0
0
There are a lot of huge matchups set to go down this week. However, no Week 5 matchup is bigger than BGA at CPA.
It could be argued that the three best Division II-AA teams are in Middle Tennessee and two square off Thursday night. Will Bobby Bentley’s up-and-coming Wildcats pick up a signature win or will the reigning Division II-AA champion Lions just keep on rolling?
We’ll learn that Thursday night before kicking off a full slate of action once again on Friday. Here’s a look at our top 10 games for the week and a little background on each.
CATCH A GAME: Ranking the top area stadiums
WEEK 5 RANKINGS: Page records shutout No. 4
Spotlight Game: CPA (4-0, 1-0 DII-AA Middle) at BGA (4-0, 1-0)
Week 5 of the season kicks off with a Division II-AA banger. The class of DII-AA over the last decade against an up-and-coming program that seemingly can’t be stopped.
CPA’s run this division for close to a decade and is the defending DII-AA state champion. In the run to that title, they beat BGA handily 41-7.
This isn’t the same Wildcats team that lost by 34 though. BGA’s 4-0 for the first time and are one of the area’s highest-scoring teams. Bobby Bentley’s group is averaging 51.5 through the first four weeks of the year.
Centennial (3-1) at Springfield (2-2)
Heartbreaking losses have affected both of these teams through the first half of the season. A broken overtime play gave the Cougars a one-point loss and Springfield’s two losses have come by eight total points.
The Cougars still look to be a factor in the Region 6-5A race despite the losses of several key players from last year’s squad. Centennial’s rattled off three-straight wins by an average 28.7 points.
Springfield appears to be much better than the team that lost 35-0 to Centennial last season. After back-to-back single-possession losses to Clarksville and Henry County, the Yellow Jackets got back on track last week with a resounding 41-14 win over Station Camp.
DCA (4-0) at Columbia Academy (2-2)
A win here cement either of these teams a real contender for the Division II-A title. For DCA, it would also put the Wildcats in a great spot to at least enter the final week of the season unbeaten.
This was a high-scoring affair last season as Columbia Academy left town with a 42-30 win. The Bulldogs are realing a bit following a 42-20 road loss to Huntingdon.
DCA’s clicking on all sides of the ball. Mitchell Carey leads an offense that’s scored 35 or more points in three of its first four games. Meanwhile the Wildcats’ defense is only giving up 6.75 points per game.
DeKalb County (4-0) at Gordonsville (4-0)
This battle between Tigers features an unbeaten 1A team and an unbeaten 4A team. Don’t let the difference in class fool you, this should still be one of the area’s best games Friday night.
Gordonsville has rolled in its last two matchups after escaping Watertown in Week 2. The Tigers defense has been its strength only giving up an average of 9.8 points.
DeKalb’s defense hasn’t been as strong but the Tigers have been a juggernaut on offense. They’ve scored over 40 points in back-to-back games and are averaging 37. 5 points this season.
Father Ryan (2-1) at MBA (2-2)
Which team bounces back?
Both of these teams enter this game off of a pair of ugly losses. MBA was shut down by CPA 34-6 while Brentwood Academy rolled Father Ryan 31-2. Whoever gets their offense going first should pick up the win here.
Losing Hugh Price at the beginning of the year was a big loss for the Big Red but they still have a standout running back in Brooklen Davis to lean on. MBA won a close contest last year between the two 24-20.
Lipscomb Academy (1-3) at Ensworth (4-0)
It could be argued that Lipscomb Academy has played the hardest schedule of any team in the state through four weeks. It doesn’t get much easier this week as they travel to an Ensworth team that looks to be a real state contender.
Tim Hasselback’s first year at the helm as been nothing but a success so far. Through four games the Tigers have outscored their opponents 129-20 and have posted back-to-back shutouts.
After a close couple of losses to open the season and a 14-point win over Briarcrest Christian, the Mustangs were exposed last week at home against Baylor. The Red Raiders came to town and left with a 37-7 win.
Mt. Juliet (4-0, 2-0 Region 4-6A) at Cookeville (4-0, 1-0)
The battle for the top three spots in Region 4-6A kicks off Friday night as the Golden Bears travel to Cookeville. This wasn’t much of a game last year as Mt. Juliet rolled to a 38-14 win.
Mt. Juliet’s been one of the best teams in the area in all phases so far this season. The Golden Bears have outscored their first four opponents 166-14. They’ve posted back-to-back shutouts and scored 40 or more points in three of their four games.
Finding a way to shut down Cookeville’s duo of Blake Owen and Thomas Johnson will be Mt. Juliet’s biggest challenge. They’ve combined to rush for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns for a Cavs offense averaging 38 points a game.
Oakland (4-0) at Blackman (2-2)
An upset here would be the best result for the Blaze in some time. Keeping it close would also show massive signs of progress.
Oakland is by far the favorite in the region and appears ready to make it back to the Class 6A title game for a fifth straight season. T.T. Hill and Craig Tutt form a backfield duo that can be argued to be the best in the state.
Blackman has not beaten Oakland since 2014. The Blaze have losses to Brentwood and Ravenwood but played each team close losing by 17 total points. They had their best showing this season last week in a dominant 35-0 win over Summit.
Westmoreland (3-1, 1-0 Region 3-2A) at Monterey (2-2, 0-1)
East Robertson established itself at the top of Region 3-2A so this game likely decides who finishes in the No. 2 spot. Westmoreland will get their shot at the Indians here in a few weeks but Monterey needs a win here to stay in the race for the two-spot.
Monterey gave East Robertson’s its biggest scare so far this season. The WIldcats led well into the fourth quarter before falling 22-15.
Westmoreland should have revenge on its mind. The Eagles were crushed in this matchup 35-14 last season. A good sign for the Eagles is their offense has been clicking averaging 36.7 points during their three-game winning streak.
White House (3-1, 2-0 Region 5-4A) at Marshall County (4-0, 2-0)
Despite their record, Pearl-Cohn is viewed by most as the favorite to take first in Region 5-4A. If a team were to surplant them at the top, it will be one of these two.
Marshall County lost quite a bit from last year’s team but the Tigers haven’t missed a beat for this season. They won their first two region games by an average of 43 points.
White House enters this game looking to avenge last year’s 53-14 loss to the Tigers. The Blue Devils have also been dominant in region play so far crushing Montgomery Central 34-7 and Whites Creek 49-20. They’ll have to lean heavily on their ground game in this one much like they did last week.
You must be logged in to post a comment.