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Week 7 was a fun one and Week 8 has arrived. We’re one step closer to the end of the regular season and the start of postseason play.
This week is the lightest slate we’ll see during the regular season but that doesn’t mean there aren’t games that matter. There are actually quite a few with massive playoff implications.
Here’s a look at our top 10 games for Week 8 and a little background on each.
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Spotlight Game: Father Ryan (5-1, 2-0 DII-AAA West) at Ensworth (7-0, 1-0)
One of these teams was expected to be a state contender this season. The other is having a bounce back season that isn’t being talked about enough.
Ensworth boasts one of the best defenses in the state allowing just over three points per game. They’ve given up just six over the last four weeks and boast three shutouts.
Father Ryan is vastly improved this year compared to the 2023 team that went 4-7 and lost seven of its last eight games. Put aside the 31-2 loss to Brentwood Academy, the Fighting Irish know how to win close games as three of their five wins have come by six points or less.
Antioch (4-3) at CPA (7-0)
These are two teams trending in different directions. CPA’s won five in a row by 25 points or more while Antioch’s lost three of its last four.
Andre Adams and the Bears have a prolific offense but the defense has been Antioch’s kryptonite this season. The Bears give up an average of 26.4 points per game. In losses to Oakland, Stewarts Creek and Mt. Juliet, that number inflates to 31.3 points.
CPA’s been a well-oiled machine since the jump. They’ve scored less than 30 points once this season and are averaging 40 points per game. Those numbers come in a schedule that includes Brentwood Academy, Pearl-Cohn, MBA and BGA.
Beech (5-1, 2-0 5-7A) at Henry County (4-3, 2-1)
A win here all but cements the region title for Beech. They were off last week and watched chaos ensue below them in the standings.
Henry County was upset at home in Week 7 by Portland. That loss means this is a must-win for the Patriots for the hopes of a top-two spot in the region. Given how last year’s meeting went, Beech may not be forgiving this time around.
That 46-45 overtime loss is still fresh in the Bucs’ mind. They’ve also found their stride over their current four-game winning streak scoring 28 points or more in three of those games.
Brentwood Academy (4-3, 0-2 Division II-AAA East) at Knoxville Catholic (3-3, 0-1)
Another team that’s vastly improved from last season, the Eagles got back on track last week beating Innovation Academy 52-0.
Putting aside the 41-9 loss to McCallie, the Eagles have been a different team on defense this season. While they were one of the worst defensive teams around in 2023, the Eagles have only allowed 20 or more points twice this season and both of those games were losses.
Knox Catholic started off the year hot winning three straight. The Fighting Irish have cooled off though losing their last three games. Two of those three losses came by four total points.
Davidson Academy (3-4, 0-3 DII-AA Middle) at Webb-Bell Buckle (3-3, 0-3)
It’s been a mixed bag for the Bears this season. They won two of their first three games but have since dropped three of their last four.
Last week’s loss was arguably the worst of the year. FRA outplayed Davidson Academy from the jump en route to a 51-14 win. That just upped the ante for the Bears this week.
Webb has also been an inconsistent team this season. The Feet have three wins, including a 56-42 shootout against Columbia Academy, but also three ugly losses. Both teams are in desperate need of a win.
FRA (7-0, 3-0 DII-AA Middle) at BGA (6-1, 2-1)
BGA had its shot at CPA a few weeks ago ultimately losing by 33. The Wildcats need a win here to show that they need to remain in DII-AA state title talks.
They’ll face an FRA that resembles CPA in a lot of ways. The Panthers have the pieces to be finesse but their game is to run the ball down your throat. They’ve done that a lot this year en route to seven straight wins.
The key to this game will be quarterback play. Kaedyn Marable’s been one of the best around leading the Wildcats with his legs and his arms. FRA’s got a great signal-caller of their own with Roman Mahlerwein.
Jackson County (5-2, 1-1 3-2A) at Smith County (1-6, 1-1)
Don’t look now, but Jackson County’s rattled off three straight shutout wins and in a prime position to compete for a top-two spot in the region.
Since back-to-back blowout losses to Clay County and Westmoreland, the Blue Devils have outscored their last three opponents 105-0. Those opponents have a combined record of 3-15.
They’ll get another opponent on a down year this week with Smith County. The Owls are young and have found no consistency within their offense. Aside from a 42-7 win over Trousdale County, Smith County hasn’t scored more than 13 points in any other game.
Kirkwood (6-1, 3-1 7-6A) at Clarksville (7-0, 4-0)
A turnover-plagued loss to Dickson County by Kirkwood is all that kept this from being an unbeaten showdown.
Kirkwood bounced back from that loss a week later beating Rossview. That win kept the Cobras’ region title hopes alive. Even with a loss here they’re in a good position to secure a top-two spot.
Clarksville’s run Montgomery County the last few seasons and that hasn’t changed so far this season. This will be the Wildcats first true test. They outscored their first seven opponents 249-46.
MBA (3-4, 1-1 DII-AAA East) at Lipscomb Academy (1-5, 0-1)
MBA ended a three-game skid on the road last week rallying late to beat Knox Catholic 24-23. The Big Red have relied heavily on their defense season.
Only three schools have scored 20 or more points on the Big Red defense. CPA and Ensworth both had 30+ in blowout wins.
For Lipscomb Academy, it may be time to let the eighth-grade phenom Ty Snell get more playing time. The Mustangs lost on the road to Christian Brothers (Mo.) last week but Snell got in some varsity reps and impressed. He threw for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Nashville Christian (5-1, 2-0 DII-A Middle) at Columbia Academy (5-2, 2-0)
Columbia Academy’s alread disposed of one team many expected to compete for a state title in DCA. A win over Nashville Christian would cement the Bulldogs as a true state title contender.
There may be no shortage of points in this one between what Jared Curtis can do through the air and Montae Baldwin can do on the ground.
It may be a light practice week for the Eagles after they played two games last week. The Eagles have rolled through their schedule aside from a seven-point road loss to BGA.
Reach Joe Spears at 615preps@gmail.com. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @joe_spears7.
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