TSSAA football playoff predictions: How does Riverdale follow biggest win in a decade?
The road to Chattanooga begins this week for Murfreesboro area high school football teams, as most have first-round playoff games Friday.
Here's what to look for in games involving area teams, including score predictions by The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce. Note: All playoff games kick off at 7 p.m. local time.
Game of the week
Green Hill (7-3) at Riverdale (8-2)
The fourth-seeded Hawks have been a tough team to figure out. Just two weeks after losing in overtime to La Vergne and a week after falling to Cookeville, they dismantled rival and top seed Mt. Juliet 35-3. Quarterback Kannon Burroughs had three TD passes and ran for another in the win. Aaron Mattingly has more than 850 yards receiving and 13 TDs. Fifth-ranked Riverdale is coming off the program's biggest win in a decade, coming from 17-0 down at halftime to defeat rival Oakland 25-24 to capture the No. 1 seed. Braden Graham threw for 315 yards and three TDs, most of that coming in the second half. A 2-point conversion with 1:30 left was the difference. The winner will face the Siegel-Cookeville winner in the second round of the 6A playoffs.
Joyce's pick: Riverdale 35, Green Hill 27.
Gallatin (7-3) at Oakland (8-2)
The Green Wave secured not only a playoff spot, but the No. 3 seed with a 32-30 win over Lebanon last week. Gallatin racked up 500 yards of offense in the win, including 316 yards passing and three TDs by Michael Stroup and 179 yards rushing and a TD by Jaden Hoskins. Fourth-ranked Oakland isn't a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014 after losing to Riverdale last week. Junior RB Daune Morris exploded for 297 total yards and two TDs for the Patriots.
Joyce's pick: Oakland 42, Gallatin 20.
Siegel (5-5) at Cookeville (7-3)
Cookeville is riding a five-game winning streak that vaulted the Cavaliers into the No. 2 seed. Quarterback Blake Owen makes the offense go, having passed for more than 900 yards and rushed for more than 800. Siegel snapped a five-game losing streak while earning a playoff spot and No. 3 seed with a 20-7 win over Rockvale last week, one in which QB A.J. Cucchiara passed for a touchdown and added a 54-yard rushing TD.
Joyce's pick: Cookeville 27, Siegel 20.
Rockvale (5-5) at Mt. Juliet (8-2)
Both of these teams had disappointing losses last week in which key players got hurt. No. 1 seed Mt. Juliet has fallen in two straight, including allowing Franklin to snap a 22-game losing streak two weeks ago and losing to rival Green Hill 35-3, a game in which RB Jon Mikael Crudup suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Rockvale struggled moving the ball in a 20-7 loss to Siegel after senior QB Brennan Mayhew left with an injury. The winner will move on to play Oakland or Gallatin.
Joyce's pick: Mt. Juliet 17, Rockvale 13.
Independence (5-5) at Smyrna (6-4)
The Eagles have lost two in a row, including a 32-17 setback to Summit last week that bumped them to the No. 4 seed. Once one of the top passing offenses in the area, Independence has a run-heavy offense that spreads the touches around. Top seed Smyrna is riding a six-game winning streak, thanks to the improvement of QB Austin Morris (280 yards passing, three TDs last week) and a strong defense.
Joyce's pick: Smyrna 21, Independence 20.
Stewarts Creek (7-3) at Ravenwood (7-3)
No. 2 seed Ravenwood has lost its last two vs No. 2-ranked Brentwood and No. 4-ranked Oakland. Femi Babaloa passed for 209 yards but the Raptors rushed for just 18 yards in a 17-0 loss to the Bruins last week in a battle for first in 6-6A. The No. 3 seed Red Hawks have won two in a row, thanks to the emergence of Jerry Taylor, who has four TDs during that stretch. Senior WR Kenny Jordan had two punt returns for TDs in a 27-13 win over La Vergne.
Joyce's pick: Ravenwood 31, Stewarts Creek 20.
MORE: The easiest — and toughest — paths to TSSAA football state championships in Chattanooga
Eagleville (6-4) at West Carroll (5-4)
West Carroll has lost three in a row after a 5-1 start, but the War Eagles can put points on the board. Running back Jayden Milton has more than 1,500 yards rushing and is averaging over nine yards a carry. The Eagles pulled off a big win over Cornersville (23-14) last week to earn a No. 3 seed. Their defense is allowing 18 points a game, but just 22 total points in their six wins.
Joyce's pick: Eagleville 23, West Carroll 21.
MORE: Why TSSAA hammered Lipscomb Academy football with postseason ban, including Deuce Knight's role
Nashville Christian (4-6) at PCA (5-5)
It's been a disappointing season for the No. 3 seed Eagles and the nation's No. 2 2026 QB prospect Jared Curtis. Curtis has still put up big numbers, passing for 1,877 yards and 19 TDs and rushing for 299 yards and seven TDs in nine games. PCA earned a No. 3 seed in its first year of TSSAA 11-man football. The Lions got 146 yards rushing and two TDs from QB Tate Marks in an 18-7 win over Webb School last week.
Joyce's pick: Nashville Christian 38, PCA 13.
Bye: Middle Tennessee Christian.
Last week: 6-3. Season: 73-23.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: TSSAA football playoffs 2023: How does Riverdale follow Oakland upset?
