Head coach Josh Adkins joins the show the morning after Franklin’s 24–21 win over Summit in Region 6-6A, a game the Admirals had to win to make the playoffs. He starts with the play of the night. With three seconds left in the first half, Franklin fair-caught a punt and used a rarely seen rule to take a free kick. Kicker Henry Ruth put it through from about 50 yards, and those three points ended up being the margin. Adkins credits kicking coach Joey DeFotta, a Franklin alum, for the idea, and says it was one of several firsts for the program that night. Another was winning despite five turnovers, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

 

Head coach Josh Adkins joins the show the morning after Franklin&rsquo;s 24&ndash;21 win over Summit in Region 6-6A, a game the Admirals had to win to make the playoffs. He starts with the play of the night. With three seconds left in the first half, Franklin fair-caught a punt and used a rarely seen rule to take a free kick. Kicker Henry Ruth put it through from about 50 yards, and those three points ended up being the margin. Adkins credits kicking coach Joey DeFotta, a Franklin alum, for the idea, and says it was one of several firsts for the program that night. Another was winning despite five turnovers, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
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Growing up in a coaching family and now the owner of Mathews Team Sports, Tate Mathews brings a unique perspective to High School Sports Saturday.

With over fifteen years in the sporting goods industry in Middle Tennessee working with and for high school administrators and coaches, Tate’s relationships provide insight into middle Tennessee high school athletics.

High School Sports Saturday covers each sport during their respective competitive seasons.  Coaches, administrators, TSSAA officials and student-athletes are interviewed each week at 8 AM on 104-5 The Zone.

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews

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Josh Adkins (Franklin Admirals)

This episode of High School Sports Saturday recaps an action-packed opening round of the Tennessee high school football playoffs, spotlighting key Class 6A through Division II results alongside in-depth interviews with advancing coaches. Providence Christian Academy head coach Marty Euverard breaks down PCA’s 35–14 D2-A win over Donelson Christian Academy, reflecting on how his team bounced back from late-season adversity with a grueling 10-minute, 99-yard fourth-quarter drive featuring zero pass calls, powered by Gary Dedman’s 226-yard rushing night and the relentless two-way play of Jacob Meyer. Following Euverard, Nolensville head coach Scott Stidham reflects on the Knights’ 31–0 shutout over Hendersonville in Class 5A, emphasizing their defensive line's dominance, key takeaways by Kaden Woodard and Brennan Vielle, and the steady offensive leadership of Tristan Lythmachay and quarterback Ryan Newell heading into their round two road matchup against Kirkwood. 

The broadcast pivots from recaps to future matchups in a dedicated roundtable segment featuring The Tennessean’s Tom Kreager, who analyzes the biggest storylines across the statewide bracket. Kreager previews marquee second-round contests, including the historic 6A clash between Oakland and Maryville, Springfield’s 4A road test against Haywood, and the rematch between Lipscomb Academy and Ensworth, while revisiting major first-round stunners like Summertown’s upset over East Robertson. The discussion wraps with a comprehensive breakdown of the newly announced Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalists, evaluating the heavy quarterback presence across classifications and assessing the resumes of top contenders such as Baylor's David Gabriel Georges, Antioch's Andre Adams, and East Nashville's Dallas Covington. 

This episode of High School Sports Saturday recaps an action-packed opening round of the Tennessee high school football playoffs, spotlighting key Class 6A through Division II results alongside in-depth interviews with advancing coaches. Providence Christian Academy head coach Marty Euverard breaks down PCA&rsquo;s 35&ndash;14 D2-A win over Donelson Christian Academy, reflecting on how his team bounced back from late-season adversity with a grueling 10-minute, 99-yard fourth-quarter drive featuring zero pass calls, powered by Gary Dedman&rsquo;s 226-yard rushing night and the relentless two-way play of Jacob Meyer. Following Euverard, Nolensville head coach Scott Stidham reflects on the Knights&rsquo; 31&ndash;0 shutout over Hendersonville in Class 5A, emphasizing their defensive line's dominance, key takeaways by Kaden Woodard and Brennan Vielle, and the steady offensive leadership of Tristan Lythmachay and quarterback Ryan Newell heading into their round two road matchup against Kirkwood. 
The broadcast pivots from recaps to future matchups in a dedicated roundtable segment featuring The Tennessean&rsquo;s Tom Kreager, who analyzes the biggest storylines across the statewide bracket. Kreager previews marquee second-round contests, including the historic 6A clash between Oakland and Maryville, Springfield&rsquo;s 4A road test against Haywood, and the rematch between Lipscomb Academy and Ensworth, while revisiting major first-round stunners like Summertown&rsquo;s upset over East Robertson. The discussion wraps with a comprehensive breakdown of the newly announced Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalists, evaluating the heavy quarterback presence across classifications and assessing the resumes of top contenders such as Baylor's David Gabriel Georges, Antioch's Andre Adams, and East Nashville's Dallas Covington.

