Brentwood Academy quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall helped lead the Eagles to the Division II-AA state championship.
The high school football season has kicked off in Williamson County. Here is a look at five story lines across the county.
The referee flips the coin before the start of the Ravenwood against Siegel game at Siegel High on Thursday in both teams’ season opener.
Title town?
It will be hard to duplicate the success Williamson County programs had on the football field in 2015.
Three programs in Williamson County brought home trophies after winning state titles in Cookeville last season.
Brentwood Academy beat 56-55 in a two-overtime shootout against rival Montgomery Bell Academy in the Division II-AA championship game behind Austin Peay commitment Jeremiah Oatsvall’s 280 yards passing.
Independence capped a 15-0 season with a 49-14 rout of Sevier County in the Class 5A state championship. Independence graduate Andrew Bunch led the Eagles with 313 yards passing and five touchdowns.
Ravenwood shocked Maryville 26-17 in the Class 6A state championship game behind four forced turnovers. The win came a year after the Rebels beat Ravenwood in overtime in the championship game.
New coaches
Three new high school football coaches will be walking the sidelines in 2016.
Former Ravenwood coach Will Hester resigned to become the Nolensville athletic director and football coach. Nolensville will play primarily a junior varsity program in 2015. The Knights’ lone home varsity game is Sept. 2 against South Gibson.
Richie Wessman, a former quality control coach with The Titans, replaced Hester. This is Wessman’s first high school coaching position.
Former Forrest coach Matt Kriesky replaced Brian Rector at Centennial. Centennial reached the Class 5A state semifinals in 2015.
Rivalries
Here are three must-see games in 2016:
Brentwood hosts Ravenwood on Aug. 26 in what has been labeled the Battle of the Wood.
Franklin travels to Ravenwood on Sept. 16 in a big Region 3-6A contest.
Brentwood Academy travels to MBA on Oct. 7 in a rematch of the 2015 Division II-AA state championship.
Committed players
There are five Williamson County football players that have committed to Power Five college conference.
Page punter/kicker Brent Cimaglia has committed to Tennessee. Independence’s Landry Guidry, a defensive back, has committed to Mississippi State. Ravenwood offensive tackle Patrick Leitten has committed to Duke.
Two underclassmen have also committed. Ravenwood offensive tackle Max Wray, a junior, has committed to Georgia. Independence receiver Kendrell Scurry, a sophomore, has committed to Tennessee.
Turf wars
Nolensville High School, which opened this fall, became the first Williamson County football field to have synthetic turf. But more could be joining the ranks.
Williamson County Schools recently released rendering for campus improvements at Brentwood and Franklin. The renderings included turf football fields.