TSSAA football playoffs: Here are 5 storylines and 25 players to keep an eye on in the Nashville area

The TSSAA football playoffs begin this week.

Here are five storylines entering the postseason and 25 players to watch.

Oakland gets benefit of doubt, but watch out

Maybe three-time defending 6A champion Oakland (8-2) isn't the Oakland of old. Certainly the depth of talent isn't the same, but the Patriots have earned the benefit of the doubt despite losing the Region 3-6A title to Riverdale last week. Until a team usurps it, Oakland is the team to beat. But top seeds Bradley Central and Brentwood as well as No. 2-seed Bearden are salivating at the idea of playing in December for a title. And don't count out Maryville, winner of 17 state championships, the most recent in 2019.

Brentwood, Mt. Juliet on opposite trajectories

Brentwood is enjoying one of its best seasons in more than two decades while Mt. Juliet enters the playoffs struggling to stay afloat.

The Bruins are 10-0 for the first time since 1998, and those 10 wins are their most consecutive since 2002. They wrapped up the Region 6-6A title with a win over Ravenwood on Friday and look poised to make at least a state semifinal run.

But Mt. Juliet (8-2) has cooled considerably after losing its second straight game. A 21-7 loss to previously winless Franklin two weeks ago was followed by a 35-3 loss to Green Hill on Friday. For a team that was consistently scoring 30 or more points, the Golden Bears' production has dropped sharply.

CPA, Pearl-Cohn trying to get to finish line

CPA came close to ending its championship drought in last year's 4A finale but fell short to Anderson County. Coach Tony Brunetti's team (9-1) this season has been building to this point as he chases the the program's third state title and first in 26 years. While its speed on offense gets Pearl-Cohn (10-0) a lot of attention, its defense has been among the state's best in 4A with four shutouts in its past six games.

The Lions have been to the past five DII-AA state title games and won in 2020. The past two years CPA lost to Lipscomb Academy. The Mustangs moved up to II-AAA this season, leaving II-AA open for CPA to reassert its dominance.

Defense powers bottom half of 5A bracket

While Knoxville West or Powell may be among the favorites to claim the 5A championship, the bottom half of the bracket is littered with teams that draw on defense to carry a heavy burden. Page, Centennial, Henry County and Beech are among the top defensive teams in the Nashville area, and Page (9-1) features a pair of linebackers in Eric Hazzard and Brenden Anes who may be the best duo in the state. Between them, they have 112 total tackles, 34 for a loss with 13.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

An all-Nashville area final in 2A?

There's a solid chance of two teams from the Nashville area playing for the 2A championship Dec. 2 in Chattanooga. East Robertson's lone loss is to Smith County, and the two teams could meet in the state quarterfinals. York Institute (10-0) has held six consecutive opponents to seven or fewer points this season. In the bottom half of that bracket, Loretto and Lewis County are a combined 19-1 and also could meet in the quarterfinals.

Here are 25 players we'll be watching

Montae Baldwin, Columbia Academy: Baldwin has been key to Columbia Academy's six-game win streak. He has run for 1,529 yards with 21 touchdowns.

Mitchell Carey, DCA: Carey has thrown for 2,334 yards with 32 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Ty Clark III, FRA: Clark has rushed for 26 touchdowns while gaining 1,463 yards

Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian: In a frustrating season that has produced only four wins -- and four losses in the past five games -- the five-star Eagles QB has thrown for 1,877 yards with 19 TDs.

Ben Franklin, Cornersville: The 6-foot-4 sledgehammer finished the regular season just three short of 2,000 yards rushing. His 1,997 yards includes 29 touchdowns.

Braden Graham, Riverdale: The former Lipscomb Academy QB has been impressive in his second season at Riverdale with 2,743 yards passing, 35 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Isaiah Groves, East Robertson: Groves eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark last week with 197 yards rushing in a win over Jackson County. Groves has 2,036 yards with 19 TDs.

Arnett Hayes, BGA: Hayes has 53 receptions for 891 yards with 12 touchdowns as BGA travels to Memphis to face Lausanne in the DII-AA first-round.

Baylor Hayes, Brentwood: Hayes has guided the Bruins to their first undefeated regular season since 1998. The transfer from Florida has 1,550 yards passing with 18 TDs and three interceptions.

Eric Hazzard, Page: Hazzard has 56 tackles, including 20 for a loss with 10 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

Justyce Law, Stratford: Law will need to kick his offense into high gear against White House-Heritage Friday. He's thrown for 1,965 yards with 18 TDs and seven interceptions and he's rushed for 401 yards and seven TDs.

George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy: Despite his team's 1-9 record, MacIntyre has thrown for 2,751 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Brock Montgomery, Riverdale: Montgomery's arrival at Riverdale from Friendship Christian has been an overwhelming success. Despite missing Week 1, Montgomery has 58 receptions for 1,044 yards with 14 TDs.

Daune Morris, Oakland: Morris has rushed for 1,185 yards with 15 touchdowns as the Patriots enter the 6A playoffs having won the previous three state crowns.

Ethan Palk, Upperman: The Bees feature a strong running attack led by Palk, who's rushed for 1,104 yards with 11 touchdowns.

Tripp Pinion, White County: The dual-threat QB has thrown for 901 yards and rushed for 1,867 yards with a combined 34 TDs.

Dominic Reed, Centennial: Reed has rushed for 901 yards and has 19 touchdowns. He's also a key contributor to the Cougars' defense as a linebacker.

TSSAA PLAYOFFS TSSAA football brackets for 2023 playoffs. See the first-round pairings here

Knox Roberts, Davidson Academy: Davidson Academy's loss to CPA was only the second this season for the Bears, who have been led by Roberts' 2,375 yards passing with 25 TDs and seven interceptions.

Zeion Simpson-Smith, Pearl-Cohn: Simpson-Smith has 68 tackles, including 23 for a loss. He also has six sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Braden Streeter, CPA: Streeter has given the Lions the tag as the team to beat with 1,378 yards passing, 16 TDs and three interceptions.

Jackson Stroup, Gallatin: Stroup has been highly efficient, throwing for 2,291 yards with 25 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Dawson White, Moore County: For the second straight season, Moore has thrown and rushed for more than 1,000 yards. He's passed for 1,547 yards and run for 1,310 with a combined 37 touchdowns.

Eli Wilson, MTCS: Wilson is among the top scorers in the Nashville area with 24 rushing touchdowns to go along with 1,473 yards.

Tyson Wolcott, Friendship Christian: Wolcott is among the state's leaders in rushing with 2,233 yards and a whopping 38 touchdowns.

Shavar Young, Brentwood Academy: Despite Brentwood Academy's 1-9 record, the Knoxville Webb transfer has caught 73 passes for 983 yards and six touchdowns.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA football: Five storylines, 25 players to watch in 2023 playoffs