PrepTennessee.com is going to break down some of the top performances across the state starting in East Tennessee Knoxville-Halls (Tenn.) and defending state champions Maryville (Tenn.). For many fans around the region this is the year for the Maryville Rebels to lose the crown, end their 60 game win streak, and possibly even not win the region. The first test for the Rebels would come against Knoxville-Halls in a region match up in week zero. Maryville was tied with Halls 7-7 going into the fourth quarter when the Rebel offense began to find its way. The Rebels saw a score early in the fourth quarter form tailback Buddy Jones to make it a 14-7 margin. Later in the quarter Maryville quarterback Phillip Juhlin burst into the endzone to give the Rebels a 21-7 lead and things would go down hill for the Halls Red Devils from there. Coach George Quarles and his squad would go onto win 28-7 and keep the streak going at 61 games.
In Middle Tennessee fans were able to take in two of the areas top when Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy took on Franklin-Independence (Tenn.) Friday night. Like Maryville, Brentwood Academy had a streak on the line as well. The Eagles are undefeated in Williamson County and tout a record of 29-0 against county opponents. Independence would give the Eagles all they cared to take on early in the game and hang tight with Brentwood in the second half. At one point there would be a six point deficit, as Brentwood held onto a 27-2 late in the fourth quarter. The Eagles ground game would help prevail led by running back Josh Tate who ran for 99 yards in the contest behind offensive lineman Alex Bullard. The streak would stay alive and Brentwood Academy now sits at 30 – 0 against Williamson County schools with a 34-21 win over Independence.
Staying in the mid state fans would also get to see how well defending state champion Nashville-Montgomery Bell Academy would look for 2008. The Big Red did not disappoint with a 45-19 win over Antioch in which the Big Red piled on 366 total offensive yards, 157 yards on the ground and 209 in the air. Montgomery Bell Academy is now 14-0 under the leadership of Coach Daniel McGugin and look to take their reputation out of state next weekend. Montgomery Bell Academy will participate in the Ohio versus America contest hosted by Kirk Herbstreit as they will take on traditional Cincinnati powerhouse Moeller. Fans will be able to catch a glimpse at offensive guard Wesley Johnson, 6-4, 250 pounds against top notch competition from Cincinnati-Moeller.
Out in the western part of the state, the Memphis-Whitehaven Tigers look to be strong this season. Led defensively by defensive back Gene Robinson, 5-10, 180 pounds and Derrick Webb, 6-0, 225 pound linebacker held Memphis-Mitchell to less than 100 total yards in their 27-0 win. Robinson had several key tackles and a fumble recovery to help his status on the recruiting trail. Webb, another rising star in the state, had a great performance with several tackles.