SPORTS

Top Midstate prep football games for Week 4

Michael Murphy
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Here’s a look at the top high school football matchups for Week 4:

Football

Last week’s record: 8-2, .800

Season record: 26-4 (.867)

Smyrna defensive back Ikenna Okeke

GAME OF THE WEEK

SMYRNA (3-0) AT INDEPENDENCE (3-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

For the second week in a row, Independence will be playing without star senior quarterback Andrew Bunch. It didn’t seem to make much difference last week as backup Adam Swayze racked up 336 total yards and three touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Lincoln County, but the top-ranked Eagles are sure to face a tougher test this week. Smyrna, ranked 10th in Class 6A, hasn’t allowed much, especially through the air. The Bulldogs, who have four interceptions, have yet to allow an opponent to pass for more than 100 yards. Murphy's pick: Smyrna 28, Independence 27

Ravenwood defender Zack Stallcup (21) celebrates after hauling in the game-winning interception in last week's overtime victory against Mt. Juliet.

RAVENWOOD (3-0) AT CENTENNIAL (2-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m

Ravenwood, the No 3-ranked team in this week’s Tennessean Midstate Top 10, hasn’t been quite as dominant as it was a season ago, but third-year coach Will Hester's squad has still been taking care of business. The Raptors, who survived an overtime scare last week against Mt. Juliet, have won 17 of their last 18, beating Centennial twice during that stretch. The Cougars, who suffered a 17-10 loss to Ravenwood in last year’s Class 6A quarterfinals, have captured a pair of wins on the season. Sandwiched in between, however, was a 49-6 defeat at Independence. Whether that Week 2 whipping was a fluke remains to be seen. Ravenwood 27, Centennial 13

DL Brad Smith, CPA

PEARL-COHN (1-2) AT CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN ACADEMY (3-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

After suffering consecutive close losses to Hillsboro and Montgomery Bell Academy — ranked No. 10 and No. 1 in The Tennessean’s Midstate Top 10, respectively — Pearl-Cohn finally got one in the win column. The Firebirds did so emphatically, too, trouncing Region 5-4A foe Macon County 55-0 behind junior running back Ke’Juan Vaughn’s 90-yard, three-touchdown performance. Christ Presbyterian Academy came dangerously close to defeat last week against White House Heritage. CPA, which owns the state’s third-longest winning streak (18 games), jumped out to a three-touchdown advantage over the Patriots, but the Lions gave up more than 300 yards and three rushing scores in a 35-28 win. CPA 28, Pearl-Cohn 24 

Hendersonville cheerleaders prior to last week's game against Cane Ridge.

BEECH (2-1, 1-0 6-5A) AT HENDERSONVILLE (3-0, 1-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Beech bounced back from its painful one-point loss to Rossview with a dominating 48-0 win over Hunters Lane behind quarterback Nelson Smith’s 96-yard, two-touchdown effort. Hendersonville, ranked second in Class 5A, hasn’t had to bounce back from anything. The Commandos, led by an extremely potent ground game (383 rush ypg), have coasted to double-digit wins over McGavock, Siegel and Cane Ridge. Hendersonville, which captured a one-point win in last year's late-season matchup, holds a 20-13 series advantage in this crosstown rivalry that dates to 1983. Hendersonville 38, Beech 27

McGavock has won two straight since suffering a season-opening loss to Hendersonville.

CANE RIDGE (2-1) AT MCGAVOCK (2-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Aside from both teams' matchups with Hendersonville, these former District 12-AAA foes have been pretty much perfect. McGavock, which suffered a 24-14 season-opening loss to the Commandos, has outscored its last two opponents by a combined 79-14. Cane Ridge cruised to a 2-0 start with convincing wins over Antioch and Mt. Juliet before being derailed by Hendersonville last week, 42-25. McGavock's offense is led by senior quarterback Demontez Carlton, who has nearly 700 total yards and five touchdowns. Cane Ridge quarterback D.J. Thorpe has thrown for 501 yards and six scores. McGavock 30, Cane Ridge 27

Father Ryan head coach Bruce Lussier.

FATHER RYAN (2-1, 0-1 DII-AA E/M) AT POPE JOHN PAUL II (1-2, 0-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Pope John Paul II was pounded in its Division II-AA East/Middle Region opener a week ago, committing four turnovers in a 49-7 defeat at Brentwood Academy. Father Ryan didn’t fare much better against visiting McCallie, managing just 157 yards in a 41-7 loss. Friday marks the 10th meeting between the two schools, with Father Ryan holding an 8-2 advantage. JPII’s last win in the series came in 2012 — a 10-6 triumph — when first-year Knights coach Justin Geisinger was still an assistant. Father Ryan 28, Pope John Paul II 21

Overton has scored more than 40 points in each of its last two wins.

OVERTON (2-1) AT LIPSCOMB ACADEMY (2-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Overton’s ground game has exploded the last two weeks, racking up 686 yards and nine touchdowns in wins over Marshall County (42-41) and Franklin (41-20). And while not quite as potent, Lipscomb’s rushing attack, led by junior William Phillips, has ground out 495 yards and six scores in narrow victories over Page (21-20) and Northwest (21-19). Whichever defense can slow the other team’s running game should come out on top in this South Nashville public-private matchup. Overton 38, Lipscomb 21

Brentwood quarterback Carson Croy.

FRANKLIN (1-2) AT BRENTWOOD (1-2)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Both of these Williamson County rivals have taken some early-season lumps. Both have seen glimpses of hope, too. Brentwood, which suffered a pair of double-digit defeats to begin the year, bounced back in a big way last week, topping Region 7-5A foe Rossview 24-6 behind senior Ahmad Arnold’s 151-yard rushing effort. Franklin, in the midst of its worst start since 2007, has looked awful at times  — the Rebels suffered lopsided losses to Centennial and Overton by a combined 41 points — and solid at others — like in the team's 34-20 Week 2 win against Riverdale. Brentwood 28, Franklin 21

La Vergne running back Nick Jones

STEWARTS CREEK (2-1, 1-0 5-5A) AT LA VERGNE (2-1, 1-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

La Vergne jumped all over Columbia in last week’s region opener, storming to a 27-7 first-half advantage behind a pair of Nick Jones touchdown runs before coasting to a comfortable 55-14 victory. Rival Stewarts Creek didn’t have quite as easy of a time in its Region 5-5A debut, battling Franklin County to a 14-14 first-half tie before pulling away with four unanswered scores in the final two quarters. Jones, who’s averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game, has scored six touchdowns. La Vergne 44, Stewarts Creek 24

Page quarterback Michael Magochy (10).

PAGE (2-1) AT FORREST (3-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

A prolific Page passing game will square off against a stingy Forrest defense in this non-region matchup in Chapel Hill. Senior Patriots quarterback Michael Magochy has thrown for 571 yards and six scores, including a 233-yard, two-touchdown effort in last week’s 38-20 triumph over Region 4-4A foe Spring Hill. The Rockets, who’ve only allowed seven points, have limited opposing quarterbacks to a combined 70 yards and an interception on just 25 percent passing. Page 22, Forrest 16