The date was Nov. 7, 2014.
Independence football coach Scott Blade and his Eagles enter Friday with an 18-game win streak.
The place? Hendersonville High School on the night of the opening round of the TSSAA Class 6A football playoffs.
That is when and where Independence last lost a high school football contest.
Eighteen games later, that streak may have its best shot at coming to a close.
The Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press’ Class 5A statewide poll, travel to Robert L. Raikes Stadium to face Smyrna High, which is ranked fifth in the Class 6A poll. It wraps up the non-region slate for both squads. Both are 3-0 in the young season.
Independence has slowly built steam this season. Its high-powered offense had its best performance of the season in a 49-7 rout of Lincoln County.
But folks, the Bulldogs aren’t Lincoln County.
Smyrna quarterback John Turner has had pinpoint accuracy this season. Throw in a physical runner in Casey Perkins and the explosiveness of receivers of Percy Whittaker and Blake Watkins and these Bulldogs have plenty to bite.
The pick: Smyrna 28, Independence 21
Rivalry game of week
Franklin head coach Donnie Webb, top center, talks with TSSAA high school referees before the start of a game against Centennial on Friday, August 19, 2016, in Franklin.
Brentwood and Franklin — two of the original Williamson County big boys — meet at Franklin’s Howard Gamble Stadium for a chance at bragging rights.
Donnie Webb’s Rebels face a Brentwood squad that left many scratching their heads after a loss to Rossview a week ago.
Since a Week 1 loss to Centennial, Franklin appears to be firing on all cylinders.
The pick: Franklin 24, Brentwood 16
Who?
Brentwood Academy quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall
I’ll be honest.
I had to google A+ Academy — the Texas high school coming up to play Brentwood Academy.
It’s located in Dallas, it appears. And they are 0-2.
And while high school football is big in Texas, A+ Academy won’t have an answer for Austin Peay commitment Jeremiah Oatsvall.
The pick: Brentwood Academy 42, A+ Academy 14
Sumner County’s best
Hendersonville coach Bruce Hatfield
Hendersonville travels to Beech for the best rivalry game in Sumner County.
Both squads have put together fine starts to the season. Beech has recovered nicely since a Week 1 defeat against undefeated Wilson Central.
And Cane Ridge needed overtime to hand the Commandos their first loss a week ago.
No overtime will be needed this week.
The pick: Hendersonville 42, Beech 28
Bishop’s Cup
History shows that this could be the lone Division II-AA region win for either Father Ryan or Pope John Paul II.
The Irish have won three straight and own a 9-2 series advantage over JPII.
First-year coach Brian Rector isn’t going to see that streak end this season.
The pick: Father Ryan 28, Pope John Paul II 20
The rest
Centennial over Ravenwood
CPA over Pearl-Cohn
Fairview over Waverly
Riverdale over Hillsboro
Overton over Lipscomb
Cheatham Co. over Creek Wood
Blackman over Shades Valley, Ala.
Cane Ridge over McGavock
Cannon Co. over Red Boiling Springs
Springfield over Clarksville
Gordonsville over Clay Co.
Coffee Co. over Walker Valley
Lawrence Co. over Columbia
Columbia Academy over Mt. Pleasant
Westmoreland over Community
Cookeville over White Co.
Moore Co. over Cornersville
DeKalb Co. over Cumberland Co.
Chattanooga Christian over Davidson Academy
DCA over Lancaster Christian
Dickson Co. over Spring Hill
Marshall Co. over East Nashville
Trezevant over Ensworth
Fayetteville over Cascade
FRA over Goodpasture
Mt. Juliet over Franklin Co.
Henry Co. over Gallatin
Hickman Co. over Harpeth
Hillwood over Glencliff
Mt. Juliet Christian over Houston Co.
Macon Co. over Jackson Co.
Trousdale Co. over Jo Byrns
Lewis Co. over East Hickman
Giles Co. over Lincoln Co.
Eagleville over Loretto
MBA over Hamilton
Montgomery Central over Clarksville Academy
MTCS over Monterey
Nashville Christian over Pickett Co.
Kenwood over Northeast
Page over Forrest
Scotts Hill over Perry Co.
Richland over Huntland
Rossview over Station Camp
Livingston Academy over Smith Co.
McEwen over Stewart Co.
LaVergne over Stewarts Creek
Stratford over Ezell-Harding
Summertown over Franklin Grace
Summit over Lebanon
Sycamore over Hunters Lane
Shelbyville over Tullahoma
Stone Memorial over Upperman
Watertown over Grundy Co.
Northwest over West Creek
Greenbrier over White House
White House Heritage over Portland
Maplewood over Whites Creek
Wilson Central over Siegel
Sequatchie Co. over York Institute
Rossville over Zion Christian
Wayne Co. over Riverside
Westview over BGA
Last week: 53-18
Overall: 149-56 (.727)
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