Kreager: Battle of 'Boro also for second place
MURFREESBORO – Eight weeks later, the playoff scenarios are beginning to clear up.
Three Rutherford County teams — Blackman (8-0), Oakland (6-1) and Riverdale (6-1) have clinched 6A playoff berths. And MTCS (8-0) has secured a spot in the Class 2A. Those are guaranteed.
Here are five other things we know entering Week 8.
Second on line in Battle
As if anyone from Riverdale or Oakland needed any extra motivation, here is something more. The winner of Friday night's Battle of the 'Boro played at Oakland's Ray Hughes Stadium will be the District 7-AAA runner-up.
More than bragging rights, being second also means that team will be seeded for the playoffs before any other team that is in as a wild card.
For those keeping track, Oakland won last year's Week 0 meeting 41-7. The game was moved to Week 8 this season to accommodate the Patriots' national televised game with Blackman.
Riverdale leads the series 32-12. The last time Oakland won consecutive games in the rivalry came from 1987-1990 when the Patriots won four straight.
Cougars closer to perfection
MTCS snapped a three-game losing streak to Rutherford County rival Eagleville on Friday night. It can't celebrate the win over the Eagles, or its undefeated record though.
The Cougars travel to Chapel Hill on Friday to face a Forrest team that has given the Eagles fits in recent years. MTCS hasn't defeated the Rockets since 2010, making Forrest — like Eagleville — a big rivalry game for the Cougars.
A win may set up a battle of District 9-A unbeaten teams in Huntland. Huntland (7-1) plays at winless Community on Friday.
Stars, Wolverines still in hunt
Don't discount both Siegel (3-5) or La Vergne (3-5) in the 6A playoff hunt just yet. Currently, if the playoffs started this week, the Stars would be a playoff team. And La Vergne is one of the first schools out of the playoffs. If either can get to five wins they will have a significant chance in reaching the playoffs.
A 5-5 Siegel team is likely a lock with the Stars' non-district schedule. However, the Stars play at second-ranked Blackman on Friday on the Blaze's senior night. Oh, and running back Charlie Davidson's hip injury may not be as severe as once thought.
He has not been ruled out for Friday.
Blaze gaining momentum
Blackman appears to find different ways to win each week. With Davidson sideline with the aforementioned injury, Tennessee commitment Jauan Jennings lit up the air, completing 9-of-10 passes for 239 yards with four touchdowns.
That will give the Stars a lot to think about when trying to decide what to try and slow down first when they meet Friday at the Inferno.
Eagles up-and-down
Eagleville likely will find a way to make the Class 2A playoffs. However, the Eagles season has been anything but consistent this season. They play at Moore County on Friday to try to rebound from a 22-9 loss to MTCS. Before that, the Eagles entered fall break with back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
However given Moore County's 4-5 record and Community's 0-8 record, the Eagles should be in good position to enter the playoffs on a roll.
Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.