Murfreesboro area high school football Week 10: What to watch

With the regular season winding down, here is a look at things to watch during Murfreesboro area Week 10 games:

Title bout

Oakland's 7 p.m. game Friday at Cookeville will afford the Patriots a chance at a third straight region championship.

After a 31-14 win over Blackman last week, the Cavaliers, however, are proving to be a tough out in 3-6A, and they still have their sights set on a league title as well.

An Oakland win would clinch the region title. The No. 1-ranked Patriots are 4-0 in league play while Cookeville and Riverdale both have one loss in the region and overall. Cookeville's one loss came on the last play of the game at Riverdale a few weeks ago.

Riverdale's lone loss came to Oakland. A Cookeville upset could also jumble the top of the league standings with a potential three-way tie.

Scoreboard watching

Siegel and Oakland are nearby rivals, but the Stars will actually be rooting for the Patriots Friday night at Cookeville.

The Stars still have a shot at the fourth and final playoff spot in 3-6A, but that chance would be eliminated with a Cookeville win.

Siegel (1-3 in league play) has to take care of business this week with a game at Coffee County, but will also be watching the outcome of the Patriots-Cavaliers contest.

A Cookeville loss to Oakland, coupled with a Siegel win over Coffee County would give the Stars a shot a taking fourth when they take on Cookeville in Week 11. 

There are still other variables and three-way tie possibilities, but the best-case scenario for Siegel would include wins in its final two games, an Oakland win over Cookeville this week and a Blackman win over Riverdale in Week 11.

Righting the ship

Blackman and Stewarts Creek are hoping to get back on track in a non-region game at SCHS Friday.

While falling to a one-loss Cookeville team isn't exactly shocking, it was still an upset for the 10th-ranked Blaze (6-2), who have now lost two out of three after starting the season 5-0 and once being ranked as high as No. 2 in the state.

Stewarts Creek (4-4) led rival Smyrna for all but nine seconds of last week's game before falling 15-14.

Overall record could be huge for Blackman in a couple of weeks and could also play a role in Stewarts Creek's playoff seeding in Region 5-6A. So, this isn't just a meaningless non-region game.

Riding the momentum train

Riverdale (3-6A) and Smyrna (5-6A) are riding momentum heading into Week 10 region games.

And both should be heavy favorites this week.

The Warriors (7-1, 3-1) are coming off a blowout win over Coffee County and will have a less-than-formidable Warren County squad on the road. With just one loss, Riverdale has a legitimate shot at a top-two finish in the region.

Smyrna (5-3, 3-1) also has a good shot at a top-two finish in 5-6A with games remaining against Antioch and McGavock.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.