Main Street Preps This Week

Could 2023 be the year Pearl-Cohn football finally breaks through? Coach Tony Brunetti sure hopes so. His Firebirds (14-0) face Upperman (14-0) in the TSSAA Class 4A BlueCross Bowl state championship game on Saturday morning. Pearl-Cohn hasn't won a state title since earning back-to-back Class 4A crowns in 1996 and 1997. Host Russell Vannozzi interviews Brunetti and previews all nine BlueCross Bowl matchups on this week's show.

Like clockwork, Christ Presbyterian Academy football is set to return to the TSSAA Division II-AA BlueCross Bowl. The Lions (12-1) will make their sixth straight state championship game appearance on Thursday, Nov. 30 when they face Boyd Buchanan (13-0). CPA coach Ingle Martin joined today's show to discuss how his team made it back to Chattanooga and what to expect from coach Gary Rankin's Buccaneers. Host Russell Vannozzi also previews the fourth round of the playoffs to close out the episode.

Franklin Road Academy football coach Justin Geisinger likes to talk about the process rather than the results. Geisinger insists that he and his staff don't dwell on the outcomes of games, instead focusing on program-building. That formula seems to be working for the Panthers (11-1), who face CPA (11-1) in Friday's Division II-AA state semifinals. Show host Russell Vannozzi caught up with Geisinger to talk about FRA's quick rise. Vannozzi closes the episode by reviewing storylines and making picks for the third round of the TSSAA playoffs.

Few teams have qualified for the TSSAA football playoffs as consistently as Page over the last two decades. The Patriots, which are back in the postseason for the 16th straight time, host Tullahoma in the second round on Friday. Ahead of that game, Page coach Charles Rathbone joined the show to discuss how his program's expectations have been elevated by back-to-back Class 5A runner-up finishes and what this year's team must do to get back to Chattanooga.

Under first-year head coach Damien Harris, East Nashville football has picked up right where it left off. The back-to-back Class 3A runner-up Eagles (8-2) enter the TSSAA playoffs as the No. 1 seed from Region 5-3A with plenty of juice for another deep postseason run. Harris joined this week's episode to give an assessment of his team to host Russell Vannozzi, who also talks area storylines and first-round score predictions later in the show.

More than a decade has passed since Riverdale football last beat Oakland in 2012. Could this be the year the Warriors finally take the Battle of the Boro? Riverdale coach Will Kriesky joined this week's show to preview the rivalry matchup and highlight some of his team's top players like quarterback Braden Graham, wide receiver Brock Montgomery and Michigan State commitments Jaylen Thompson and Keshawn Williams. Russell Vannozzi also goes over Week 11 storylines and gives his score predictions for several top games.

This season brought a new wrinkle for Oakland football coach Kevin Creasy: his son Kyler at starting quarterback. After suffering a broken collarbone early in the season, Kyler returned to action in late September. Kevin joined this week's show to provide an update on his son's status, talk about running backs Daune Morris and Ashton Jones (along with other emerging stars), and discuss how his program is handling the expectations that come with being the three-time defending Class 6A state champion. Host Russell Vannozzi also reviews area storylines and gives score predictions for top Week 9 games.

Nashville Christian football coach Jeff Brothers knew his 2023 team would require some patience. The back-to-back Division II-A runner-up Eagles graduated their leading rusher, top four pass catchers and a number of key contributors on defense. After opening the season with three consecutive losses, Nashville Christian (3-3) has won three straight to enter Friday's game against Columbia Academy (4-3) with a .500 record. Hear from Brothers on this week's show, along with Week 8 storylines and score predictions from host Russell Vannozzi.

Hillsboro football will be tested often over the next month of Region 6-5A play. The Burros (5-1) enter the meat of their schedule starting Friday at Nolensville (5-1). Coach Anthony Brown joined the show to discuss how his team has played so far, why two-way senior Kaiki Baker is indispensable and what he thought about former Burros star Matthew Jackson earning a roster spot with the Tennessee Titans. Host Russell Vannozzi also reviews storylines and makes predictions for Week 7 games.

Brentwood coach Clint Finch doesn't take the easy route when it comes to scheduling non-region opponents. Despite having already played teams like Brentwood Academy, Henry County and Hendersonville, the Bruins (5-0) remain unbeaten halfway through the regular season. Finch spoke on the impact of transfer QB Baylor Hayes, how Brentwood may enjoy more than a decade of WR production from a single family, what's made the Bruins defense so effective and more on this week's episode. Host Russell Vannozzi also sets the stage for Week 6 with storylines and score predictions.