Brentwood Academy football back in state title game despite injury to Vanderbilt commit

Nashville Tennessean

Brentwood Academy quarterback Gavin Schoenwald sat on the field as trainers attended to him after he injured his left shoulder early in the third quarter against McCallie in the Division II, Class AAA state semifinal game Friday night.

BRENTWOOD — Two minutes into the start of the second half, Brentwood Academy's star quarterback Gavin Schoenwald lay on the ground, imploring trainers to take it easy on his left arm.

The entire Brentwood Academy fanbase held its breath knowing its best shot at a third straight state championship lay on the field.

Schoenwald had just handed the ball off to Mario Pleasant and knew something wasn't right. The play before he ran the ball in the middle of McCallie's defense for no gain and was clocked by a pair of Blue Tornado defenders. The blow dislocated Schoenwald's left shoulder.

"I refused to let that play be my last play of my senior year on my home field," said Schoenwald, a Vanderbilt commitment. "I knew I was probably coming out on the next play so we kept the play simple, but I wasn't going to have that be my last play."

Brentwood Academy's Mario Pleasant tries to escape the tackle of McCallie's Richmond Coney (59) during the first half of their Division II, Class AAA state semifinal game Friday night.

Schoenwald walked off the field with three trainers behind him after already throwing for 149 yards on 11-of-13 passing and two scores. He was relieved it was his non-throwing shoulder.

He gave way to backup Connor Woodlee, who played strong in reserve as the nation's No. 6-ranked team (USA Today Super 25) knocked off McCallie 28-6 Friday in a Division II-AAA state semifinal.

Brentwood Academy quaerterback Gavin Schoenwald walks the sidlines late in the game as his Eagles faced McCallie in the Division II, Class AAA state semifinal game Friday night.

"Obviously you feel for Gavin and you're thinking, 'What could it be?' when he's lying on the field," Brentwood Academy coach Cody White said. "But you can't dwell on it a whole lot. We had to get Connor ready to go. The kids did a good job of handling all of that."

Woodlee finished 3-for-5 passing for 52 yards and was aided by 93 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown by Pleasant.

Brentwood Academy (11-0) will look to dispatch Montgomery Bell Academy in the championship game on Dec. 2 at Tennessee Tech. It's the third straight year the two teams have met for the state crown. MBA knocked off Christian Brothers 14-7 Friday in the other semifinal contest..

Brentwood Academy quarterback Gavin Schoenwald dives for extra yards in the first half against McCallie in the Division II, Class AAA state semifinal game Friday night.

"That's what all the work is for," Schoenwald said. "When I sat down on the sidelines, after being taken out of the game, I looked up at the steps of our stadium and thought about running those steps during conditioning in the spring and summer. All that work and we have one game left."

Schoenwald said he'll spend the next week working diligently on making sure he's physically ready for the state title game.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.