Williamson County Football Playoff Previews | Friday, Nov. 6, 2026

Ten Williamson County teams play in the first round of the TSSAA football playoffs Friday.

Class 3AStratford (4–6) at Fairview (10–0)Fairview begins the playoffs at home after a perfect regular season and a 42–6 win over Waverly Central. The Yellowjackets averaged 39.6 points a game and can move the ball through several players. Junior quarterback Isaac Burgos averaged 117.6 passing yards in the matchup report and threw for 79 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-10 passing against Waverly. Senior receiver Lincoln Kelley caught four of those passes for 38 yards and the score. Sophomore running back Julius Carter ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, and freshman Rellan Langford added 54 yards and two scores on three attempts. That depth gives Fairview options if Stratford takes away its first choice. Stratford’s most dangerous player is running back JD Stafford, who had 1,488 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns through eight games in the Tennessean’s October 23 report. Quarterback Jonathan Fredricks averaged 97.6 passing yards in the matchup report, with receiver Zay Jones at 37.8 receiving yards. The Spartans’ defensive player to watch is end and linebacker Justin Williams, credited with 8.8 tackles and 1.6 sacks per reported game. If he can get Fairview behind the chains, Stratford can give Stafford more chances to dictate the pace. Fairview has the personnel to answer Stratford’s run game. Wyatt Langford had seven tackles and 2½ tackles for loss against Waverly, and Cole Neal added seven stops. The first-down battle is the one to watch. If Fairview gets Stafford on the ground before he reaches the second level, Fredricks will face longer throws against a secondary that includes Kelley. If Stafford keeps turning first down into second-and-short, Stratford can stay patient and limit the possessions available to Fairview’s offense.

Class 5A Portland (2–8) at Page (9–1)Page earned the Region 5-5A top seed with a 38–17 win at previously unbeaten Nolensville. Senior quarterback Cameron Kruse went 8-for-8 for 173 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 105 yards and another score. Junior running back Isaac Otey added 122 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. That performance showed the problem Portland has to solve. Even if the Panthers keep Page’s receivers in front of them, Kruse and Otey can move the chains on the ground. Receiver Dylan Streeter, at 63.8 receiving yards per reported game, gives Kruse a downfield option when defenders step up against the run. Portland’s offense runs through Alex Nyswonger, a running back and strong safety who averaged 83.3 rushing yards and 16.3 receiving yards in the available reports. Senior quarterback Will Caudill, who also plays defensive end, averaged 48 passing yards in his reported appearances. Portland’s best chance to settle into the game is to give Nyswonger manageable carries and use him as a receiving outlet. On defense, the Panthers can put Nyswonger in position to help against the run, but bringing him forward also creates space for Streeter. Page allowed 73 points in 10 games, or 7.3 per game. Linebacker Cal Wiebush averaged 9.6 tackles, Connor Sullivan had 3½ reported sacks, and defensive back Olin Hapgood had four interceptions. Portland’s published points totals vary by source, so the cleaner matchup is Nyswonger against the middle of that Page defense. If Wiebush and Sullivan can force obvious passing downs, Hapgood and the secondary can sit on routes. Portland needs enough early rushing success to make Page defend the whole playbook.

Hendersonville (6–4) at Nolensville (9–1)Nolensville has a home playoff game after its only regular-season loss, a 38–17 defeat to Page. Senior quarterback Ryan Newell averaged 116.3 passing yards and 186.3 total yards in the matchup report, making his ability to escape pressure a central concern for Hendersonville. Senior running back Tristen Lithmexay had 868 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns through eight games, and Lane Dever averaged 43 receiving yards in the available reports. If Hendersonville commits an extra defender to Lithmexay, Newell has room to keep the ball or look for Dever behind the coverage. Hendersonville brings a capable running game of its own. Tate Rumney had 799 rushing yards and five touchdowns through eight games. Quarterback Christopher Jordan averaged 43.8 passing yards in the available matchup data, while two-way player Ayden Meadows averaged 43.2 rushing yards and 17.4 receiving yards. Hendersonville can make Nolensville defend the full width of the field by sending Rumney inside and getting Meadows the ball in space. That also gives Jordan a chance to throw against defenders who have stepped toward the line of scrimmage. The teams scored almost identically over the regular season, 283 points for Hendersonville and 281 for Nolensville. The separation came on defense. Nolensville allowed 96 points, while Hendersonville allowed 248. The Knights held common opponent Rossview to three points, and Hendersonville shut out Rossview 27–0. Those results show what both defenses can do when they control the run and force an opponent to play from behind. Friday’s question is whether Hendersonville can hold up against both Lithmexay and Newell long enough to keep its own ground game involved.

