5 takeaways: FRA gets big win over BGA; Stratford heads to East Nashville on 4-game win streak

It was a slower than normal week of high school football in Tennessee with just 112 games played across the state thanks to schools scheduling open weeks around their fall breaks.

Here are five takeaways from Week 8.

FRA gets crucial win over BGA

Franklin Road Academy guaranteed itself no less than third place in the Division II-AA Middle Region with Christ Presbyterian Academy and Lipscomb Academy with a 16-14  win over Battle Ground Academy.

And FRA could finish as high as first. The Panthers (7-1, 2-1) wrap up region play against CPA (2-6, 2-0) on Nov. 1.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak to the Wildcats (4-3, 1-2). Sophomore Jefferey Vercher had 126 yards on 33 carries and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run after the Panthers had the ball for more than 11 minutes of the third quarter.

Stratford heads to East Nashville on 4-game win streak

Stratford will play for sole possession of second place in Region 5-3A next week when the Spartans travel to East Nashville.

They will do it on a four-game win streak with one of the hottest running backs in the area. James Moore rushed for 269 yards on 30 carries and scored four touchdowns in a 49-0 shutout of Sycamore. The shutout was the first of the season for Stratford. 

Streaking Patriots win sixth straight

Who needs to throw the ball to win? Henry County routed West Creek 52-6 by running for 360 yards on 41 carries.

The Patriots attempted just one pass, which fell incomplete.

Henry County (6-2, 4-0 7-5A) had six different players score rushing touchdowns against West Creek. Donte Davis led the scoring. He had eight carries for 57 yards and two TDs. 

Henry County can lock up the region championship with a win over Northeast on Oct 25 or Northwest on Nov. 1. Northeast and Northwest are a combined 5-11.

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Still 11 undefeated schools after Week 8

Only five of the 11 Nashville area schools with undefeated records played in Week 8 with a large group of schools scheduling their open week around fall breaks.

All five won.

But Nashville Christian needed overtime to remain perfect. The Eagles beat Fayette Academy 28-27. Quarterback Matt McClary was 12-of-14 passing for 170 yards and two TDs in the win. And Dakota Owens had 16 carries for 91 yards and a TD.

Other undefeated teams winning included Livingtson Academy over White County 27-12, Monterey over Bledsoe County 26-7, Nolensville over winless Glencliff 51-6 and Houston County over West Carroll 35-0.

Davidson Academy heating up with fifth win

Don't look now, but the Division II-A defending state champions have put together a five-game win streak after an 0-2 start.

The Bears beat University School of Jackson 21-12. Griffin Swinea had 126 yards and a touchdown to pace Davidson Academy.

The Bears started the year with a 30-6 loss to FRA and then fell 21-13 to undefeated Nashville Christian. 

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Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.