Are you ready for high school football? Our team is here to provide your coverage

Wow. We've finally reached game day!

Hi, this is Tom Kreager, the high school sports editor at The Tennessean and South Region high school sports strategist.

We've finally reached the first high school football games of the TSSAA 2022 season. Yes, welcome to Thursday night football.

There are a number of games on tap for tonight. We'll have writers and photographers at three. Sports writer Joe Spears will be at Pearl-Cohn where the Firebirds will host Cane Ridge. Cecil Joyce will be at Oakland where the two-time Class 6A state champions host Hendersonville.

And I will be at Tullahoma for the Wildcats' game with Shelbyville. I believe it's my fourth straight season — maybe longer — opening the year with this non-region rival game. It's a perfect Thursday night game.

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A full slate of high school football games will be played on Friday. We've given you what we feel are the top 10 games for Week 1. Our game of the week is MBA at Ravenwood, where Ole Miss commitment Marcel Reed and the Big Red face off against Mississippi State commitment Chris Parson and the Raptors.

I'll have a front-row spot on the sidelines for what is an Egg Bowl preview between the two four-star quarterbacks.

We also plan to be at CPA where the Lions host Independence without coach Ingle Martin. Martin will miss CPA's home opener because his son plays for the Nolensville baseball team that is in the Little League World Series.

We'll also be at Waverly for the Tigers' triumphant return to their home stadium. The team hasn't played in their stadium since 2020, missing the 2021 season because of a flood that made it unplayable.

And we'll also be at Gallatin's home game with Mt. Juliet, as well as at Smyrna High for the Bulldogs' first game on their turf against Stewarts Creek.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Are you ready for high school football? Our team is here to provide your coverage