Ref. David Porter flips a coin before the start of last month’s Battle of the ‘Boro between Oakland and Riverdale.
Rematches are nothing new to the playoff landscape in high school football.
There are an abundance, however, of second-round playoff matchups that are rematches of regular-season contests.
And some are downright must-see football.
Here are a list of rematches in the second round and what impact they will have on the remainder of the state playoffs.
RIVERDALE (6-5) at OAKLAND (10-1)
Matchup: Class 6A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 16 at Riverdale. Oakland won 43-14, thanks mainly to a strong third quarter. The Patriots led just 15-7 at halftime but outscored Riverdale 21-0 in the third. Lazarius Patterson had 243 yards rushing and three TDs to lead Oakland.
Winner gets: Winner of Smyrna vs. Science Hill. Oakland would be at home, Riverdale on the road.
What should we expect? The Patriots should again look to their ground game. Riverdale passed for 173 yards but was able to muster just 57 yards on the ground in the initial meeting. The Battle of the ‘Boro was picked as the Midstate’s top rivalry by The Tennessean. When a playoff game comes down to your biggest rival, anything can happen. What should happen is an Oakland win and trip to the quarterfinals.
Blackman quarterback Miller Armstrong nears the end zone during a 55-30 win over Siegel last month.
SIEGEL (3-8) at BLACKMAN (9-2)
Matchup: Class 6A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 16 at Siegel. Blackman rolled 55-30. Blackman racked up 579 total yards (426 rushing) while Siegel gained 534. Blackman running back Taeler Dowdy rushed for 283 yards and three TDs while Siegel QB Jordan Middleton threw for 305 yards and two scores.
Winner gets: Winner of Cookeville vs. Maryville. Maryville would be at home either way. Blackman would play host to Cookeville. Siegel would be on the road either way.
What should we expect? More of the same. Both teams thrive on offense. Blackman has scored at least 34 points in all nine wins. Siegel has scored 163 points in its past four games. With a little more defense, the Stars could pull off an upset, but expect Blackman to move on.
Ravenwood quarterback McCain Marrow is sacked by Overton’s Deandre Archie during the first half of last month’s game.
OVERTON (7-4) at RAVENWOOD (10-1)
Matchup: Class 6A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 15 at Ravenwood. The Raptors cruised 38-7 in Region 3-6A en route to a No. 1 seed.
Winner gets: Winner of McGavock vs. White Station. Ravenwood would be at home, Overton would be on the road.
What should we expect? Ravenwood has allowed just 20 points combined in its last five games while scoring 218 during that stretch. Overton will have to play its best game, but even with that, the Raptors have too much firepower and the defending 6A runners-up should find themselves in the quarterfinals.
Tennessee high school football playoff brackets
WILSON CENTRAL (5-6) at FRANKLIN (8-3)
Matchup: Class 6A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 9 at Franklin. Rebels turned up the defense in a 35-3 win. The Wildcats had just 144 total yards. Lannom Craddock was the bulk of the Franklin offense, rushing for a career-high 245 yards.
Winner gets: Winner of Mt. Juliet vs. Whitehaven game. Whitehaven would be at home either way. Franklin would host Mt. Juliet. Wilson Central would be on the road either way.
What should we expect? Craddock has since been lost for the season with a knee injury, but Franklin has still been rolling, winning six in a row. The Rebels have allowed just 38 combined points in those six games. Wilson Central was impressive in last week’s 28-9 upset of Cordova. Defense could rule, but the way Franklin has been playing, don’t expect another upset.
Hillsboro senior running back Jeremy Hill tries to elude Beech senior Rodrick Napper on a first-quarter carry during an Oct. 30 contest.
BEECH (8-3) at HILLSBORO (8-3)
Matchup: Class 5A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 30 at Beech. Hillsboro won 21-17 to clinch Region 6-5A. Daylon Murphy’s 23-yard TD strike to Jeremy Hill in the fourth quarter was the difference. Rodrick Napper rushed for 106 yards and two TDs for Beech.
Winner gets: Winner of Independence vs. Hendersonville. Independence would be at home either way. Hillsboro would play host to Hendersonville. Beech would be on the road either way..
What should we expect? Possibly one of the top games of the night. Both are strong defensively, and a grind-it-out style should be expected offensively. If the Beech can get a big special teams play and Napper is healthy (sprained ankle in last week’s win), expect them to move on. Hillsboro WR Jay King should be back to 100 percent from an injury, giving Coach Craig Clayton the big-play threat that could advance the defending 5A runners-up.
Centennial running back Mondu Sawyers (8) runs as Brentwood’s Spencer Schwartz (8) tries to tackle him during last month’s game.
