Coaches rank BA second in state in II-AA
Brentwood Home Page news reports
Brentwood High, one play away from the state football Class 6A finals last year, is picked to win its district and is ranked fifth statewide in coaches' polls by a Tennessee high school preview magazine.

Fair's 2010 predictions Predicted finishes in Murphy Fair's 2010 Tennessee High School Football: District 11-AAA (5A/6A) coaches' poll: 1, Brentwood; 2, Franklin; 3, Ravenwood; 4, Independence; 5, Hillsboro; 6, Centennial II-AA Middle/East region coaches' poll:  1, Brentwood Academy; 2, Ensworth; 3, MBA; 4, Baylor; 5, Father Ryan; 6, McCallie; 7, BGA; 8,  Pope John Paul II District 10-AA (3A/4A) coaches' poll: 1, Lipscomb; 2, Maplewood; 3, Pearl-Cohn; 4, CPA; 5, Whites Creek; 6, East Literature; 7, Stratford

Brentwood Academy is also predicted to finish atop its region and was picked second statewide in Division II-AA for independent schools with financial aid. Christ Presbyterian was selected to finish fourth out of seven teams in District 10-AA, where David Lipscomb is considered the team to beat.

The coaches' polls are published in the just-released Murphy Fair's 2010 Tennessee High School Football magazine, now available at Borders book stores in Brentwood and Cool Springs.

High school teams started practicing in pads on Monday, and the season kicks off Aug. 20. (Click here to read Monday's BHP story about the start of team practices.)

In addition to the coaches' preseason polls, Fair also is picking the BHS Bruins as a state title contender in 6A.

"I think it's flattering for us to be selected by coaches and then statewide, but I think at this point in high school football, all of us go by what people have done in the past," Bruins Coach Ron Crawford said. "I think it's a compliment to our senior class, I think we've got a pretty strong senior class."

Ravenwood was voted to finish third behind Brentwood and Franklin by coaches in District 11-AAA, whose teams are split into 5A/6A classifications for Division I playoffs.

In Fair's statewide poll of 6A coaches, BHS was ranked fifth and Franklin sixth. Maryville, Riverdale and Oakland are expected to be the top three contenders, according to the magazine.

In the Division II-AA Middle/East division, Brentwood Academy was picked ahead of Ensworth and Montgomery Bell Academy by region coaches as the top teams in II-AA Middle/East. Battle Ground Academy was picked seventh.

But MBA is the favorite over BA's Eagles in the statewide poll of II-AA coaches. The two teams split last season, with MBA winning 42-41 in the state semifinals in double-OT. Defending champion Memphis University School was ranked third.

Watch for Brentwood Home Page's special football preview for the 2010 of local teams including Brentwood High, Ravenwood High and Brentwood Academy.