CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The regular season for high school football kicks off in just over two weeks, and the picture for the matchups ahead is becoming more clear. Here’s a look at the games to watch in each week of the 2026 football season in Montgomery County.
Week 1, 8/21: West Creek vs Kirkwood
While Rossview at Springfield and Clarksville at Blackman are marquee matchups, the biggest game in Montgomery County is West Creek vs. Kirkwood. This matchup has carried extra intrigue in recent years after former West Creek head coach Rob Gallowitz and assistant Brian Jalomo joined Kirkwood’s coaching staff, adding another layer to the series.
West Creek has been one of the county’s most talked-about teams this offseason and will have an opportunity to turn that attention into positive momentum with a Week 1 upset. Still, Kirkwood enters as the favorite and should have enough firepower to open the season with a convincing victory.
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Week 2, 8/28: Springfield vs Clarksville
Week 2 brings rivalry week, with several intriguing options, including the growing Exit 8 rivalry between Rossview and Kirkwood. But with more than 100 meetings between the programs, Clarksville vs. Springfield is the more historic.
The Wildcats will be searching for a statement win against one of Tennessee’s premier programs, led by five-star cornerback Jermaine Cobbins. Clarksville fell 19-7 in last season’s 102nd meeting, and another difficult challenge awaits. If the Wildcats can knock off the Yellow Jackets, it would immediately establish them as a team to watch entering the heart of the season.
Week 3, 9/4: Rossview vs Clarksville
The Warfield Shield game always brings out the best in both fan bases, but Clarksville has controlled the rivalry in recent years. The Wildcats own a 16-5 advantage in the all-time series and have won eight consecutive meetings.
That doesn’t mean this year’s matchup should be overlooked. Entering his second season, Rossview head coach Stratie Young has assembled talent on both sides of the ball, giving the Hawks a chance to make things interesting. Expect a more competitive contest than in recent years, but Clarksville remains the favorite to keep the Warfield Shield.
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Week 4, 9/11: Kirkwood vs Northeast
Sticking with the theme of teams that simply don’t like each other, Kirkwood and Northeast have built plenty of tension in a short amount of time. Since Kirkwood opened four years ago, many players who would have attended Northeast instead became Cobras, and the Eagles are still searching for their first victory in the series.
Northeast enters 2026 with its most talented roster since the rivalry began, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Even so, Kirkwood remains the benchmark in Region 7-5A and should once again be one of the area’s top teams. The Eagles are expected to take a step forward this season, but the Cobras should still have the upper hand in this matchup.
Week 5, 9/18: West Creek vs Rossview
Most Montgomery County teams hit the road in Week 5, but Rossview hosts one of the more intriguing matchups on the schedule. By this point in the season, we’ll have a much better idea of what West Creek is, making this an important measuring stick for both teams.
The storyline is obvious. Clarksville Now Player to Watch Chris Hercules transferred from West Creek to Rossview on July 22, giving the Hawks a major boost in the secondary while leaving a void for the Coyotes. Rossview should enter as the favorite, but if West Creek is going to make a statement during the regular season, this feels like one of its best opportunities.
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Week 6, 9/25: Northwest vs Kenwood
Week 6 could go a long way toward deciding the middle of the Region 7-5A standings. While Dickson County remains a wild card, this head-to-head matchup between Kenwood and Northwest could have significant playoff implications.
Kenwood reached the postseason a year ago but enters 2026 searching for a new offensive identity. Northwest has plenty of explosive playmakers, though questions remain about the Vikings’ depth over the course of the season. The winner of this game could put itself in position to earn a playoff berth, and for now, Kenwood gets the slight edge.
Week 7, 10/2: Siegel vs Clarksville
By Week 7, we should have a clear picture of who Clarksville is, making its matchup against Siegel one of the more intriguing games on the schedule. The Stars fell 20-7 to the Wildcats last season, but they’ll once again be battle-tested after navigating another demanding Murfreesboro slate.
On paper, this isn’t a game Clarksville should lose. However, overlooking a disciplined and experienced Siegel team could prove costly. Whether this becomes a comfortable win or a four-quarter battle will depend on how the Wildcats develop through the first half of the season, but it has the makings of an important test.
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Week 8, 10/8: Kenwood vs Northeast
Like its Week 6 showdown with Northwest, this is a must-win game for Kenwood if the Knights hope to return to the playoffs. Northeast presents a much bigger challenge, though Kenwood’s defense has the potential to slow one of the county’s most explosive offenses.
In this Thursday game, the Eagles should be in good position to reach the postseason regardless, but a win over Kenwood would strengthen their standing in Region 7-5A. Ultimately, Kenwood’s questions on the offensive side of the ball make it difficult to pick the Knights in a game of this magnitude, giving Northeast a pivotal home victory late in the season.
Week 9, 10/23: Northwest vs Kirkwood
Week 9 doesn’t feature many marquee matchups, making Northwest’s trip to Kirkwood the most intriguing game on the schedule. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they draw the Cobras late in the season when Kirkwood could be hitting its stride.
It would likely take a near-perfect performance for Northwest to pull off the upset against a Kirkwood team with Region 7-5A title aspirations, but high school football has produced bigger surprises. More than anything, this matchup serves as the final tune-up before what could be the biggest game of Kirkwood’s season.
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Week 10, 10/29: Henry County vs Kirkwood
This projects to be the biggest game of the regular season in Montgomery County. While it doesn’t carry the history of some of the county’s rivalries, the stakes more than make up for it. Barring an unexpected twist, this Thursday night game should decide the Region 7-5A championship.
Winning the region would provide a favorable path in the postseason, and both teams know what’s at stake. Henry County came within one game of the state semifinals last season, while Kirkwood fell 42-39 in last year’s meeting and has had this matchup circled ever since. If the Cobras can earn the victory, they’ll put themselves in position to make the deepest playoff run by a Montgomery County team in years.
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