Class 6AFranklin (6–4) at Antioch (10–0)Franklin visits an unbeaten Antioch team led by senior quarterback Andre Adams, who enters the playoffs with 2,524 passing yards and 3,153 total yards in MaxPreps’ published totals. His ability to extend plays makes the Bears difficult to defend even when the initial coverage holds. Receiver Aaden Adams averaged 79.8 receiving yards in the matchup report, and running back Evan Davis averaged 75.4 rushing yards. Antioch closed with a 26–7 win over Clarksville and a 34–6 win over Rossview. Franklin has to defend Davis on ordinary downs while accounting for what Andre Adams can do when a play breaks down. The Admirals finished with a 22–0 win over Cordova. Quarterback Ryder Gregg averaged 130.3 passing yards in the available reports, with receiver Bronx Bousselot at 40.4 receiving yards and running back Joseph Panaia at 61 rushing yards. Panaia’s work on early downs matters because Antioch’s Fred Ntumba averaged 8.1 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the matchup data. If Franklin can stay out of third-and-long, Gregg can keep the quick passing game available and make Antioch defend the run on the same downs. Franklin linebacker Justin Ozan averaged 7.2 tackles, edge defender Andrew Brown had three reported sacks, and corner Braedan Hardison had two interceptions. The Admirals’ pass rush will need to close around Adams without leaving an easy escape lane, and the secondary will have to hold its coverage when he buys time. Aaden Adams, also credited with three interceptions, can influence the game from either side of the ball. Franklin’s best opening is to keep the score within one possession and make Antioch sustain drives.

Cane Ridge (5–5) at Ravenwood (8–2)Ravenwood takes a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs after beating Brentwood 28–10 to finish unbeaten in Region 6-6A. The Raptors scored 343 points and allowed 125. Coach Ricky Rodriguez identified Brooks Brown as his starting quarterback entering the season. Senior running back Caden Pace is the clearest statistical threat, averaging 128.7 rushing yards in the available reports and running for 193 yards and two touchdowns against Independence. Trace Walker averaged 41.2 receiving yards in the team’s reported figures, giving Ravenwood an option through the air when defenders crowd the box. A reliable full-season passing line for Brown was unavailable. Cane Ridge’s available reports identify Jayden Mercado at quarterback and Demarco Russell as a rushing threat, with Russell averaging 59 rushing yards in the reported sample. Ja’siah Carey, listed at receiver, also averaged nine tackles in the matchup report. Marquez Marsh contributed a reported sack and interception, giving Cane Ridge a defender who can affect the game both near the line and in coverage. The Ravens also showed they can stay with a playoff team late in the season, closing with a 30–27 loss to Clarksville. A dependable receiving total for Cane Ridge was unavailable. Ravenwood shut out Summit and Franklin and held its final three regular-season opponents to seven, seven and 10 points. Those results put the burden on Cane Ridge to win first down and keep Mercado out of predictable passing situations. On the other side, the Ravens need their first defender to finish tackles on Pace. If he consistently gets past that first contact, Ravenwood can keep its full offense available and force Cane Ridge to defend the run and the pass from the same personnel.

