SPORTS

Can’t miss football games for 2015

Tom Kreager
tkreager@dnj.com

MURFREESBORO – The first day in full pads has come and gone. Scrimmages will begin later this week, and a couple of weeks later will come jamborees.

Here is a look at 13 can’t miss home games in your backyard during the regular season.

Smyrna's Ikenna Okeke pulls in a catch over La Vergne’s Benjamin O’Shea. The two schools open the season on Aug. 21 at La Vergne.

Week 1

Smyrna at La Vergne, Aug. 21

These two are no longer region rivals. But that won’t decrease the rivalry between these two North Rutherford teams. La Vergne will try to beat Smyrna for just the second time in school history. Oh, and it’s a TV game as well.

Blackman senior Miller Armstrong will make his first start of the season at quarterback on Aug. 22 against Alabama defending Class 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville.
Oakland defensive tackle Ty Nix and the Patriots open the football season on Aug. 22 at MTSU against defending Alabama defending Class 7A state champion Hoover.

Middle Tennessee Football Classic presented by Venture Express, Aug. 22

Blackman and Oakland face arguably the two best teams from Alabama at MTSU to open their seasons. Blackman faces Class 6A defending state champion Clay-Chalkville. Oakland gets defending Class 7A state champion Hoover. This doubleheader is well worth the $15 price of admission.

Stewarts Creek and senior Cynterius Lyons (1) will travel to Smyrna High on Aug. 28 for a non-region game with the Bulldogs.

Week 2

Stewarts Creek at Smyrna, Aug. 28

Stewarts Creek searches for its first win over its budding rival. Smyrna has dominated the first two meetings. A competitive game would help the rivalry. Winner has bragging rights in town for the next year.

Riverdale and Brandon Somerville (15) faces Blackman in the Backyard Brawl on Sept. 4 at Blackman. Somerville played part of the 2014 season at Blackman before transferring to Riverdale.

Week 3

Riverdale at Blackman, Sept. 4

This has been labeled the Backyard Brawl. Blackman defeated Riverdale twice by an average of 30 points in 2014 en route to a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance. However, this rivalry should be much closer this season with Marquise Cantrell, Gentry Bonds and Gene Odom all returning for Riverdale.

Riverdale football coach Ron Aydelott used a Warriors' safety to the team's advantage Friday night.

Week 4

Hillsboro at Riverdale, Sept. 11

Riverdale football coach Ron Aydelott won a state championship at Hillsboro in 2003 before moving to Murfreesboro three years later. This year he meets his former team for the first time. Hillsboro is the 2014 Class 5A runner-up.

Blackman and running back Taeler Dowdy play at Ray Hughes Stadium on Sept. 18.

Week 5

Blackman at Oakland, Sept. 18

The past two seasons these two programs have been tops in the ’Boro. The two have met four times over the past two seasons. Adding to it is that two former Oakland faculty coaches — Kit Hartsfield and B.J. Oliver — are now at Blackman.

Siegel quarterback Jordan Middleton and the Stars play at Smyrna in what should be a key Region 2-6A game this season on Sept. 25.

Week 6

Siegel at Smyrna, Sept. 25

Siegel held on to beat Smyrna for one of its two district games in 2014. The Stars have beat Smyrna three straight seasons and lost only 28-27 in 2011. This meeting should be another close contest.

Siegel's Greedy Howse and the Stars travel to Riverdale’s Tomahawk Stadium in Week 7 on Oct. 2.

Week 7

Siegel at Riverdale, Oct. 2

Last game before an open week. After this meeting, both teams may need a few days off to recover.

Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens (7) and the Patriots have 10 games after the Patriots inked a deal to play Haywood for Week 8 on Oct. 9.

Week 8

Haywood at Oakland, Oct. 9

This game was just finalized this week to help fill 10-game schedules for both programs. Haywood has a major college prospect in defensive end Emmit Gooden. But Haywood won’t see a team as talented as Oakland all season.

Riverdale's Marquise Cantrell and the Warriors play at Ray Hughes Stadium in the Battle of the ’Boro uns the ball after catching a punt return during the Battle of the Boro on Oct. 16. Oakland has won the past two meetings.

Week 9

Riverdale at Oakland, Oct. 16

The Battle of the ’Boro. Oakland has defeated Riverdale the past two seasons. A third straight win is virtually unheard of in this rivalry for Oakland. Oakland’s longest win streak is four from 1987-90.

Riverdale's Gentry Bonds, Canaan Owens, and Preston Barge play at Smyrna in Week 10 on Oct. 23.

Week 10

Smyrna at Riverdale, Oct. 23

These two teams know each other well. The two met twice a year ago — in the regular-season finale and first week of the playoffs. Plus, they have played each other in the Rutherford County Jamboree the past two years and will meet again Aug. 14 at Stewarts Creek.

Smyrna’s Austin Brown (8) and the Bulldogs wrap up the regular season hosting Oakland on Oct. 30.

Week 11

Oakland at Smyrna, Oct. 30

No better way to end the regular season than a trip to Robert L. Raikes Stadium. The Bulldogs and Patriots have had some classic battles the past few seasons. Oakland has won three straight meetings.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.