For the next two weeks, TSSAA football schedules will be sporadic as school districts across the state shut down for fall break. That leaves many high school games with Thursday start dates.
That will be a dominating feature for Week 8 as four of our top 10 Nashville area high school football games begin on Oct. 8.
Here's a look at our best games.
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Game of the week
Antioch (7-0) at Franklin Road Academy (5-2)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Thursday, Oct. 8
Who remembers last year's "basketball" game between these two? No one could've predicted the 64-62 final score that the Bears finished on the right side of in 2025. But the long-awaited rematch is here. And as a warm-up, Antioch put up 47 points on Overton in Week 7 while FRA had 41 points in win over Goodpasture.
Defense beware. Antioch's Mr. Football finalist in 2025, Andre Adams, has thrown for 1,550 passing and 14 touchdowns while defensive end Fred Ntumba has been nothing short of dominant with 55 tackles, 24 for a loss and 13 sacks through seven games.
Tom Kreager's prediction: FRA 48, Antioch 42
Tyler Palmateer's prediction: FRA 45, Antioch 38
George Robinson's prediction: Antioch 38, FRA 32
Jack Williams' prediction: Antioch 42, FRA 35
Brentwood (6-1, 3-0 in Region 6-6A) at Franklin (4-3, 2-2)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Thursday, Oct. 8
It's been five straight wins for Brentwood since its loss to Brentwood Academy in Week 2. Quarterback Gavin Strang has been solid with 1,132 passing yards and 11 touchdowns but the Bruins' defense has carried the load, allowing a total of 25 points in the last five games combined, including a win over Page in Week 4.
Kreager's prediction: Brentwood 24, Franklin 7
Palmateer's prediction: Brentwood 35, Franklin 10
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood 42, Franklin 7
Williams' prediction: Brentwood 35, Franklin 3
Hillsboro (4-3, 0-1 in 5-5A) at Lawson (4-3, 0-2)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 8
With only five teams in this region, this Hillsboro-Lawson matchup becomes an enormous game for both teams who sit at the bottom of the league standings. The winner will occupy the fourth, and final, playoff spot for the time being. Lawson's final region game (vs Centennial on Oct. 23) is more palatable than Hillsboro's final region game against Page.
Kreager's prediction: Hillsboro 21, Lawson 14
Palmateer's prediction: Lawson 24, Hillsboro 21
Robinson's prediction: Hillsboro 27, Lawson 17
Williams' prediction: Hillsboro 31, Lawson 13
Page (6-1) at Independence (3-4)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 8
Page's hiccup against Brentwood may have just that. Since then, the Patriots have ran off three straight wins with consecutive shutouts against Centennial and Lawson. Independence has won three of its last four as WR Brody Bullock has 52 receptions for 776 yards receiving and eight TDs.
Kreager's prediction: Page 42, Independence 17
Palmateer's prediction: Page 31, Independence 21
Robinson's prediction: Page 35, Independence 14
Williams' prediction: Page 45, Independence 21
Greenbrier (1-5, 0-2 in 6-4A) at Pearl-Cohn (4-3, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 9
Three of Pearl-Cohn's last four games are on the road. The one home game will be against a Greenbrier team that the Firebirds should dominate. Greenbrier has only three wins in its last two seasons with its lone win this season coming against Portland. Pearl is coming off a dominant victory of Class 6A Bartlett on Oct. 2.
Kreager's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 49, Greenbrier 6
Palmateer's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 38, Greenbrier 7
Robinson's prediction: Pearl-Cohn 48, Greenbrier 7
Williams' prediction: Pearl-Cohn 45, Greenbrier 0
Briarcrest (7-0, 2-0 in DII-AAA West) at Brentwood Academy (5-2, 2-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 9
Brentwood Academy may be operating at full strength for the first time in a few weeks. Kesean Bowman returned in Week 7 from a knee injury along with Larry Sanders II, who barely played with a shoulder injury vs Ensworth in Week 6. Sanders broke out for 130 yards rushing and three TDs in BA's win over MUS. Briarcrest has not lost, beating teams like Southwind but the heart of its schedule starts now.
Kreager's prediction: Brentwood Academy 35, Briarcrest 31
Palmateer's prediction: Brentwood Academy 35, Briarcrest 17
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood Academy 28, Briarcrest 24
Williams' prediction: Brentwood Academy 31, Briarcrest 27
CPA (0-7, 0-2 in DII-AAA East) at Ensworth (3-4, 1-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 9
Ensworth's season seems to be spiraling having lost four of its last five games. Despite the return of running back EJ Gibson, the Tigers lost to Knox Catholic, 20-14. CPA is in desperate need of a win to stave off a possible winless season.
Kreager's prediction: Ensworth 21, CPA 14
Palmateer's prediction: CPA 21, Ensworth 20
Robinson's prediction: CPA 17, Ensworth 14
Williams' prediction: CPA 20, Ensworth 14
MBA (6-1) at Father Ryan (3-4)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 9
MBA's narrow win over CPA in Week 7 was surprising considering the Big Red have looked focused through much of the first six weeks of the season. Maybe the 45-17 loss to Baylor on Sept. 25 had a lingering affect last week. Whatever the reason, MBA can find its rhythm against an Irish team that is 0-4 against teams with winning records.
Kreager's prediction: MBA 28, Father Ryan 10
Palmateer's prediction: MBA 38, Father Ryan 14
Robinson's prediction: MBA 35, Father Ryan 10
Williams' prediction: MBA 28, Father Ryan 7
Nashville Christian (5-1) at Tyner Academy (6-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 9
Nashville Christian's race for one final DII-A state title, before bumping up to DII-AA for the 2027 and 2028 football seasons, is on. Hudson Smith leads the Eagles with 407 yards rushing and six touchdowns through five games.
Kreager's prediction: Nashville Christian 31, Tyner 21
Palmateer's prediction: Nashville Christian 28, Tyner 27
Robinson's prediction: Tyner Academy 27, Nashville Christian 21
Williams' prediction: Nashville Christian 31, Tyner Academy 28
Battle Ground Academy (5-1) at Chattanooga Prep (2-5)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Oct. 9
The Wildcats are 18-2 in the past two seasons and have won 13 straight games against Tennessee teams. The defending DII-AA state champs face a Chattanooga Prep team that has lost three straight but can put up points. BGA should capture its 14th straight against in-state opponents.
Kreager's prediction: BGA 56, Chattanooga Prep 14
Palmateer's prediction: BGA 48, Chattanooga Prep 14
Robinson's prediction: BGA 42, Chattanooga Prep 21
Williams' prediction: BGA 52, Chattanooga Prep 28
Last week: Kreager (10-0); Palmateer (10-0); Robinson (10-0); Williams (9-1).
Season: Kreager 49-21 (.700). Palmateer 45-25 (.642). Robinson 50-20 (.714). Williams 16-4 (.800).
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: Fireworks encore? TSSAA football's Week 8 highlighted by Antioch vs FRA rematch
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