Independence (4–6) at Clarksville (7–3)Independence secured a playoff berth and closed the regular season with a 35–28 win over Summit. The Eagles bring one of the area’s most productive passing combinations to Clarksville. Quarterback Matthew Horner averaged 258.3 passing yards and wide receiver Brody Bullock averaged 130.7 receiving yards in the available matchup figures. Bullock had already caught 77 passes for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns through eight games. Running back Eli Garlington, at 48.6 rushing yards per reported game, can make Clarksville pay if it keeps extra defenders back to protect against Bullock. Clarksville’s answer is senior running back Ahvare Galbreath, who averaged 157.5 rushing yards in the published matchup data and had 1,305 yards and 17 touchdowns through eight games. Harrison Smith is listed at quarterback, and Colby Rotell is a receiver and cornerback with four reported interceptions. Clarksville’s available receiving numbers are sparse. Its clearest path is to keep Galbreath getting the ball on favorable downs and use the passing game when Independence brings extra defenders forward. Every sustained Wildcats drive also keeps Horner and Bullock on the sideline. Clarksville allowed 16.6 points a game and recorded three shutouts. Linebacker Nate Parada averaged 10.3 tackles and had nine reported sacks. Independence counters with Brock Daniel, who averaged 9.3 tackles, and defensive end Cillian O’Brien, who had four reported sacks. The Eagles need their front to hold up against Galbreath without committing so much help that Clarksville can get outside. The Wildcats face the opposite problem. If they pressure Horner and leave Bullock isolated, one completed pass can erase the field position Clarksville’s running game worked to gain.

Rossview (4–6) at Brentwood (8–2)Brentwood hosts Rossview after a 28–10 loss to Ravenwood in the region-title game. Junior quarterback Gavin Strang averaged 196 passing yards in the available matchup report, and senior receiver Parker Emerson averaged 62.4 receiving yards. Emerson had 41 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns through eight games. Parker Cates gives Brentwood a rushing option who can also line up at receiver, and tight end Cooper Mullins has recorded carries. The Bruins scored 283 points over 10 games. Getting the ball to Emerson early could open room for Cates and Mullins as Rossview adjusts. Rossview quarterback Dawson Deer can contribute as a runner and passer. Running back and linebacker Karter Brooks and tight end Robert Hall are other players to track, although Rossview’s public individual stat sample is too limited for meaningful season comparisons. The Hawks won four consecutive games in the middle of the season, including an 18–0 shutout of Cane Ridge, before closing with a 34–6 loss to unbeaten Antioch. Their best chance is to keep Deer in favorable down-and-distance and turn the game into a series of long drives. Brentwood allowed 137 points in 10 games, compared with Rossview’s 204. Outside linebacker Hudson Turner had four reported sacks, and Coleman Maness averaged 7.4 tackles. Brooks is also an important player in the middle of the Rossview defense, where he can help keep Brentwood’s short gains from becoming first downs. If the Hawks can pressure Strang with their front, they can keep more help near Emerson. If Brentwood protects Strang and establishes a lead, Rossview will have fewer chances to lean on Brooks and Deer in the running game.

Division II-AFranklin Christian Academy (5–5) at Friendship Christian (8–2)Franklin Christian travels to Lebanon for a rematch with a Friendship Christian team that won the October 16 meeting 28–21. Falcons quarterback Major Gibson averaged 82.4 passing yards and threw six touchdowns in the available reports. Senior running back Lionel Brooks averaged 85.6 rushing yards, and senior receiver Treve Gibson Jr. averaged 70.4 receiving yards. Brooks gives Franklin Christian a way to stay on schedule, while Treve Gibson can make Friendship pay for bringing its safeties forward. The Falcons come into the rematch off a 30–16 win over Scotts Hill. Friendship counters with senior quarterback Blake Waldorf, who averaged 113.9 passing yards and 182.1 total yards in the matchup report. Running back Amarie Walker averaged 124 rushing yards in his reported appearances, and receiver Romel Anderson averaged 39 receiving yards. With Waldorf also a credible runner, Franklin Christian must account for two ball carriers on the same play. Defensive end Grayson Bell, who averaged 6.9 tackles in the Falcons’ published reports, is a player to watch when Waldorf moves outside the pocket or Walker looks for a cutback. Friendship gave up 138 points in 10 games. Nose guard Gideon Knox averaged 7.4 tackles, and linebacker Bayler Cooksey had four reported sacks. Franklin Christian corner King Boggs had two reported interceptions, giving the Falcons a chance to end a drive if they force Waldorf to throw from behind the chains. With the first meeting decided by seven, a third-down stop or a short field could change the rematch. The Falcons need to make Friendship drive the length of the field and keep the score close enough to use Brooks throughout the second half.

