Rivalries aside, here are Clarksville area's top nonregion football games for 2018

High school football in Clarksville has no shortage of rivalries within the Montgomery County limits.

While region games reign supreme, the ultimate measure of a team's possible postseason run has a lot to do with momentum and confidence. Teams with seven, eight or nine wins are put in a better position to succeed in the playoffs in November.

Although most coaches rightfully place importance on their region schedule, nonregion games become vital in securing the kind of playoff seeding a team needs to make a deep postseason run.

The Leaf-Chronicle looked at some of the more intriguing nonregion matchups that include Clarksville-area football teams this fall.

Clarksville High at Rossview

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 17

Why: This is a no-brainer. These two teams have become the most intense rivalry in the city for more than a decade. There's bragging rights, of course. There's a chance to start the season 1-0. And then there's the Warfield Shield. The victor makes sure that the shield is prominently displayed near the front doors of the school. And if you were wondering, it currently resides at Clarksville High.

McCracken Co. (Ky.) at Northeast

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 24

Why: These two teams were playoff bound last year. McCracken was 6-4 at the end of the regular season before finishing the season 7-5. One of those losses was in Week 2 to Northeast, 28-20. The Eagles had to rally from a 20-14 deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. This year's game should be fun because both teams like to throw the ball and most expect big numbers from Northeast quarterback Heath Williams during his senior year.

Christian County (Ky.) at Rossview

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 24

Why: Athletes tend to litter the football field when Christian County shows up. The Hopkinsville, Ky., program will bring enough to give Rossview coaches a headache prior to next month's meeting. The Colonels were 11-1 last year, their only loss coming in the second round of the Kentucky Class 5A playoffs. And this will be just one more difficult test for a Hawks team that might have the hardest schedule in the city this fall.

Northwest at Mt. Juliet

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 21

Why: Not a soul scored on Mt. Juliet's defense last season until Rossview put up 17 points in Week 7. Northwest took a step back last year after making the playoffs in 2016, but the Vikings return quarterback Gabe Sibert this season after the incoming junior took a year away from football in 2017. Sibert, alone, gives Northwest a better shot against Mt. Juliet than without him.

Kenwood at Lipscomb Academy

When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19

Why: There isn't a long history between these two teams, but for two years the Knights and the Mustangs fought for control of Class 4A. Kenwood was moved back to Class 5A last year, yet the two teams kept the matchup. Kenwood won in 2015, but Lipscomb has won the previous two meetings, making this an emerging rivalry.

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