BRENTWOOD (6-5) at CENTENNIAL (10-1)
Matchup: Class 5A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 9 at Brentwood. Centennial won 24-10. One Cougars TD came on a blocked punt and another on a 5-yard pass from running back Tyrel Dodson. Brentwood’s Carson Croy passed for 234 yards but was picked off twice.
Winner gets: Winner of Northeast vs. Henry County. Centennial would be at home either way. Henry County would play host to Brentwood. Brentwood would play host to Northeast.
What should we expect? Centennial has been tested the past two weeks, including sneaking past No. 4 seed Southwind 20-14 last week, but the bottom line is the Cougars have responded with wins. Centennial has reeled off nine wins in a row since a blowout loss to Independence. Expect it to be 10 in a row, despite the nice run Brentwood and Coach Ron Crawford have made this season, including a 52-7 blowout of No. 2 seed Memphis Central last week.
TSSAA State Football Playoff scores, schedule
NORTHEAST (6-5) at HENRY CO. (9-2)
Matchup: Class 5A second round.
Last meeting: Sept. 4 at Northeast. Henry County started a string of five consecutive shutouts 43-0.
Winner gets: Winner of Centennial vs. Brentwood. Centennial would be at home either way. Henry County would host Brentwood. Brentwood would host Northeast.
What should we expect? As the schedule got tougher for Henry County, its shutout streak ended. The Patriots have allowed 84 points in four games since the streak, but was impressive in a 35-14 win over Munford last week. Northeast upset No. 1 seed Brighton 36-29 last week. However, the points will be tougher to come by against Henry County. Expect the Patriots to be stingy and advance.
SPRINGFIELD (8-3) at KENWOOD (8-3)
Matchup: Class 4A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 9 at Springfield. Springfield rolled 36-6. Antwuan Branch rushed for 207 of Kenwood’s 215 total yards. Springfield was much more balanced, with Isiah Bigbee, Dewayne Buckner and Alan Gardner combining for 342 yards on the ground. Buckner also passed for 93 yards.
Winner gets: Winner of Pearl-Cohn vs. Lipscomb Academy. Pearl-Cohn would host either way. Kenwood would host Lipscomb. Lipscomb would host Springfield.
What should we expect? The last matchup was the only blemish in the past six games for Kenwood. Branch and Co. have found an extra offensive gear in wins over Creek Wood, Lipscomb and Portland. However, Springfield has too many options on offense, and the Yellow Jackets will force the Knights to throw the ball more. That should equate to another Springfield win.
STRATFORD (8-3) at CPA (10-1)
Matchup: Class 3A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 2 at Stratford. CPA won 34-18, but this game wasn’t decided until late. Defending 3A champ CPA broke open a close game with the final two TDs after Stratford had cut the lead to 21-18 with a Josh Trueheart TD pass early in the fourth. Chip Omer rushed for 206 yards for CPA and Corey Simmons had 188 yards for Stratford.
Winner gets: Winner of White House-Heritage vs. Camden. CPA would be at home either way. Camden would host Stratford. White House-Heritage would host Stratford..
What should we expect? Stratford has done just about everything Coach Maurice Fitzgerald could have hoped for, and a break or two could give the Spartans the upset. Stratford has outscored its last two opponents 80-0. However, it’s hard to pick against the defending 3A champs, who have outscored their previous five opponents 222-44. Expect the Lions to win a close one.
HOUSTON CO. (9-2) at WAYNE CO. (11-0)
Matchup: Class 1A second round.
Last meeting: Oct. 9 at Houston County. Wayne County, as it has most of the season, dominated the 6-1A matchup, winning 41-7.
Winner gets: Winner of Nashville Christian-Huntingdon. Nashville Christian would be at home either way. Wayne County would host Huntingdon. Huntingdon would host Houston County.
What should we expect? After winning one game last year, Houston County has had a remarkable season. However, it was clearly outmatched in its two losses, including a 55-14 setback to Huntingdon. Wayne County has been tested just once this year and shouldn’t be in this contest.
MCCALLIE (6-5) at MBA (9-1)
Matchup: DII-AA quarterfinals.
Last meeting: Sept. 18 at McCallie. MBA pulled out a 33-27 victory, thanks to Ty Chandler, who rushed for 279 yards on 39 carries and four touchdowns, including the game-winner in OT.
Winner gets: Winner of Ensworth at Christian Brothers. Christian Brothers would be at home either way. MBA would host Ensworth.
What should we expect? Don’t let McCallie’s 6-5 record fool you. The Blue Tornado have lost to Blackman by two points, MBA in OT, Parkview (Ga.) by five and Brentwood Academy by nine. Their only “bad” loss was a blowout to rival Baylor. MBA’s lone loss was a blowout to Brentwood Academy. With MBA’s bye last week, Chandler should be fresh and the defending champs should have an advantage.