Top Nashville area high school football games for Week 1
Tom KreagerHere’s a look at the top 10 Nashville area high school football games for Week 1. Tennessean high school sports editor Tom Kreager will be picking the winners.
Game of the week
MBA at Brentwood
When: 7 p.m., Friday
It's a rare meeting between one of the top Division II-AAA and one of the best Class 6A programs in the Nashville area. Brentwood QB Cade Granzow threw for more than 2,200 yards as a sophomore. His favorite target will be Walker Merrill, a four-star receiver for 2021. William Tyrone returns at quarterback for the Big Red after throwing for 874 yards in 2018.
Kreager's pick: Brentwood 24, MBA 21
Page at Fairview
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Page has won three of the past five meetings, including a 28-20 win in 2018. Running back Logan Nardozzi is Fairview's top offensive playmaker after Mr. Football finalist Kam Harris-Lusk's graduation. Page QB Cade Walker must find a new favorite target with all-state athlete Michael Burdick graduated.
Kreager's pick: Page 27, Fairview 21
East Nashville at Smyrna
When: 7 p.m., Friday
East Nashville will field its best team under coach Brian Waite. The Eagles have dynamic receivers in Demick Starling and Lester Shaw. And Western Michigan commitment Tyler Fletcher is a ball magnet on defense. Texas A&M commitment Dallas Walker IV will be used on the defensive line and at tight end for Smyrna.
Kreager's pick: East Nashville 34, Smyrna 28
Oakland at Hendersonville
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Oakland begins its Class 6A title defense in a rematch of a 28-0 second-round playoff win in 2018. Transfer Kody Sparks gives the Patriots a passing option they didn't have last year. Hendersonville returns its quarterback Drew Hohenbrink, who had more than 1,000 total yards in the Commandos' Wing-T offense.
Kreager's pick: Oakland 48, Hendersonville 14
Independence at Summit
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Summit changed its offense from the Wing-T to the spread due to sophomore quarterback Destin Wade. And George Odimegwu moved from running back to his more natural fit of receiver. Now we'll begin to see if the offensive scheme change worked. For Independence, quarterback Ethan Cash returns after throwing for more than 2,000 yards while splitting time in 2018.
Kreager's pick: Summit 24, Independence 21
Lebanon at Gallatin
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Third-year coach Chuck Gentry guided Lebanon to its first eight-win season since the Blue Devils went 9-3 in 2004. To duplicate it, the Blue Devils will need first-year QB Breeze Copas to pick up where current Ball State freshman Chandler Crite left off.
Kreager's pick: Lebanon 21, Gallatin 17
CPA at ECS
When: 7 p.m., Friday
CPA, the Division II-AA state champions, kicks off its title defense against one of the favorites to win the 2019 championship. ECS is led by DII-AA West region player of the year Austin Hill, an Army commitment.
Kreager's pick: CPA 24, ECS 17
Hillsboro vs. Maplewood
When: 3 p.m., Saturday (at TSU)
A year into Hillsboro's program, running back Brian Covington is ready for a breakout season for the Burros. Covington ran for 1,553 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2018. Maplewood coach Arcentae Broome graduated the bulk of his offense from 2018, including four-year starting quarterback Bobo Hodges.
Kreager's pick: Hillsboro 48, Maplewood 20
Football recruiting:Dickson County's Tre'vonn Rybka commits to Kentucky football over Tennessee, others
Football rankings:Who is the top Nashville area high school football team for 2019? We ranked them from 1-129.
Cane Ridge vs. Pearl-Cohn
When: 5:30 p.m., Saturday (at TSU)
Texas transfer Adonai Mitchell has been recovering from a leg injury through part of the preseason for Cane Ridge. Mitchell, a receiver, will spend time in the backfield. He played some quarterback and running back at Ridge Point near Houston. Pearl-Cohn's Kyndrich Breedlove, a two-way player, will need to try and slow either Mitchell or four-star junior receiver Quenton Barnes.
Kreager's pick: Cane Ridge 26, Pearl-Cohn 21
Football rankings:Tennessee Super 25 high school football poll: Preseason rankings
Alcoa at Blackman
When: 7 p.m., Saturday
Alcoa coach Gary Rankin, the TSSAA's all-time winningest coach, brings the four-time defending Class 3A state champions to Murfreesboro, where Rankin won four state titles at Riverdale. Second-year coach Kit Hartsfield, who played for Rankin, replaces three FBS freshman receivers with two transfers — former Shelbyville receiver Malachi Burns and Brighton receiver Keionte Newson.
Kreager's pick: Alcoa 42, Blackman 21
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Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.