615 Preps Week 12 Area Rankings: Shuffle the decks, here come the playoffs
0
0
The brackets are drawn and the hands are dealt, now it’s time for each contender to play their cards as the postseason kicks off this week in Tennessee.
The 615 Preps staff has put together a list of the top 10 large, medium, and small class teams in our coverage area. Large Class teams include the 29 Class 6A and Division II-AAA teams in our coverage area. Medium Class teams include 5A, 4A, and Division II-AA, totaling 25 squads. Small Class teams include 3A, 2A, 1A, and Division II-A, which contain 29 teams.
Large Class
1. Riverdale (9-1)
Change: No change (last week: 1st) | Last week: 36-34 win vs. Oakland | This week: vs. Cookeville
Riverdale won a classic Battle of the Boro to claim the region title and homefield advantage throughout at least the first two rounds of the playoffs – and it could turn into as many as four if no Region 4 teams reach the quarterfinals.
2. Brentwood Academy (8-2)
Change: No change (last week: 2nd) | Last week: 20-14 win vs. Lipscomb Academy | This week: first-round bye
Speaking of homefield advantage, the Eagles do have it throughout the playoffs after surviving a stiff test from Lipscomb Academy to close the regular season.
3. Antioch (10-0)
Change: Up 2 spots (last week: 5th) | Last week: 34-6 win vs. Rossview | This week: vs. Franklin
A historic season for the Bears now turns its attention to the playoffs, and every game is another chance for Andre Adams to add to the record books.
4. Oakland (8-2)
Change: Down 1 spot (last week: 3rd) | Last week: 36-34 loss at Riverdale | This week: at Lebanon
It’s easy to sit here and say that Oakland scored a little too quickly on its last possession at Riverdale. What’s harder for some to hear is that Oakland will still be a popular pick to win the state title because of how close the margins really are between the two teams.
5. MBA (8-2)
Change: Down 1 spot (last week: 4th) | Last week: 15-14 loss vs. Ensworth | This week: vs. MUS
How quickly things can turn – MBA went from a first-round bye and a home quarterfinal game to a home first-round game and a possible quarterfinal trip to Memphis in less than 60 seconds.
Rest of the top 10
6. Lipscomb Academy (no change, last week: T-6th)
7. Green Hill (up 1 spot, 8th)
8. Ravenwood (up 1 spot, 9th)
9. Brentwood (down 2 spot, T-6th)
10. Smyrna (no change, 10th)
Just missed: Ensworth
Dropped out this week: none
Medium Class
1. BGA (9-1)
Change: No change (last week: 1st) | Last week: 55-13 win at Grace Christian | This week: vs. Knoxville Webb
The biggest question now is do we get the FRA runback in the semifinals that most are expecting?
2. FRA (7-3)
Change: Up 1 spot (last week: 3rd) | Last week: 37-14 win vs. Columbia Academy | This week: vs. Boyd Buchanan
The answer lies with the Panthers, who will have to navigate a potential quarterfinal with Knoxville Grace before getting there.
3. Beech (9-1)
Change: Up 1 spot (last week: 4th) | Last week: 49-7 win at Hendersonville | This week: vs. Hillsboro
The next biggest question in this class is do we get the Page runback in the quarterfinals that most are expecting?
4. Page (9-1)
Change: Up 1 spot (last week: 5th) | Last week: 38-17 win at Nolensville | This week: vs. Portland
Look no further than the Patriots to respond with that answer, though a familiar playoff foe in Henry County will want to spoil that party.
5. Pearl-Cohn (7-3)
Change: Up 1 spot (last week: 6th) | Last week: 34-7 win at Liberty Creek | This week: vs. Montgomery Central
The next time the Firebirds would need to load up a bus would be to go to Chattanooga – and that’s certainly in sight as November begins.
Rest of the top 10
6. Springfield (up 1 spot, last week: 7th)
7. Nolensville (down 5 spots, 2nd)
8. Macon County (no change, 8th)
9. Goodpasture (up 1 spot, 10th)
10. Liberty Creek (down 1 spot, 9th)
Just missed: Station Camp, Lawson
Dropped out this week: none
Small Class
1. (tie) Nashville Christian (8-2)
Change: Up 1 spot (last week: 2nd) | Last week: 33-27 win at Friendship Christian | This week: first-round bye
The Eagles climb up top thanks to a tough road win at a difficult place to do so. They’ll also enjoy homefield advantage throughout the postseason as a result.
1. (tie) East Nashville (7-3)
Change: Up 3 spots (last week: 4th) | Last week: 27-20 at East Robertson | This week: vs. Mt. Pleasant
The Eagles climb up top thanks to a tough road win at a difficult place to do so. (Yes, this was done on purpose.) They’ll also enjoy homefield advantage through the quarterfinals as a result.
3. Fairview (10-0)
Change: Up 3 spots (last week: 6th) | Last week: 42-6 win at Waverly | This week: vs. Stratford
The Yellow Jackets have a great opportunity to make a deep playoff run with homefield advantage through the quarterfinals, and a potential matchup with Whites Creek in the third round that could produce fireworks.
4. Gordonsville (9-1)
Change: Up 1 spot (last week: 5th) | Last week: 35-0 win at Smith County | This week: vs. Grundy County
The Tigers haven’t allowed a point in a month. And they get to keep that defense firmly entrenched at Turney Ford Field throughout November so long as they keep winning.
5. Friendship Christian (8-2)
Change: Down 2 spots (last week: 3rd) | Last week: 33-27 loss vs. Nashville Christian | This week: vs. Franklin Christian
The Commanders certainly want another shot at Nashville Christian, but there are challengers on their side of the bracket that want a shot at them, too, starting with a Franklin Christian team that nearly knocked them off three weeks ago.
Rest of the top 10
6. East Robertson (down 5 spots, last week: 1st)
7. Whites Creek (no change, 7th)
8. Middle Tennessee Christian School (no change, 8th)
9. Cannon County (no change, 9th)
10. (tie) Donelson Christian Academy (down 1 spot, 9th)
10. (tie) Cheatham County (unranked)
Just missed: White House Heritage, Providence Christian Academy
Dropped out this week: none
