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Kreager: Brentwood Academy will handle Ensworth's defense

It will be high-octane offense vs. stingy defense Friday night when defending  Division II-AA state champion Brentwood Academy hosts Ensworth.

Brentwood Academy quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall (4) tries to get past Ensworth defensive back P.J. Settles. left, and cornerback Donovan Sheffield (21) during the fourth quarter at Ensworth High School on Friday, October 31, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn.

Brentwood Academy quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall (4) tries to get past Ensworth defensive back P.J. Settles. left, and cornerback Donovan Sheffield (21) during the fourth quarter at Ensworth High School on Friday, October 31, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn.

Ensworth’s defense, which hasn’t given up more than 17 points in a game, will be challenged to slow down a BA offense that has scored 35 points or more in all four of its wins.

The Eagles will be hard pressed to reach the 35-point mark on Friday, but they will get close to it. Jeremiah Oatsvall will make sure of that.

The pick: Brentwood Academy 28, Ensworth 17

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Playoffs on line

La Vergne's Maleik Gray is No. 3 on The Tennessean's Dandy Dozen.

La Vergne’s Maleik Gray is No. 3 on The Tennessean’s Dandy Dozen.

La Vergne had aspirations of a good playoff run in Class 5A — and with good reason. The Wolverines had a pair of Tennessee recruits in the lineup.

But with one Vol commitment — Princeton Fant — out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, La Vergne is on the verge of not making the postseason for the first time since 2013, Tennessee recruit Maleik Gray’s freshman year.

Summit (3-2, 1-1 5-5A) can all but end La Vergne’s playoff hopes with a win at Freedom Field on Friday. La Vergne (1-5, 1-2) already has region losses to Shelbyville and Stewarts Creek and plays top-ranked Independence in Week 11.

It would mark the Spartans’ second straight win over the North Rutherford County program and put Summit in prime position for its first playoff appearance.

The pick: Summit 35, La Vergne 21

Gallatin running back Jordan Mason rushes against Station Camp during Friday's game. Mason rushed for 298 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries in the Green Wave's 34-27 victory.

Gallatin running back Jordan Mason rushes against Station Camp during Friday’s game. Mason rushed for 298 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries in the Green Wave’s 34-27 victory.

Tough stretch ahead

Gallatin and Midstate-leading rusher Jordan Mason are about to face a brutal four-game stretch to finish the regular season. Gallatin (5-1, 3-0 6-5A) ends the season with Beech, Hendersonville, at Hillsboro and finally with Cane Ridge.

Gallatin, which hosts the Buccaneers on Friday, is searching for its first win over Beech since 2011.

The pick: Beech 21, Gallatin 17

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Pick’em game of week

Overton and Tennessee recruit Theo Jackson face a hot Mt. Juliet squad — winners of three straight — Friday night. The Bears upset Wilson Central 39-32 in overtime a week ago for the Wildcats’ first loss.

However, Overton also is beginning to peak. The Bobcats have won three straight since a 28-6 loss to Franklin. And Taverius Travis is coming off a 170-yard rushing performance against McGavock.

The pick: Mt. Juliet 24, Overton 21

Best of the rest

The top Midstate contest not in The Tennessean’s top-10 games likely will be in Waverly, where the Tigers face Lewis County (5-1,1-1 5-2A), which is coming off a 36-0 rout of Community.

Montez Bradley’s 205-yard rushing performance on Friday night in a 33-14 win over Cheatham County leads Waverly (5-1, 2-0), which is searching for its third straight win.

The pick: Waverly 24, Lewis County 21

The rest:

Pearl-Cohn over Maplewood

Watertown over Forrest

Independence over Stewarts Creek

Smyrna over Blackman

MTCS over Gordonsville

Hendersonville over Station Camp

Stratford over CPA

Brentwood over West Creek

Cane Ridge over Hunters Lane

Smith Co. over Cannon Co.

Jackson Co. over Cascade

Centennial over Clarksville

Collinwood over Clarksville Academy

Northeast over Dickson Co.

Lancaster Christian over King’s Academy

Nashville Christian over Clay Co.

Cookeville over Coffee Co.

Franklin Co. over Columbia

Cornersville over Huntland

Hillwood over Creek Wood

East Hamilton over Livingston Academy

Knoxville Webb over DCA

McMinn Co. over White Co.

BGA over Davidson Academy

Sequatchie Co. over DeKalb Co.

East Robertson over Community

FRA over Ezell-Harding

Fairview over Cheatham Co.

Franklin over Antioch

Columbia Academy over Franklin Grace

Friendship Christian over Mt. Juliet Christian

Harpeth over Sycamore

Hickman Co. over Loretto

Hillsboro over Glencliff

Huntingdon over Houston Co.

Kenwood over Northwest

Wilson Central over Lebanon

Shelbyville over Lincoln Co.

Marshall Co. over Lawrence Co.

Hollow Rock-Bruceton over McEwen

Ravenwood over McGavock

Monterey over Pickett Co.

Lipscomb Academy over Montgomery Central

Fayetteville over Moore Co.

Oakland over Warren Co.

Wayne Co. over Perry Co.

MBA over Pope John Paul

Springfield over Portland

Jo Byrns over Red Boiling Springs

Henry Co. over Rossview

Riverdale over Siegel

Giles Co. over Spring Hill

Stewart Co. over East Hickman

Stone Memorial over Chattanooga Central

Summertown over Richland

Page over Tullahoma

York Institute over Upperman

Westmoreland over Eagleville

Macon Co. over White House

Greenbrier over White House Heritage

East Nashville over Whites Creek

Last week: 49-11

Season: 299-100 (.749)

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

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