High School Sports Saturday kicks off the start of the Tennessee high school football season with host Tate Matthews who dives straight into the excitement of Week 1, previewing marquee televised games, breaking down The Tennessean’s newly released preseason Top 1–136 rankings, and examining the transition from summer jamborees to regular-season game weeks across Middle Tennessee.

Tate is joined by Dickson County head coach Jeff Tomlinson to discuss the grand opening of their new $7.2 million facility and their historic home-opener rivalry against Columbia Central. Ravenwood head coach Ricky Rodriguez calls in to break down the Raptors' preparation, the emergence of new starting quarterback Brooks Brown, and their showdown against Mississippi powerhouse Madison-Ridgeland Academy. Finally, Tom Kreager of The Tennessean provides expert insight into top-ranked contenders, major matchups like Baylor vs. Brentwood Academy and Oakland vs. CPA, and the significance of Pearl-Cohn hosting Montgomery Bell Academy.

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Tate is joined by Tom Kreager of The Tennessean to break down the kickoff of the Tennessee high school football season, highlighted by the release of The Tennessean’s preseason top 1-136 rankings and an action-packed Week 1 slate.
Key Discussion Points:

• The Tennessean Preseason Rankings:
  Tate and Tom dive into the newly released preseason rankings, reacting to early feedback and social media buzz. They discuss notable top-10 teams—including Brentwood Academy (#1), Battle Ground Academy (#2), Riverdale (#3), and Oakland (#4)—while evaluating high expectations for Riverdale, potential sleeper teams like Springfield, and key contenders like Ravenwood.
• Televised & Marquee Week 1 Matchups:
  
  • Baylor vs. Brentwood Academy on ESPN2 featuring elite running back talent.
  • Nolensville vs. Lebanon (MyTV30), BGA vs. St. Michael Catholic, and the CPA vs. Oakland Saturday showdown.
  • The physical, hard-fought matchup between Beech and Green Hill.
• Pearl-Cohn Hosting Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA):
  A historic home matchup for Pearl-Cohn, highlighting major facility and stadium renovations, support from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), and the significance of MBA making the trip to play at Pearl-Cohn.
• Coaching Notes & Storylines:
  A look at the coaching landscape across the state, including George Quarles' return, legendary coach Gary Rankin, and thoughts on preseason jamborees wrapping up as regular-season game prep begins.
• Facility Upgrades:
  A shoutout to Warner Athletic and the ongoing turf installation project for Eagleville High School.

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Tate is joined by Ravenwood High School football head coach Ricky Rodriguez  to preview the Raptors' upcoming season and Week 1 matchup.

• Offseason & Weather Challenges: Coach Rodriguez discusses managing weather delays, heat index thresholds, and the return to school as the team prepares for the regular season.
• New Starting Quarterback: With multi-year starters Femi Babalola and Maverick Chance graduating to play college football, Coach Rodriguez highlights new QB1 Brooks Brown, praising his off-field leadership, growth, and work ethic.
• Key Players & Leadership: Discussion includes standout running back Caden Pace—expected to shoulder a heavy load in the backfield and serve as the team's vocal leader—along with highly recruited junior defensive lineman Aiden Woodruff.
• Scrimmage Takeaways: A recap of their recent weather-delayed scrimmage at Mount Juliet High School, noting strong performances from their newly rebuilt offensive line.
• Week 1 Matchup: A preview of their Friday night home opener against Mississippi powerhouse Madison-Ridgeland Academy (MRA), coached by Herb Davis (father of Ravenwood OC Hayden Davis), including pregame tailgate festivities and the strong community atmosphere at Wilson Pike.

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Tate is joined by Coach Jeff Tomlinson, head coach of the Dickson County Cougars, to discuss the team's upcoming Week 1 season opener and major program milestones.

• New $7.2M Sports Complex Unveiling: After spending all of last season on the road, Dickson County returns home to open a renovated stadium featuring a new turf field, surrounding track, end-to-end bleachers on both sides, a jumbotron scoreboard, party lighting, and new tennis courts.

• Historic Opener vs. Columbia Central: The Cougars open their season by renewing a 50-plus-year tradition against Columbia Central, kicking off a four-game homestand that also includes matchups against LaVergne, Creek Wood, and Henry County.

• Preseason Scrimmage Takeaways: Coach Tomlinson highlighted the team's progression over three scrimmages, emphasizing the focus on cleaning up pre-snap penalties and staying healthy heading into Week 1.

• Key Roster Highlights:

  • Linebacker Core: Two-year returning starters Quincy Blue, Hunter Webb, and Eli Overton lead an experienced defensive front.

  • Offensive Weapons: Junior quarterback Caden True (12-for-13 with 4 touchdowns across the first two scrimmages) steps in as QB1 alongside returning Region Receiver of the Year Ellis Hamrick.

• Administrative Support: Recognition of principal Cap Perez, athletic director Jay Powlas, and central office administrator Joey Holley for managing facility logistics so the coaching staff could focus on the team.

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With high school football season right around the corner, Tate Mathews delivers comprehensive preseason previews, coaching insights, and expert recruitment breakdowns from across Middle Tennessee.

The show features in-depth interviews with Josh Colbert of the Performance Therapy Institute on preseason conditioning and injury prevention, Oakland Patriots Head Coach Kevin Creasy coming off a 15-0 state championship run, Brentwood Bruins Head Coach Clint Finch, and The Tennessean’s Tom Kreager highlighting top regional prospects and upcoming team rankings.

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The Tennessean's Tom Kreager joins the show to discuss major headlines across the Middle Tennessee high school football scene as teams prepare for Week 1. Kreager highlights Springfield's 5-star recruit Jermontae Morris (Compton/Cobbs), the annual "Dandy Dozen" list and honorable mentions, regional predictions, and key scrimmage updates. Plus, a sneak peek at upcoming statewide player rankings and big week-one match-ups on the horizon.

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Head Coach Clint Finch of the Brentwood Bruins joins the show to share an inside look at how the Bruins are gearing up for the 2026 high school football season. Coach Finch praises his team's hard work throughout off-season training and preseason scrimmages, highlighting the dramatic physical transformation and impressive pocket presence of junior quarterback Gavin Strang. He also breaks down the depth of the Bruins' receiving corps, key defensive improvements and turnover focus, and the unique challenges of a road-heavy early schedule before heading into a home-field second half.

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Oakland Patriots Head Football Coach Kevin Creasy joins the show to provide a detailed report on how the defending champions are looking in preseason practice. He breaks down recent scrimmage performances against Lipscomb Academy and McCallie, discusses the development of sophomore quarterback Cam Morton and versatile weapon Dante Cameron, and highlights an elite defensive unit led by linebackers and safeties like Adrian Peebles and Colin Mitchell. Coach Creasy also previews Oakland's tough early-season schedule, including upcoming matchups with CPA, Clarksville, and a special road trip to Centerville, Ohio.

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Tate welcomes in Josh Colbert, founder of the Performance Therapy Institute, to talk about pre-season athlete health, proper hydration, and how to prevent common sports injuries before they start. Plus, Josh shares some hilarious and unexpected real-world injury stories from the clinic.

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Tate talks to Tom Kreger about recent high school football scrimmages, focusing on the matchup between Lipscomb Academy and the Oakland Patriots. The conversation highlights standout player transfers, upcoming games broadcasted on ESPN, and ongoing evaluations of player eligibility and transfer paperwork by Rutherford County officials.

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