High School Sports Saturday With Tate Mathews 11-7-26 full show

The first round of the Tennessee high school football playoffs is done, and Tom Kreager joins the Saturday morning show to break down the best round-two matchups. His pick for game of the state is Oakland (9-2) at Maryville (10-1), a longtime rivalry that has often been a semifinal game. He also lays out a possible “redemption tour” for Kevin Creasy’s Oakland Patriots: if they keep winning, they could get rematches with Smyrna, which beat them on a two-point conversion, and Riverdale, which beat them with a last-second field goal. Other games to watch are Springfield (10-1) at Haywood County (9-2), between two programs with strong playoff histories, and Lipscomb Academy at Ensworth. That one is a rematch between coaches and former NFL quarterbacks Trent Dilfer and Matt Hasselbeck, and Kreager jokes that Dilfer will probably remind the referees about the free-kick field goal rule after the disputed call in their first game. The hosts also point to Nolensville at Kirkwood, Whitehaven at Ravenwood and a 5-5 Houston team traveling to Antioch. Looking back at round one, Summertown’s upset of 9-1 East Robertson was the biggest surprise.

The second half turns to this week’s Mr. Football semifinalists. Kreager reminds listeners that it’s a regular-season award: the votes are already counted, so nothing that happens in the playoffs can change the result. In 6A, he sees Antioch’s Andre Adams, who holds the state career record for combined passing and rushing yards, as the favorite among a strong group that also includes Riverdale’s Gavin Hampton. Kreager also criticizes how the award has changed since it became a single award instead of separate back and lineman awards, noting that four of the five 6A semifinalists are quarterbacks. Both hosts back East Nashville’s Dallas Covington in his class. Kreager says he weighs strength of schedule over raw stats, and East Nashville’s only losses came by a few points each to bigger schools like Beech, Springfield and Antioch. The segment ends with the hope that Metro Nashville Public Schools could have two winners in Adams and Covington. The awards are the Tuesday after the season at Nissan Stadium, one last time at the old stadium.

The first round of the Tennessee high school football playoffs is done, and Tom Kreager joins the Saturday morning show to break down the best round-two matchups. His pick for game of the state is Oakland (9-2) at Maryville (10-1), a longtime rivalry that has often been a semifinal game. He also lays out a possible &ldquo;redemption tour&rdquo; for Kevin Creasy&rsquo;s Oakland Patriots: if they keep winning, they could get rematches with Smyrna, which beat them on a two-point conversion, and Riverdale, which beat them with a last-second field goal. Other games to watch are Springfield (10-1) at Haywood County (9-2), between two programs with strong playoff histories, and Lipscomb Academy at Ensworth. That one is a rematch between coaches and former NFL quarterbacks Trent Dilfer and Matt Hasselbeck, and Kreager jokes that Dilfer will probably remind the referees about the free-kick field goal rule after the disputed call in their first game. The hosts also point to Nolensville at Kirkwood, Whitehaven at Ravenwood and a 5-5 Houston team traveling to Antioch. Looking back at round one, Summertown&rsquo;s upset of 9-1 East Robertson was the biggest surprise.
The second half turns to this week&rsquo;s Mr. Football semifinalists. Kreager reminds listeners that it&rsquo;s a regular-season award: the votes are already counted, so nothing that happens in the playoffs can change the result. In 6A, he sees Antioch&rsquo;s Andre Adams, who holds the state career record for combined passing and rushing yards, as the favorite among a strong group that also includes Riverdale&rsquo;s Gavin Hampton. Kreager also criticizes how the award has changed since it became a single award instead of separate back and lineman awards, noting that four of the five 6A semifinalists are quarterbacks. Both hosts back East Nashville&rsquo;s Dallas Covington in his class. Kreager says he weighs strength of schedule over raw stats, and East Nashville&rsquo;s only losses came by a few points each to bigger schools like Beech, Springfield and Antioch. The segment ends with the hope that Metro Nashville Public Schools could have two winners in Adams and Covington. The awards are the Tuesday after the season at Nissan Stadium, one last time at the old stadium.

