Time to fire up the Friday night lights
Can Murfreesboro Riverdale make a sixth straight trip to the BlueCross Bowl in 2005? Does Maryville have a chance to win its fifth 4A title in six years? How much will the moves of Dyersburg, East Ridge, White House and other teams to the 3A ranks affect Knoxville Fulton’s chances of a third straight football championship?
Will one of the seven private schools that have been moved to 2A because of TSSAA’s recently implemented “multiplier” unseat teams like Alcoa and Huntingdon from state championship contention? With the move of these private schools to a higher classification allow a public school to win the 1A title, something that has not happened since 1999? How strongly will the move of a handful of private schools in and out of several Division II classes change the landscape in the private sector?
These and dozens of other burning questions are on the minds of thousands of prep football fans as they await this week’s Week Zero opening of high school football season in Tennessee. The hot practice sessions of August are nearing completion and most teams get the season started this week, either in a jamboree or in a regular season matchup. To quote former Tennessee football broadcaster John Ward, “it’s football time in Tennessee,” and fans can’t wait for it all to begin.
Riverdale, indeed, appears to be ready to defend its 5A crown. The Warriors completely dominated Montgomery Bell Academy nearly two weeks ago in a game type scrimmage. The depth factor is extremely strong on Warrior Drive. Coach Gary Rankin’s squad battles Columbus, Ohio power Worthington-Kilbourne next week, a team that is likely to be Riverdale’s toughest regular season opponent. I still look for the Tribe to end the regular season at 10-0.
Maryville, too, has been impressive in early season workouts. Coach George Quarles has been particularly impressed with his team’s passing attack. With senior Ryan Tallent taking care of the ground game, the Rebels are again a solid favorite to defend their 4A crown in the ‘Boro this coming December.
No less than 15 teams will be newcomers to 3A football this year. Nearly half, including such perennial powers as Dyersburg, Haywood, Pearl Cohn and White House, move down from the 4A ranks. Fortunately for two-time defending 3A champ Fulton, three of these four teams in particular will likely fill slots on the opposite side of the playoff bracket from the Falcons. Only White House goes east.
C.P.A, Ezell Harding, Boyd Buchanan and Donelson Christian have captured the last five 1A state championships. All are now competing at the 2A level where Alcoa and Huntingdon have dominated in recent years. 2A football across the state is now tougher than it has ever been.
With so many private schools now at 2A, a new state champ will be crowned in 1A. Will it be Trousdale County or South Pittsburg? Or will a small private school like Jackson Christian or Friendship Christian continue to carry the private school torch for the state’s smallest class?
Briarcrest enters Division II’s largest class this year. The Super 7 now becomes the Super 8. The only other significant change to Division II finds a few new additions to the A and AA levels. In time, additions like Davidson Academy, David Brainerd, Ensworth and St. George’s could bring new teams to the Class A and AA title games.
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Murphy Fair publishes the annual Tennessee High School Football magazine. His website (www.murphyfair.com) gives prep fans further insight into the prep football scene.
Fair’s column on high school football around the state will appear each Friday this fall in the Southern Standard.