Week 11 Preview: Playoff Positioning Still To Be Determined in Final Week of the Regular Season

The final week of the 2021 high school football season could almost be considered Week 1 of the playoffs for many teams throughout the State of Tennessee. Many Week 11 games will determine who’s in and who’s out when the postseason begins next week.

For all teams in the Upper Cumberland region, whether they are ‘in or out’ has already been determined; what’s at stake this week is what their final playoff seeding will be, and whether or not they will play at home or on the road in Round One. As of Wednesday, only two teams were locked into their respective playoff seeds, while no team’s opening round opponent had yet to be determined.

Upperman is the Region 4-4A champion, and has clinched the top seed as they close out the regular season at home against Livingston Academy, Thursday night. The Bees (8-1) will host either Soddy Daisy or Hixson next week. Soddy Daisy clinches with a win over East Ridge in their Region 3-4A finale, while Hixson clinches with a win and a Soddy loss.

Warren County is the only other Upper Cumberland area school to have locked in their playoff seed. The Pioneers (1-6) will be the number-four seed our of Region 3-6A, regardless of the outcome of their game Friday night with Lebanon. Most likely, the Pioneers will travel to Murfreesboro to play Class 6A’s #1 team, Oakland in Round One, although if Rockvale were to upset Oakland on Friday, Warren County would travel to Rockvale.

The remaining teams in the area will have their playoff seeds determined this Thursday or Friday. Here’s this week’s schedule of games and what is on line in each match-up:

Wednesday Night
(1-8) Cookeville
at (3-6) Shelbyville
Region 3-6A
What’s At Stake: Cookeville has already been eliminated from the playoff race.

Thursday Night
(0-9) Livingston Academy
at (8-1) #7 Upperman
Region 4-4A
What’s At Stake: Upperman has already clinched the top seed out of Region 4-4A. Livingston Academy has already been eliminated from the playoff race.

(3-6) Stratford
at (3-5) Jackson Co.
Region 5-3A
What’s At Stake: The winner is the number-three seed in Region 5-3A, while the loser is number-four. Both teams are in the playoffs.

Friday Night
(9-0) #2 Clay Co.
at (8-1) #7 Gordonsville
Region 4-1A Championship
What’s At Stake: The winner is the Region champion and the top seed out of Region 4-1A, while the loser is second. Both teams will play at home in the first round of the playoffs.

(6-3) Macon Co.
at (5-4) Cumberland Co.
Region 4-4A
What’s At Stake: Macon County has already clinched the number-two seed out of Region 4-4A, and will host a first round playoff game. Cumberland County has been eliminated from the playoff race.

(5-4) DeKalb Co.
at (6-3) Stone Memorial
Region 4-4A
What’s At Stake: The winner is the number-three seed out of Region 4-4A, while the loser is number-four. Both teams will travel in the first round of the playoffs.

(2-6) Wartburg
at (5-4) Monterey
Region 2-2A
What’s At Stake: Monterey needs a win and a Rockwood loss to York Institute to finish second and have a home playoff game in the first round. Monterey will finish third, no matter what, if Rockwood beats York, which would send them on the road in the first round.

(8-1) #10 Lebanon
at (1-6) Warren Co.
Region 3-6A
What’s At Stake: Lebanon has already won the Region 3-6A Championship, and Warren County is locked in as th number-four seed.

(4-5) Sequatchie Co.
at (4-5) White Co.
SCHS: Class 3A/WCHS: Class 5A
What’s At Stake: White County has already been eliminated from the playoff race.

(3-6) York Institute
at (6-3) Rockwood
Region 2-2A
What’s At Stake: York Institute would finish third in Region 2-2A with a win, but a loss would seed them fourth. Either way, they will travel in the first round of the playoffs.

Area Games of Interest
(8-0) #3 Giles Co.
at (5-3) Cannon Co.
Region 4-3A Championship

(5-4) Smith Co.
at (5-4) East Nashville
Region 5-3A Championship

(6-3) Watertown
at (8-0) #2 Trousdale Co.
Region 4-2A Championship