Storylines to watch for Clarksville area high school football playoff teams entering first round
The TSSAA football playoffs begin Friday with four teams from the Clarksville area making it to the first round of the postseason, including the Fort Campbell Falcons.
Here's a look at storylines for each of the four playoff teams.
Class 5A
Northeast (5-5) at Munford (10-0)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Emotional toll. How will this season's emotional rollercoaster effect Northeast in its playoff game in the Memphis area? It's been a whirlwind with a new coach, an inconsistent offense that averages 39.8 points in wins 17.7 in losses and a team that had to forfeit a Sept. 30 win against Northwest.
Historical context. Of all the football teams in Montgomery County, Northeast has had the most playoff success in the past decade. The Eagles were a state quarterfinalist in 2012 and 2020 and a state semifinalist in 2013. Does this team have a shot against Munford? The Cougars' Braxton Sharp has over 1,000 yards rushing and had 18 touchdowns and Munford has incentive having lost to a Clarksville school in the first round in 2019 and 2020 (Clarksville High).
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6A
Overton (6-4) at Clarksville (7-3)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
One dimensional? Clarksville isn't complaining about it's reliance on the run game. The Wildcats have won five straight and seven of its last eight game. Jamar Carnell, James Dalrymple, Ahmoyre Galbreath and Ja'Mauri Cobbs along with quarterback Davin Garinger have racked up over 2,000 yards rushing as a group. But can CHS make a deep run without a threatening passing game? CHS is 3-0 in first round games in the past three years, but 0-3 in the second round.
Defense travels. Clarksville has given up 14, 6 and 7 points, respectively, in its last three games. But two of those three games were against opponents who finished under .500 and only one of Overton's six wins was against a team over .500.
Division II-A
Lakeway Christian (4-6) at Clarksville Academy (7-3)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Streak ends? This is the first playoff appearance for Clarksville Academy since 2018. If they pull off the win, it'll be the first playoff win since 2014. The Cougars beat King's Academy, 44-33, in the first round of the 2018 playoffs but that game was forfeited.
D.J. Merriweather. The Cougars quarterback has been the driving force behind the Academy's success. He's thrown for 2,070 yards and 27 touchdowns with only two interceptions and ran for 875 yards and 11 more TDs. How far can he take Clarksville Academy?
Kentucky Class 2A
Fort Campbell (4-6) at Owensboro Catholic (7-3)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Dynamic duo. The Falcons have a pair of wide receivers who can make plays in Maurice Moore and Jontae Al-Muid. Moore has 26 catches for 442 yards and six TDs while Al-Muid has 27 receptions for 425 yards and four TDs. It's obvious, the Falcons will have to move the ball in the air.
Juggernaut. Catholic's offense has been humming all season. It's thrown for 2,343 yards and ran for another 1,531 led by quarterback Brady Atwell who has 2,196 yards passing and 543 yards rushing with 29 combined TDs. Fort Campbell's defense will have the nearly-impossible task of slowing that down.
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Reach sports writer George Robinson at grobinson@gannett.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: TSSAA football playoff storylines for Clarksville area schools
