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Now that the regular season has come to an end, we’ve got a pretty good idea on where the area’s top programs sit after 11 weeks of nonstop action.
With all of the information we’ve gathered during that stretch, our group decided it was time to rerank our top-20 area teams entering what is essentially a new season.
For reference, here’s a look at the top 20 list we put together entering the season.
- Oakland
- Ravenwood
- CPA
- Riverdale
- BGA
- Ensworth
- Brentwood Academy
- FRA
- Page
- Nashville Christian
- Blackman
- Green Hill
- Springfield
- Beech
- Pearl-Cohn
- Father Ryan
- MBA
- Brentwood
- Franklin
- East Nashville
Each of the members of our staff put together their own top 20 lists and then based on the total points overall for each team selected, we put together the new top 20.
With that out of the way, here’s a look at our top 20 area teams entering postseason play.
T20. Friendship Christian (14 points)
Any other year the Commanders would be viewed by the rest of the state as the overwhelming favorite in the DII-A race.
Blake Waldorf gives Friendship a true dual-threat at quarterback to go along with a powerful rushing attack headlined by senior running back Jayden McGowan.
T20. CPA (14 points)
The Lions highly-touted schedule proved to be too much for them to overcome for much of the year. CPA finished the season 2-8 with wins over Pearl-Cohn (42-34) and MBA (16-15). However, three of their eight losses came by seven points or less.
18. Gordonsville (20 points)
The Tigers have been a perfect blend of power on both sides of the ball.
On nights where they may have their struggles offensively, the defense does more than enough to secure the win. However, most nights both sides of the ball click together leading to several blowout wins.
17. Nolensville (28 points)
Year 1 of the Scott Stidham era has been an overwhelming success as the Knights won seven games and finished second in Region 5-5A.
They started off the year 2-2 but rebounded in a big way winning five of their final six games.
16. East Robertson (40 points)
Kason Young, Cade Brooks and Zach Groves have led the Indians to their first unbeaten regular season run since 1991. Only two games during that stretch weren’t double-digit victories.
Young and Brooks in particular have emerged as two players that need to be in the 2A Mr. Football talks while Groves has Tennessee fans excited about their future with him coming off of the edge.
15. Springfield (44 points)
Returning several young pieces from a team that shocked many last November, the Yellow Jackets were expected to contend this year. They’ve lived up to those expectations.
Kason Woodson’s emerged as one of the area’s best young quarterbacks while Jermaine Cobbins has proven to be not only one of the state’s best sophomores, but one of the best in the country.
14. Pearl-Cohn (51 points)
Many wrote off the Firebirds following their 0-4 start despite the fact that they were playing one of the hardest schedules in the state.
Since that start, they’ve rattled off six straight wins. One of those wins, a 35-33 road victory over Springfield, laid the ground work for them to eventually win the Region 6-4A title.
13. Antioch (70 points)
The Andre Adams and Brandon Goliday Show has Antioch fans feeling things that they haven’t felt in decades.
Both are in the Mr. Football conversation and lead one of the area’s most prolific offenses. They could have been much higher on this list following the 64-62 win over FRA, but a shocking 25-14 loss two weeks later to Clarksville ruined their region title aspirations.
12. Riverdale (74 points)
Starting off the year 1-2 had folks scratching their heads about what was going on with the Warriors. They proceeded to quiet any doubters with a six-game win streak where they won all the game by 14 points or more.
Closing out the year on the road at Oakland, they gave the Patriots their closest came of the season up to that point staying within seven until the final few minutes.
11. Beech (81 points)
Green Hill woke up a sleeping giant after they beat the Buccaneers 38-21 to open the year. Since then Beech has won eight straight with all but one game decided by double digits.
During that eight game streak, the Buccaneers have been averaging 43.3 points per game. Over their last six games they’ve scored 40 or more points.
10. Green Hill (85 points)
Responding to those that said that they weren’t playing harder schedules in the past, the Hawks took that challenge head on scheduling the likes of Beech, Page and Ravenwood. They went 1-2 in those games but have not lost again since the Ravenwood loss.
Kannon Burroughs and Zach Cartwright provide a one-two punch many teams have not been able to stop.
9. Blackman (97 points)
The Blaze were young last season but put the state on notice with a blowout win over Green Hill in the first round of the postseason. That success has since translated over to the 2025 season.
Putting aside the 32-0 loss to Oakland, where the Blaze have been at their best is on defense. Teams have only averaged 11.3 points on them this year.
T7. FRA (110 points)
The Panthers have been a bit a of mystery this year on what team you’re going to get on a weekly basis. While they do have a massive win over BGA, just a few weeks later they gave up 64 points in a loss to Antioch.
Even with that loss, not many teams have as much talent on the rosters as the Panthers. Mike Hassell is one of the area’s best true athletes while Omarii Sanders is just as dangerous on offense as he is on defense.
T7. Ensworth (110 points)
Arguably no team in the 615 has a bigger win than the Tigers this year. They beat McCallie 20-10 to prevent an all-Chattanooga DII-AAA championship this season.
Aside from one ugly loss to Brentwood Academy, the Tigers have maintained their form as a DII-AAA title contender thanks to a balanced attack. EJ Gibson also has a true shot in the DII-AAA Mr. Football race.
6. BGA (111 points)
Aside from one bad half against FRA, you could say that the Wildcats have played nearly perfect football up to this point in the season. They’ve won their 10 games by an average of 36.4 points.
Arguably no quarterback in the state has had a better season than Kaedyn Marable. He’s completed 78% of his passes for 2,706 yards and 41 touchdowns while also rushing for nine more touchdowns.
T4. Page (127 points)
Losing the defensive stars that led the Patriots last season was a major question for many revolving around the program going into the season. They’ve since answered all of those questions with a defense that’s gotten better each week and what may be their best offense in years.
Behind one of the best offensive lines in the state, Page has been able to run the ball at will. Add in Cameron Kruse at quarterback, they’ve rolled in nearly every game this season.
T4. Nashville Christian (127 points)
As expected, DII-A programs haven’t fared too well against the Eagles. What has them so high on this list though is what they’ve done outside of region play.
In a non-region schedule that included the likes of Davidson Academy, Ensworth and Tyner Academy, the Eagles went unbeaten. They shocked the state with their 42-41 win over Ensworth and outlasted a Class 3A favorite in Tyner 49-42.
3. Ravenwood (144 points)
Aside from a couple of close calls to start the year, the Raptors went through the majority of the regular unscathed winning by an average 24.5 points.
While the Raptors quarterback duo of Femi Babalola and Maverick Chance steal the spotlight, their defense is the true star. In seven of their 10 games they allowed 14 points or less.
2. Brentwood Academy (152 points)
Expectations were high for the Eagles entering Year 2 of the Paul Wade era. Somehow, they’ve exceeded those already high expectations.
Winning by an average of 27 points, only two of the Eagles’ games were decided by single digits. Larry Sanders has emerged as a Mr. Football contender leading what’s one of the area’s most prolific offenses.
1. Oakland (160 points)
While nearly every team on here either went up or went down from where we had them going into the year, the kings of 6A stayed put.
Aside from a 14-point win over Riverdale, the Patriots dominated this season beating teams by an average of 34 points per game. The Oakland defense only allowed 55 points this season for an average of 5.5 per game.
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