Tom Kreager (The Tennessean) 

 Nolensville Knights head coach Scott Stidham joins host Tate to break down a dominant 31–0 shutout of the Hendersonville Commandos in the first round of the playoffs. Coming off their only loss of the year (to Page, after a 9–0 start), Stidham says the team had a “little hangover” on Monday. By midweek they had refocused on a Hendersonville squad he calls big, physical and well coached, with a dangerous Wing-T offense. Senior Tristan Lythmossa led the way with 72- and 22-yard rushing touchdowns and a 52-yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Ryan Newell threw two TD passes, including a roughly 49-yarder to Lincoln Gleason, and Jonathan Wright added yards on the ground. Stidham keeps coming back to the same point: this team has no Mr. Football candidate, just “a bunch of unselfish kids” who don’t care who scores, and it starts with the five offensive linemen.

The defense was just as strong. Caden Woodard had two interceptions; Stidham jokes that Woodard had been “leading the world in pass breakups,” which the coach calls dropped picks. Brennan Vialak returned a fourth-down interception 35 yards, and Stidham laughs that he’d have been mad if it hadn’t gone for yards, since the team is coached to knock those balls down. Jake Sintel and Tyler Barth disrupted things up front, and Stidham gives credit to a scout team that steadily got better at running Hendersonville’s offense in practice. Kicker Matthew Surpass went 4-for-4 on PATs, hit a 32-yard field goal, had three touchbacks and a 47-yard punt. Stidham calls him a real weapon and “a football player that just happens to kick.” Next, the 10–1 Knights go on the road to Clarksville to face the 10–1 Kirkwood Cobras and quarterback Miles Redding, a player Stidham nominated for Mr. Football. His message for the week is to not get satisfied, get healthy and prepare like normal. Tate signs off by calling it the round-two game to circle.

 

&nbsp;Nolensville Knights head coach Scott Stidham joins host Tate to break down a dominant 31&ndash;0 shutout of the Hendersonville Commandos in the first round of the playoffs. Coming off their only loss of the year (to Page, after a 9&ndash;0 start), Stidham says the team had a &ldquo;little hangover&rdquo; on Monday. By midweek they had refocused on a Hendersonville squad he calls big, physical and well coached, with a dangerous Wing-T offense. Senior Tristan Lythmossa led the way with 72- and 22-yard rushing touchdowns and a 52-yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Ryan Newell threw two TD passes, including a roughly 49-yarder to Lincoln Gleason, and Jonathan Wright added yards on the ground. Stidham keeps coming back to the same point: this team has no Mr. Football candidate, just &ldquo;a bunch of unselfish kids&rdquo; who don&rsquo;t care who scores, and it starts with the five offensive linemen.
The defense was just as strong. Caden Woodard had two interceptions; Stidham jokes that Woodard had been &ldquo;leading the world in pass breakups,&rdquo; which the coach calls dropped picks. Brennan Vialak returned a fourth-down interception 35 yards, and Stidham laughs that he&rsquo;d have been mad if it hadn&rsquo;t gone for yards, since the team is coached to knock those balls down. Jake Sintel and Tyler Barth disrupted things up front, and Stidham gives credit to a scout team that steadily got better at running Hendersonville&rsquo;s offense in practice. Kicker Matthew Surpass went 4-for-4 on PATs, hit a 32-yard field goal, had three touchbacks and a 47-yard punt. Stidham calls him a real weapon and &ldquo;a football player that just happens to kick.&rdquo; Next, the 10&ndash;1 Knights go on the road to Clarksville to face the 10&ndash;1 Kirkwood Cobras and quarterback Miles Redding, a player Stidham nominated for Mr. Football. His message for the week is to not get satisfied, get healthy and prepare like normal. Tate signs off by calling it the round-two game to circle.
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Josh Adkins (Franklin Admirals)

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