While the middle of the Tennessee high school football season is traditionally a strong period of time for huge region matchups, there are still key non-region games that land on TSSAA's Week 5 schedule.
Class 5A Beech faces 4A Upperman in a matchup of two Middle Tennessee powers while East Nashville-Springfield, Henry County-Page and Kirkwood-East Robertson provide games in which the outcome should help us have a clearer picture of the path of some of the area's top football programs.
Here's a look at the top 10 games in the Nashville area for Week 5.
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Game of the week
Lipscomb Academy (2-2) at Ensworth (3-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Ensworth may have earned its
statement win of the 2026 season, to date, with a 28-25 win over McCallie on Sept. 11. Its voice could get even louder with another against a resurging Lipscomb Academy under Trent Dilfer. The Mustangs two losses were to McCallie by three points and Knox Catholic by a point and Dilfer's team is well versed in dealing with talented offenses. The Tigers offense goes through EJ Gibson who is having a Mr. Football-like start to the season with over 200 yards rushing in his first two games and 158 yards and two TDs in their win over McCallie.
Tom Kreager's prediction: Lipscomb Academy 20, Ensworth 17
Tyler Palmateer's prediction: Ensworth 23, Lipscomb Academy 20
George Robinson's prediction: Ensworth 24, Lipscomb Academy 21
Upperman (3-1) at Beech (3-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Upperman makes no secret about how it likes to play. Consider its run game the heart and soul of its offense. Jude Fitzpatrick had 17 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown in a 21-0 win against Stone Memorial in Week 4. Beech is very similar in coach Anthony Crabtree's approach. DK Williams is the workhorse who had 179 yards rushing and three TDs in a win over East Nashville last week.
Kreager's prediction: Beech 27, Upperman 21
Palmateer's prediction: Beech 24, Upperman 21
Robinson's prediction: Beech 28, Upperman 17
East Nashville (2-2) at Springfield (4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
East Nashville's designs on a Class 2A state title is evident. Just look at its first four opponents (Collierville, Antioch, Hillsboro and Beech). That's two 6A teams and two from 5A. Now it faces 4A Springfield and five-star DB Jermaine Cobbins. The Eagles aren't worried about non-region records. This schedule was designed with Dec. 5 in mind.
Kreager's prediction: Springfield 28, East Nashville 26
Palmateer's prediction: Springfield 28, East Nashville 27
Robinson's prediction: East Nashville 35, Springfield 30
Page (3-1) at Henry County (2-2)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Is a loss a good thing? Page hadn't suffered one in the regular season since Week 2 of the 2023 season. It hadn't lost to anyone since the 5A state championship in 2024. Brentwood's 20-14 win over the Patriots in Week 4 was surprising, but Page can put talks of a second straight unbeaten season to rest. Maybe the pressure is off.
Kreager's prediction: Page 35, Henry County 14
Palmateer's prediction: Page 35, Henry County 10
Robinson's prediction: Page 24, Henry County 17
Kirkwood (4-0) at East Robertson (4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
One of the more interesting matchups of Week 5, Kirkwood (5A) represents East Robertson's toughest test to date but East Robertson should be up for the challenge with quarterback Kason Young who has 775 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. Kirkwood's four wins have been against teams with a combined record of 2-12.
Kreager's prediction: Kirkwood 21, East Robertson 17
Palmateer's prediction: Kirkwood 35, East Robertson 24
Robinson's prediction: Kirkwood 27, East Robertson 24
CPA (0-4) at Baylor (4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Anything can happen, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a definite win on Christ Presbyterian Academy's remaining schedule. The Lions have been through a torture chamber of sorts with Oakland, Tupelo (Mississippi) and last week Archbishop Moeller. Now it faces nationally-ranked Baylor and the unstoppable force that is Tennessee football commit David Gabriel Georges. Good luck.
Kreager's prediction: Baylor 56, CPA 7
Palmateer's prediction: Baylor 42, CPA 14
Robinson's prediction: Baylor 48, CPA 7
Knoxville Catholic (4-0) at MBA (4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Division II-AA East Region play begins for both teams, but who projected Montgomery Bell Academy at 4-0 entering Week 5 with teams like Franklin Road Academy, Christian Brothers and Pearl-Cohn on its schedule through the first four weeks? Catholic, however, has major talent led by four-star WR and Tennessee target, David Thomas as well as Alabama four-star DB commit Braylen Gibbs.
Kreager's prediction: Catholic 28, MBA 17
Palmateer's prediction: Catholic 28, MBA 24
Robinson's prediction: Catholic 35, MBA 21
Brentwood Academy (2-2) at Christian Brothers (3-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Christian Brothers struggled to scored against MBA after breezing through its first three games of the season. Brentwood Academy can't take this team lightly. But the Eagles have one of the more stacked rosters in Tennessee and should put the Purple Wave away on the road.
Kreager's prediction: Brentwood Academy 35, Christian Brothers 17
Palmateer's prediction: Brentwood Academy 31, Christian Brothers 14
Robinson's prediction: Brentwood Academy 28, Christian Brothers 21
Whites Creek (3-0) at Liberty Creek (3-1)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
Whites Creek's 6-0 first-quarter lead against Greenbrier on Sept. 11 will resume at a later date, according to Whites Creek coach William Darnell. So for now, it's 3-0 record holds firm and it faces Liberty Creek who has won three straight after suffering a season-opening loss to East Robertson.
Kreager's prediction: Whites Creek 21, Liberty Creek 17
Palmateer's prediction: Liberty Creek 35, Whites Creek 31
Robinson's prediction: Whites Creek 28, Liberty Creek 24
Davidson Academy (2-2, 0-1 in DII-AA Middle Region) at FRA (3-1, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m. | When: Sept. 18
MBA's 40-point performance against Franklin Road Academy in Week 3 was a bit shocking considering FRA's defense usually doesn't have defensive collapses quite like that. The Panthers got back to its roots with a 64-7 thumping of Pope John Paul II in which QB Jack Nimitz had 204 yards and three TDs, and ran for 90 yards.
Kreager's prediction: FRA 42, Davidson Academy 24
Palmateer's prediction: FRA 42, Davidson Academy 20
Robinson's prediction: FRA 35, Davidson Academy 21
Last week: Kreager (3-7); Palmateer (5-5); Robinson (6-4)
Season: Kreager 24-16 (.600); Palmateer 20-20 (.500); Robinson 26-14 (.650).
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: Predicting top TSSAA football games including Lipscomb Academy vs Ensworth
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