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PICK ‘EM: Brady’s 2021 Week 11 Montgomery County picks




Kenwood's Corben Howard races upfield.ROBERT SMITH

Kenwood’s Corben Howard races upfield.ROBERT SMITH

Last week: 5-2

Overall: 51-9

I’m usually not happy to be wrong, but the Montgomery Central Indians defeated the Marshall County Tigers on Friday night to give me one of my two losses. It was a huge win, and I’m glad they proved me wrong!

And now, we’ve amazingly reached the final week of the regular season. How incredible is that?

I don’t want it to end!

Three games this weekend have major postseason implications. The county is guaranteed to send three teams to the playoffs, but seeding is still up for grabs.

Let’s get right into it.

Montgomery Central Indians (8-1, 6-1) at No. 8 Pearl-Cohn Firebirds (8-1, 6-1) (Thursday)

The game of the week.

After losing to Tullahoma, Montgomery Central responded by earning a big-time victory over Marshall County to put themselves in a situation to play one of the premier 4A programs for a No. 2 seed.

That fact is nothing short of incredible on Central’s part.

Like MCHS, the Firebirds had a tough time with Greenbrier recently, but are coming off a bye week, giving them a bit of extra rest and time to prepare for the Indians.

Both of these teams have absolutely established themselves as contenders in the region behind Tullahoma and ahead of Marshall County. Each team has allowed exactly 79 points through nine games — less than nine points per game. The difference is that Pearl-Cohn is scoring about 10 points per game more than Central.

While that’s due in large part to a difference in philosophy, it’s undeniable that the Firebirds’ offense is one of the best in 4A altogether, especially if Barion Brown is active.

I expect this game to be closer than expected, but for the Indians’ sake, I’m going to pick against them again.

Prediction: Pearl-Cohn 28, Montgomery Central 21

Northeast Eagles (2-7, 1-3) at Kenwood Knights (5-4, 2-2)

As good as Kenwood has been this season, they’re still not guaranteed a postseason spot — at least not yet.

They are in the driver’s seat, though, and after an 82-6 drubbing of Northwest, all they have to do is beat the Eagles at home to clinch their spot at the No. 3 seed in Region 7-5A.

Before last week, this would have been an easy choice. Pick Kenwood in a blowout, move on to the next. However, Northeast came closer to beating Henry County than any other team in the city in nearly a decade, showing that they’re not quite dead yet.

That said, Kenwood is on a three-game winning stream and has the higher powered offense of the two. While I think this game will be closer than we may have expected, I’m still picking the Knights to lock up that No. 3 seed.

Prediction: Kenwood 40, Northeast 32

No. 22 Beech Buccaneers (6-3, 3-1) at Rossview Hawks (2-7, 1-3)

This region’s playoff teams have already been locked in — and the Hawks aren’t one of them.

In fact, the Buccaneers are secured as the No. 2 seed in the region, too, meaning that Rossview doesn’t even have the opportunity to play spoiler out of the basement.

The Hawks will be able to honor their few seniors and, hopefully, give their underclassmen something to look forward to next season. That’s all that’s at stake here.

Prediction: Beech 38, Rossview 7

Northwest Vikings (1-8, 0-4) at No. 24 Springfield Yellow Jackets (7-2, 4-0)

Another game with no bearings on the final standings whatsoever. Northwest’s painful season will come to a close as Springfield looks forward to hosting at least one postseason game as Region 7-5A’s top seed.

Even if Springfield were to play their reserves their entire game, I’m not sure Northwest has much of a chance here.

Prediction: Springfield 42, Northwest 0

Clarksville Wildcats (6-3, 2-2) at Gallatin Green Wave (3-6, 2-2)

This game is one of the top three in the county this week, with the winner getting the No. 3 seed in Region 5-6A and avoiding a first round trip to Cane Ridge.

Both teams are led by former Northeast head coaches — Isaac Shelby and Chad Watson — and both lean heavily on the run. Clarksville’s offense, led by Rayshawn Bowling, has been the better of the two this year while the defenses have been nearly dead even.

Clarksville’s momentum gives them a boost coming into this; they’ve won their last two games by a combined score of 109-20 over West Creek and Maplewood, suggesting that Shelby’s team may have started clicking late — like they usually do.

Gallatin, on the other hand, has home field advantage and has played a stricter non-region schedule with opponents like Mount Juliet, Lebanon and Station Camp.

Two things are certain: time is going to bleed off the clock and a former Eagle coach is going to leave happy.

Prediction: Clarksville 24, Gallatin 21

Clarksville Academy Cougars (5-4, 0-4) at Mount Juliet Christian Academy Saints (2-7, 0-4)

A season that started so promisingly for Clarksville Academy will end unceremoniously. Instead of playing for postseason positioning, they’ll instead be playing to not come in last place.

MJCA has been brutal this season, having allowed the most points of any team in the region. Clarksville Academy, on the other hand, has the third highest-powered offense in the region.

At least they’ll go into next year on a one-game winning streak.

Prediction: Clarksville Academy 52, MJCA 20

West Creek Coyotes (2-7, 0-4) at No. 11 Hendersonville Commandos (6-3, 4-0)

What do you get when you cross the last place team in a tough region vs. the first place team?

A blowout.

West Creek could put up some points once the Commandos’ reserves take over, but that’s about all they’ve got going for them.

Prediciton: Hendersonville 52, West Creek 20

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