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Senior quarterback Femi Babalola prepares to throw the ball. 

 Photo by Micah Barkley.

It’s that time of year again. Football is in full swing in the South, and postseason play for the 2025 high school season begins this week.

The TSSAA state playoffs bracket gets underway on Thursday night, and several local schools are set to take part in the march to the championships.

In Class 3A, the Fairview Yellowjackets (8-2, 5-1 in Region 6) are taking on the Stratford Spartans (3-6, 1-3) on Thursday at 7 p.m. at home. 

In Class 4A, Spring Hill (4-5) will host White House (4-6) on Friday at 7 p.m. 

Class 5A sees a trio of WillCo schools hitting the gridiron. 

Centennial will play at Station Camp (5-5, 2-2 in Region 6) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Cougars' record is nearly split down the middle — 2-2 in Region 5 and 4-5 overall. They’ve fallen to each of the fellow Class 5A county playoff representatives in Page and Nolensville. Station Camp’s record is also evenly split, 2-2 in Region 6 and 5-5 overall.

Nolensville also kicks off on Thursday with a game at home against the Portland Panthers (5-5, 2-2 in Region 6) at 7 p.m. The Knights are currently 3-1 in Region 5 and 7-3 overall on the season. 

The four-time state runners-up Page Patriots will host the Hendersonville Commandos (4-5, 2-2 in Region 6) Friday night at 7. The Patriots currently boast an undefeated 9-0 record, with a 4-0 mark in Region 5. 

Class 6A finds the also unbeaten Ravenwood Raptors taking on the Cane Ridge Ravens (4-5, 3-3 in Region 5) at home at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Ravenwood is 10-0 overall and 6-0 in Region 6.

The Raptors' Battle of the Woods rivals Brentwood will start play on Friday, hosting the Rossview Hawks (4-6, 4-2 in Region 5) at 7 p.m. The Bruins currently hold a 5-1 record in Region 6 and a 6-4 overall record. 

The Independence High School Eagles round out the Class 6A WillCo Schools. They will take on the Clarksville High School Wildcats (8-2, 6-0 in Region 5) on the road at 7 p.m. on Friday night. Independence holds a split record at 3-3 in Region 6 and 4-5 overall. 

In the private school divisions, Franklin Christian Academy will start the Division II playoffs at the Trinity Christian Lions (8-2, 5-1 in the West Region) on Friday at 7 p.m. Franklin Christian is 3-3 in the Middle Region, with a 6-4 overall record.

Battle Ground Academy will take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-5, 3-4 in East Region play) in the Division II-AA playoffs on Thursday at 7 p.m. at home. BGA has a 5-1 record in the Class AA Middle Region and a 9-1 record overall. 

Also in DII-AA, Grace Christian Academy will visit the Northpoint Christian Trojans (7-3, 3-1 in the West Region) on Friday at 7 p.m. Currently, the Lions have a 3-3 Region record, while they’re 7-3 overall.

Finally, in Division II-AAA, Brentwood Academy received a first-round bye. The Eagles hold an undefeated record, 5-0 in the Class AAA West Region and 9-0 overall, and will battle the winner of Memphis University School and Montgomery Bell Academy.