Division II-AA Knoxville Webb (2–8) at Battle Ground Academy (9–1)BGA opens at home as the Middle Region’s top seed after closing the regular season with a 55–13 win over Grace Christian. Senior quarterback Bo Bryan had 2,006 passing yards and 30 touchdowns through eight reported games. Sophomore receiver Maddox Porter had 44 catches for 848 yards and 13 touchdowns through eight games, and Max Curry had 34 catches for 593 yards and 11 scores through seven. Fletcher Fields, who can line up in the backfield or at receiver, averaged 59.6 rushing yards in the matchup report. Webb will have to decide where to send coverage help without giving Bryan an easy answer elsewhere. Webb finished with a 35–20 loss to Boyd Buchanan. Its roster lists junior Garrett King at quarterback, Ty Tomberlin and Gibby Tomberlin at running back, and senior Caleb Davis at receiver. Comparable season production for those players was unavailable. Webb scored 215 points and allowed 306 during the regular season. Its two-way personnel offer some flexibility on defense. Ty Tomberlin also plays outside linebacker, while Gibby Tomberlin plays free safety. Their reads will matter when BGA moves Fields before the snap or uses play action to create room for Porter. BGA linebacker Mannie Fentress averaged 5.7 tackles and had four reported sacks, while safety Evan Kellum recorded three interceptions. If Webb has to chase the score, Fentress can attack the pocket and Kellum can watch for throws downfield. Webb’s best opportunity is to make BGA defend a sustained rushing drive early, then force the Wildcats to earn their points in the red zone. For BGA, an early stop would give Bryan and his receivers a chance to set the pace before Webb can settle into the game.

Grace Christian Academy (6–4) at Evangelical Christian School (7–3)Grace Christian travels to Cordova with a passing game that can put pressure on the host Eagles. Sophomore quarterback Carter Pray had 2,022 yards and 16 touchdowns through eight games, and the more recent matchup report puts him at 235.9 passing yards per reported game. Senior receiver Rome Duncan averaged 71.4 receiving yards in that report. Clayton Reed is a rushing option at 24.8 yards per reported game. The Lions have dropped four straight, including a 55–13 loss to BGA. Giving Pray clean early downs and getting Duncan involved before ECS can dictate the coverage are priorities. ECS enters on a three-game winning streak and allowed 167 points in 10 games. Two-way back Wright Arthur averaged 78.4 rushing yards and 5.1 tackles in the matchup data. That report also credits Arthur with passing production, although it does not establish a regular starting quarterback. Tight end Hutton Howard averaged 16.3 receiving yards in the available figures, and linebacker Charlie Farris was among the Eagles’ reported pass rushers. Arthur’s workload matters on both sides. He can help ECS keep Pray off the field, then defend the middle when Grace gets the ball back. For Grace, middle linebacker Noah Anliker averaged 6.7 tackles, and Gabe Shepler had three reported interceptions. Anliker and the front need to make Arthur earn his yards before he reaches the secondary. If they can force ECS to throw on longer downs, Shepler has an opportunity to give Pray a short field. The other decisive stretch could come on Grace’s first few possessions. If Pray and Duncan convert early third downs, the Lions can keep their running game available and make ECS defend more than the obvious passing situations.