The high school football season in Tennessee kicks off in less than two weeks with a full slate of games scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 18-20. After going 13-1 and winning its first state title since 2007 last season,
Lipscomb Academy (Nashville) headlines our look at this year's contenders in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
After falling to
Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville) 35-28 in the 2020 Division II AA state championship contest, Lipscomb Academy armed itself with daily reminders of the agony of defeat. Not only did the Mustangs watch video and look at pictures from the disappointing loss, Trent Dilfer's club displayed the 35-28 score in the weight room as reminders.
A year later, the Mustangs stepped on to the field and delivered a 27-0 black eye to the Lions. Dilfer will now rely on offensive tackle
Brandon Solis, wide receivers
Nate Spillman and
Maureice Sherrill Jr. and quarterback
Hank Brown to deliver as the Mustangs attempt to go back-to-back.
This fall's run begins Friday, Aug. 19 when the Mustangs go toe-to-toe with Georgia power Milton, last year's big school runner-up. The next week Lipscomb travels to Alabama to take on three-time defending Class 7A state champion Thompson.
Winners of three state championships over the last four seasons,
Oakland (Murfreesboro)
starts the 2022 season ranked No. 2 in the Volunteer State. The
Patriots are riding a 31-game winning streak after claiming Class 6A
state titles in 2020 and 2021. Senior wide receiver
Jeremiah Collins is back to help Kevin Creasy's club make a run at a third
straight state title.
fell three touchdowns short of claiming its fourth state championship since 2003 last fall and enters this season at No. 2. Head coach Marty Euverard will rely on signal caller
Marcel Reed and cornerback
Alan Young to get the job done.
Reed, a 6-foot-2 senior, completed 115 of 211 passes for 1,513 yards and 12 scores a year ago while also battering opposing defenses for 593 yards on the ground and an additional 12 touchdowns. Also back is
Claiborne Richards, who was on the other end of 59 passes for 869 yards and four scores a year ago.
Senior
Johnothan Moore replaces 1,000-yard rusher Rhett Hayles after running for 621 yards and four scores on 123 carries a year ago.
Lipscomb Academy is ranked No. 53 in Zack Poff's expanded national Top 100 rankings while Oakland is No. 75.
Read on for a complete look at Tennessee's preseason Top 25 for 2022.
Entering his fourth season as head coach at Lipscomb Academy, Trent Dilfer has led the program to a 31-10 record.
Photo: Jason Goode
4.
McCallie (Chattanooga), 12-0
5.
Powell, 13-2
6.
Ensworth (Nashville), 7-4
7.
Maryville, 13-1
8.
Ravenwood (Brentwood), 10-3
9.
Father Ryan (Nashville), 7-5
10.
Alcoa, 14-1
11.
Pope John Paul II (Hendersonville), 8-5
12.
Baylor (Chattanooga), 7-5
13.
Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis), 9-2
14.
Summit (Spring Hill), 14-1
15.
Brentwood Academy (Brentwood), 8-4
16.
Hendersonville, 10-4
17.
Briarcrest Christian (Eads), 9-2
18.
Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville), 11-3
19.
Pearl-Cohn (Nashville), 11-2
20.
Greeneville, 12-1
21.
Lebanon, 11-2
22.
Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville), 5-5
23.
Beech (Hendersonville), 9-4
24.
Rhea County (Evensville), 10-3
25.
Houston (Germantown), 6-5
