Ravenwood coach Richie Wessman inherits a rather inexperienced Raptors squad.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Franklin
2. Wilson Central
3. Mt. Juliet
4. Overton
5. Ravenwood
6. McGavock
7. Lebanon
8. Antioch
Overton senior and Tennessee commitment Theo Jackson (5)
TOP RETURNEES
Blake Wiggins, Sr., TE/LB, Antioch; D.J. Delfendahl, Sr., OL, Mt. Juliet; Justin Satterfield, Sr., OL, Mt. Juliet; Max Wray, Jr., OL, Franklin; Mitch Rossi, Sr., FB/LB, Franklin; Patrick Leitten, Sr., OL, Ravenwood; Ray Coggins, Sr., DB, Wilson Central; T.J. Minnifee, Sr., OLB, Wilson Central; Tahj Williams, Sr., LB, Ravenwood; Theo Jackson, Sr., QB/DB, Overton.
TOP GAMES
Franklin at Ravenwood (Sept. 16); Mt. Juliet at Wilson Central (Sept. 23); Overton at McGavock (Sept. 23); Ravenwood at Overton (Oct. 14); Franklin at Mt. Juliet (Oct. 21).
Ravenwood offensive lineman Patrick Leitten (60) is one of the few starters returning from last season’s Class 6A championship squad.
REGION TIDBITS
Ravenwood, led by first-year coach Richie Wessman, is faced with the task of replacing the bulk of its starters from last season’s Class 6A state championship team. The Raptors welcome back just five starters from last year’s senior-laden Class 6A state championship squad. … Franklin returns four starters along its offensive front, including Wray, a Georgia commitment, and seniors Caden Williams, Vaughn Hamill and Ben McClendon. … Senior Hunters Lane transfer Jamarius Smith is penciled in as McGavock’s starting quarterback.… Second-year Lebanon coach and seven-time Kentucky state champion Sam Harp has compiled 331 career wins — the most among active Midstate coaches. … After three years away, coach Mike Woodward returns for his second stint at Antioch, which has struggled to an 8-24 record since his 2012 departure. … Jackson, a three-star defensive back and the state’s No. 16-ranked prospect according to 247Sports, will start at quarterback for the Bobcats this fall.
Mike Woodward back at Antioch trying to rebuild football program
Franklin coach Donnie Webb
SCHEDULES
2015 record in parentheses, * denotes region contest
Antioch (0-10, 0-6, reached Class 6A first round): Aug. 19 at Cane Ridge; Aug. 26 at La Vergne; *Sept. 2 vs. Wilson Central; *Sept. 16 vs. Overton; Sept. 23 vs. Stewarts Creek; *Sept. 30 at Franklin; *Oct. 7 vs. Mt. Juliet; *Oct. 14 at Lebanon; *Oct. 21 vs. McGavock; *Oct. 28 at Ravenwood.
Franklin (8-4, 5-2, reached Class 6A second round): Aug. 19 vs. Centennial; Aug. 26 at Riverdale; *Sept. 2 at Overton; Sept. 9 vs. Brentwood; *Sept. 16 at Ravenwood; *Sept. 30 vs. Antioch; *Oct. 6 vs. Wilson Central; *Oct. 14 at McGavock; *Oct. 21 at Mt. Juliet; *Oct. 28 vs. Lebanon.
Lebanon (3-8, 1-6, reached Class 6A first round): Aug. 26 at Warren County; *Sept. 2 vs. McGavock; Sept. 9 at Summit; *Sept. 16 vs. Mt. Juliet; Sept. 23 vs. Portland; *Sept. 30 vs. Wilson Central; *Oct. 7 at Ravenwood; *Oct. 14 vs. Antioch; *Oct. 21 vs. Overton; *Oct. 28 at Franklin.
McGavock (7-5, 5-2, reached Class 6A second round): Aug. 19 vs. Hendersonville; Aug. 26 vs. Spring Hill; *Sept. 2 at Lebanon; Sept. 9 at Cane Ridge; *Sept. 16 at Wilson Central; *Sept. 23 vs. Overton; *Sept. 30 vs. Ravenwood; *Oct. 14 vs. Franklin; *Oct. 21 at Antioch;*Oct. 27 vs. Mt. Juliet.
Mt. Juliet (6-6, 4-3, reached Class 6A second round): Aug. 19 vs. Gallatin; Aug. 25 vs. Cane Ridge; *Sept. 2 vs. Ravenwood; Sept. 9 at Franklin County; *Sept. 16 vs. Lebanon; *Sept. 23 at Wilson Central; *Sept. 30 at Overton; *Oct. 6 at Antioch; *Oct. 21 vs. Franklin; *Oct. 27 at McGavock.
Overton (7-5, 4-3, reached Class 6A second round): Aug. 19 vs. Stewarts Creek; Aug. 26 at Marshall County; *Sept. 2 vs. Franklin; Sept. 9 vs. Lipscomb; *Sept. 16 at Antioch; *Sept. 23 at McGavock; *Sept. 30 vs. Mt. Juliet; *Oct. 14 vs. Ravenwood; *Oct. 21 at Lebanon; *Oct. 28 at Wilson Central.
Ravenwood (14-1, 7-0, won Class 6A championship): Aug. 18 at Siegel; Aug. 26 at Brentwood; *Sept. 2 at Mt. Juliet; Sept. 9 vs. Centennial; *Sept. 16 vs. Franklin; *Sept. 30 at McGavock; *Oct. 7 vs. Lebanon; *Oct. 14 at Overton; *Oct. 21 vs. Wilson Central; *Oct. 28 vs. Antioch.
Wilson Central (6-7, 2-5, reached Class 6A quarterfinals): Aug. 19 at Beech; Aug. 26 vs. Station Camp; *Sept. 2 at Antioch; Sept. 9 vs. Siegel; *Sept. 16 vs. McGavock; *Sept. 23 vs. Mt. Juliet; *Sept. 30 at Lebanon; *Oct. 6 at Franklin; *Oct. 21 at Ravenwood; *Oct. 28 vs. Overton.
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.
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