TSSAA football predictions for Week 11: Riverdale-Oakland, Ravenwood-Brentwood for region titles
It's the final week of the Tennessee high school football regular season and most games will have region championship or playoff-seeding implications.
Here is a look at the Nashville area's top-10 games for Week 11 with predictions from Tennessean sports writers Tyler Palmateer and George Robinson and high school sports editor Tom Kreager.
Game of the week
Riverdale (7-2, 4-0 in 3-6A) at Oakland (8-1, 4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Both teams are already Class 6A playoff bound, but this rivalry is as intense as it gets in Murfreesboro. Simply put, the winner of Friday's game is crowned the Region 3-6A champion and Oakland hasn't lost a region game since 2014. However, this may be the best shot anyone in this league has had in years to upset the Patriots. Warriors quarterback Braden Graham has thrown for over 2,100 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Kreager's prediction: Oakland 41, Riverdale 28
Robinson's prediction: Oakland 28, Riverdale 24
Palmateer's prediction: Oakland 35, Riverdale 28
Nolensville (8-1, 3-1 in 6-5A) at Page (8-1, 4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Thursday
The Region 6-5A championship comes down to the Knights and Patriots. The winner is the league champ and secures a No. 1 seed in the 5A playoffs. The return of Clemson commit Ronan O'Connell should help Page, but Nolensville's Zion Tomaska is coming off a game in which he had 28 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Summit.
Kreager's prediction: Page 35, Nolensville 14
Robinson's prediction: Page 24, Nolensville 7
Palmateer's prediction: Page 28, Nolensville 14
Brentwood Academy (1-8, 0-4 in DII-AAA East) at MBA (3-6, 2-2)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Thursday
Not much has gone right with both programs, however MBA has had the more recent success, having won three of four before a 35-0 loss to Baylor last Friday. The Eagles are coming off their worst offensive output (17 points in a loss to Lipscomb Academy last week) since they scored 15 in a loss to McCallie over a month ago.
Kreager's prediction: MBA 28, Brentwood Academy 27
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood Academy 28, MBA 27
Palmateer's prediction: MBA 21, Brentwood Academy 20
Stratford (5-4, 2-1 in 5-3A) at East Nashville (7-2, 3-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Thursday
If Stratford pulls off a win over East Nashville, it will create a three-way tie in Region 5-3A between the two schools and Liberty Creek. However, because Liberty Creek has a win over Stratford (and has finished its region schedule) East Nashville has wrapped up the region title because of the second tiebreaker rule with seven total wins.
Kreager's prediction: East Nashville 34, Stratford 14
Robinson's prediction: East Nashville 28, Stratford 20
Palmateer's prediction: East Nashville 48, Stratford 28
Centennial (7-2, 3-1 in 6-5A) at Hillsboro (6-3, 2-2)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Thursday
Centennial hadn't lost until its past two contests and if it loses a third straight, it could be staring at fourth place in Region 6-5A. That's how competitive this region has been with Nolensville, Page, Centennial and Hillsboro combining to go 29-7.
Kreager's prediction: Centennial 28, Hillsboro 14
Robinson's prediction: Centennial 23, Hillsboro 16
Palmateer's prediction: Centennial 35, Hillsboro 14
Ravenwood (7-2, 4-0 in 6-6A) at Brentwood (9-0, 4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Region 6-6A may have saved its best game for last. The winner is the region champ and a No. 1 seed heading into the 6A playoffs. The loser will host a first-round playoff game and could face either Stewarts Creek or Cane Ridge in the first round.
Kreager's prediction: Ravenwood 31, Brentwood 24
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood 28, Ravenwood 24
Palmateer's prediction: Brentwood 24, Ravenwood 14
Marshall County (8-1, 6-0 in 5-4A) at Pearl-Cohn (9-0, 6-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Pearl-Cohn is about as sure a bet as anyone can make this late in the season. The Firebirds are undefeated and the presumptive favorite to capture the Region 5-4A championship. The only blemish for Pearl-Cohn is that it gave up six points to White House last Friday, ending a four-game streak of of holding opponents scoreless.
Kreager's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 42, Marshall County 21
Robinson's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 35, Marshall County 14
Palmateer's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 38, Marshall County 14
Davidson Academy (8-1, 4-1 in DII-AA Middle) at CPA (8-1, 5-0)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
CPA passed one of its biggest tests with flying colors last week. The Lions held an explosive FRA team to seven points, had four interceptions and established itself as the team to beat in DII-AA. Despite putting up 56 and 54 points in the last two games Davidson Academy may want to be cautious in dealing with the Lions' defense. The Bears could play region title spoiler for CPA if it beats the Lions and FRA knocks off Pope John Paul II.
Kreager's prediction: CPA 35, Davidson Academy 14
Robinson's prediction: CPA 24, Davidson Academy 13
Palmateer's prediction: CPA 31, Davidson Academy 17
McCallie (9-0, 4-0 in DII-AAA East) at Lipscomb Academy (4-5, 2-2)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
If Lipscomb Academy feels it may be turning a corner, it may have to wait a week. However, teams have been able to move the ball and put up points on McCallie the past few weeks. Knoxville Catholic nearly pulled off an upset last Friday, falling 31-27 and McCallie gave up 31 points to Baylor nearly three weeks ago. A win for Lipscomb could do wonders for its confidence heading into the DII-AAA playoffs.
Kreager's prediction: McCallie 31, Lipscomb Academy 21
Robinson's pick: McCallie 34, Lipscomb Academy 14
Palmateer's prediction: McCallie 28, Lipscomb Academy 17
REGION TITLE SCENARIOS Here are the paths to determine every region champion for 2023 TSSAA football playoffs
PATH TO THE PLAYOFFS Here are the paths to determine every region champion for 2023 TSSAA football playoffs
Loretto (9-0, 6-0 in 5-2A) at Mt. Pleasant (8-1, 5-1)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Friday
Loretto can wrap up the Region 5-2A championship with a win over Mt. Pleasant. However if the Tigers win, things could get interesting, especially if Lewis County beats Waverly to form a three-way tie for first place.
Kreager's prediction: Loretto 21, Mt. Pleasant 20
Robinson's prediction: Loretto 32, Mt. Pleasant 20
Palmateer's prediction: Loretto 35, Mt. Pleasant 21
Last week: Kreager (9-1), Palmateer (9-1), Robinson (9-1).
Season: Robinson (75-25, .750); Kreager (72-27, .727); Palmateer (58-20, .743).
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 Week 11 predictions: Oakland-Riverdale for region title
