Tennessee high school football's Week 6 matchups pack a heavy punch with four key games in Middle Tennessee worth spotlighting at TSSAA midseason.
Springfield's Class 4A showdown with Pearl-Cohn looms large while Brentwood Academy and Ensworth settle a prickly regular-season rivalry. One of the more antiicipated matchups includes FRA vs BGA while Blackman facess Oakland and Riverdale faces a unbeaten Columbia team.
Here are the top TSSAA football games in the Nashville area for Sept. 25.
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Game of the week
Franklin Road Academy (4-1, 2-0 in DII-AA Middle Region) at Battle Ground Academy (3-1, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
The two teams squared off twice in 2025, splitting the two games, but BGA walked away with the biggest prize after rolling to a 34-point victory in the Division II-AA state championship
game. FRA has certainly been thinking about that day for the past nine months. The question is, does FRA coach Justin Geisinger and his Panthers have enough to stop BGA's offense that hasn't really slowed down? Wide receivers Maddox Porter and Maximus Curry are uber efficient with a combined 38 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
Tom Kreager's prediction: BGA 42, FRA 35
Tyler Palmateer's prediction: BGA 45, FRA 38
George Robinson's prediction: BGA 38, FRA 21
Jack Williams' prediction: BGA 41, FRA 24
Brentwood Academy (3-2) at Ensworth (3-2)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
Consistency has been an issue for Ensworth but so has its schedule, having played Briarcrest and Lipscomb Academy two of the past three weeks. The schedule doesn't let up on Sept. 25 as the Tigers face a BA squad littered with Power 4 guys, including recent Ole Miss football commit Braylen Bedford as well as Tennessee commits Kesean Bowman and Kenneth Simon II.
Kreager's prediction: Brentwood Academy 49, Ensworth 17
Palmateer's prediction: Brentwood Academy 42, Ensworth 14
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood Academy 35, Ensworth 17
Williams' prediction: Brentwood Academy 38, Ensworth 10
Henry County (2-3) at Brentwood (4-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
Brentwood has put together a season in which the Bruins have handled teams easily and also won games by small margins. It's a trait championship teams share. Whether this Brentwood team can crash the 6A final will be determined, but moving to 5-1 with a non-region win against Henry County looks more and more like a certainty.
Kreager's prediction: Brentwood 24, Henry County 13
Palmateer's prediction: Brentwood 31, Henry County 14
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood 27, Henry County 21
Williams' prediction: Brentwood 35, Henry County 16
Riverdale (4-1) at Columbia (5-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
Columbia is off to its first 5-0 start since 2011, but postseason success is the ultimate measure of how good a team is. That may have to be the takeaway from the Lions' matchup against Riverdale, because 6A's No. 1 ranked Warriors have been rolling with four straight wins.
Kreager's prediction: Riverdale 35, Columbia 21
Palmateer's prediction: Riverdale 38, Columbia 21
Robinson's prediction: Riverdale 38, Columbia 14
Williams' prediction: Columbia 28, Riverdale 24
Blackman (3-2, 1-1 in 6-3A) at Oakland (4-1, 1-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
Over the past five seasons, Oakland has dominated its game against Blackman despite the Blaze boasting one of the top defenses in Middle Tennessee. That lone exception was 2024's 13-12 win by the Patriots. Is this the year Blackmangets its first win against Kevin Creasey's Patriots since 2014?
Kreager's prediction: Oakland 27, Blackman 13
Palmateer's prediction: Oakland 35, Blackman 14
Robinson's prediction: Oakland 35, Blackman 14
Williams' prediction: Oakland 38, Blackman 28
Springfield (5-0) at Pearl-Cohn (2-3)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
The Firebirds picked up a much-needed win in Week 5's blowout of Kenwood. Not that Pearl-Cohn dwells on its record considering its difficult schedule, but some confidence against one of 4A's best in the Yellow Jackets would be huge in this showdown. Stephen Saulter had a breakout game with 136 yards receiving and three TDs in Pearl's win over Kenwood.
Kreager's prediction: Springfield 21, Pearl-Cohn 14
Palmateer's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 31, Springfield 27
Robinson's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 28, Springfield 24
Williams' prediction: Springfield 28, Pearl-Cohn 21
Ezell-Harding (4-1, 2-0 in DII-A Middle) at Friendship Christian (4-1, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
It may be time of Ezell-Harding to emerge out from under the radar. It deploys two QBs in Marcus Cameron and Graham Larson who have combined for 591 yards passing and six TDs. Sophomore Kristian Jones picked up a Vanderbilt football offer over the weekend and has 450 rushing yards with 478 yards receiving.
Kreager's prediction: Friendship Christian 35, Ezell-Harding 13
Palmateer's prediction: Friendship Christian 28, Ezell-Harding 14
Robinson's prediction: Friendship Christian 28, Ezell-Harding 17
Williams' prediction: Ezell-Harding 24, Friendship Christian 20
Giles County (3-1) at Lincoln County (4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
The Elk River Rivalry rarely disappoints and both teams come into this year's matchup with momentum. Giles County QB Xavier Randolph has eight touchdowns and one interception and has thrown for 734 yards. Lincoln County running back Carsen Carter has run for over 564 yards and seven TDs. Former Lincoln County football standout Don Thomas is the Giles County principal and is on the coaching staff.
Kreager's prediction: Lincoln County 38, Giles County 20
Palmateer's prediction: Lincoln County 28, Giles County 17
Robinson's prediction: Lincoln County 35, Giles County 24
Williams' prediction: Lincoln County 45, Giles County 35
Franklin Grace (5-0, 1-0 in DII-AA Middle) at Davidson Academy (2-3, 0-2)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
As well as Franklin Grace has played this season, Davidson Academy may have a slight advantage considering its strength of schedule through five games. The Bears have played Nashville Christian, FRA and Goodpasture — three teams with a combined 13-2 record. Grace QB Carter Pray is among the top passers in Middle Tennessee with 1,074 yards and 11 TDs.
Kreager's prediction: Franklin Grace 28, Davidson Academy 21
Palmateer's prediction: Davidson Academy 28, Franklin Grace 21
Robinson's prediction: Davidson Academy 31, Franklin Grace 27
Williams' prediction: Franklin Grace 28, Davidson Academy 21
White County (5-0, 1-0 in 4-4A) at Macon County (5-0, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 25
This could likely determine the No. 1 seed in Region 4-4A heading into the TSSAA football Class 4A playoffs in November, making this game a midseason region championship (of sorts). White County is a run-heavy offense led by Cole Sims who has rushed for 786 yards and nine touchdowns. Of White County's 1,862 total yards, 1,256 of those yards have come on the ground.
Kreager's prediction: Macon County 20, White County 14
Palmateer's prediction: Macon County 21, White County 20
Robinson's prediction: White County 24, Macon County 20
Williams' prediction: White County 31, Macon County 14
Last week: Kreager (7-3), Palmateer (7-3), Robinson (5-5)
Season: Kreager 31-19 (.620); Palmateer 27-23 (.540); Robinson 31-19 (.620).
Reach The Tennessean's high school sports editor, George Robinson, at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville area TSSAA football predictions see massive rivalries in Week 6
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