a 14-12 series lead. The Bruins won both of this year’s matchups winning 17-0 in the regular season and 27-20 in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
Centennial vs. Franklin
First Meeting: 1997
The Battle of Franklin hasn’t exactly been close since it began in 1997, but Centennial’s recent success could make this a back-and-forth series for years to come.
Franklin leads the overall series 7-21, but the Cougars have won back-to-back games the last two years. With their 21-14 win last season and 34-14 win to start the 2023 season, it marked the first time that Centennial had won consecutive games against their crosstown foes since 2016-2018
The Admirals kicked off this series by winning 15 straight meetings. Centennial got its first win in 2012 and since then, the teams have traded wins back and forth.
Fairview vs. Page
First Meeting: 1976
This is a rivalry that needs to get going again. In 2023 the Battle of 840 did not take place making it the first time since 2006 that Fairview and Page did not square off.
It was 1976 when Fairview and Page first kicked off a rivalry that would go on to become one of the best in the entire Midstate. Page holds a 22-13 lead in the series winning the last two matchups.
While there have been some blowouts as there typically are, this rivalry is highlighted by several close matchups. In recent years, it’s also been led by two of the best coaches in the area in Fairview’s Chris Hughes and Page’s Charles Rathbone.
Father Ryan vs. Pope John Paul II
First Meeting: 2005
The Bishop’s Cup has been one of the most highly-anticipated matchups every season since it first started up.
Father Ryan lost the first game in 2005 but rattled off six straight wins before losing their next game in the series. From 2012-2017 the teams traded wins back-and-forth before Pope John Paul II went on a run of its own.
From 2017-2022 the Knights won six straight in the series. Father Ryan ended that skid in 2023 and as of this writing, the Irish lead the series 11-9.
Gallatin vs. Hendersonville
First Meeting: 1942
Sumner County’s premier rivalry, the Green Wave and Commandos have played annually since 1964. Their first matchup was in 1942 and they played that series annually up until 1949 before getting things restarted again 15 years later.
Gallatin holds a commanding 47-23-1 series but in recent years it’s been Hendersonville taking charge.
Starting with a 46-0 win in 2020, the Commandos have won four straight by an average of 26.8 points. Hendersonville won 41-7 in 2021, 22-9 in 2022 and 47-33 in 2023.
Green Hill vs. Mt. Juliet
First Meeting: 2021
It may be the newest entry on the list, but there’s no denying that the Green Hill and Mt. Juliet rivalry is one that everyone in Wilson County anticipates every year.
With rosters full of players and coaches who know each other and aren’t exactly fans of each other, this is a budding rivalry. In three meetings, two have been decided by less than 10 points and the home team has yet win bring home a win.
Green Hill opened the series with a 25-21 win at Mt. Juliet in 2021. The Golden Bears responded in 2022 with a 26-19 win of their own. This year Green Hill recorded the first blowout in the series beating Mt. Juliet 35-3 in their Week 11 meeting.
Gordonsville vs. Smith County
First Meeting: 1930
If you’re in Carthage on a Friday night in the fall and the Owls and Tigers are squaring off, this is where you’re at that night.
The only two high schools in town have played every year since 1930 aside from one year off in 1945. During that stretch, Smith County has built a commanding 70-21-2 lead. Smith County has won three of the last four meetings but recent history has seen a much closer rivalry than it was in the past.
Family vs. family, friend vs. friend, even if it is one-side record-wise, Smith County and Gordonsville is the definition of what a high school football rivalry is all about.
Independence vs. Summit
First Meeting: 2013
The Battle of Thompson Station, better known as the ‘Border Battle,’ has been going on annually since 2013. Summit opened as a school in 2012 but the two schools didn’t begin playing until the next year.
It’s a newer rivalry but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t quickly developed into one of the best in the area. Independence leads the series 6-5, but Summit has won five of the last seven meetings and four of the last five.
Independence dominated the series early on winning the first four games by an average of 38.8 points.
Oakland vs. Riverdale
First Meeting: 1974
It could be argued that there’s not a bigger rivalry in the Midstate than the Battle of the ‘Boro. Producing some of the state’s best players and best teams, this is a game that is circled on everyone’s calendar every year.
Riverdale holds the overall 33-24 series lead and ended a 12-game, 10-year losing streak to the Patriots this year in their thrilling 25-24 Week 11 victory. A few weeks later Oakland repaid the favor by going on the road and beating the Warriors 56-0 in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
That 56-0 win was the largest margin of victory in series history.
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