CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Football season kicks off in Montgomery County on Friday, Aug. 21, and there are plenty of storylines to follow. From playoff contenders to programs looking to break through and reach .500, and even those simply trying to survive a 10-game schedule, every team enters the season with something to prove.
Here’s our inaugural preseason power ranking of all 10 Montgomery County-area football teams.
1. Kirkwood Cobras
The Cobras enter 2026 coming off the heels of the program’s first playoff win and valuable postseason experience. They have, pound-for-pound, the best player in the area in quarterback Miles Reding. The offensive line could become an issue deeper into the season, but Kirkwood has the best chance to make a deep playoff run Montgomery County has seen in a while.
| MORE: Kirkwood High sets sights on region title, deep playoff run in Year 4
2. Clarksville High Wildcats
Clarksville’s 2025 season ended in disappointing fashion after the Wildcats won eight straight regular-season games. Ahvare Galbreath will lead the offense and is the best running back in the area in his own right. The Wildcats shouldn’t see much of a drop-off, but with more youth at key positions than usual, there could be a learning curve to start the year.
| MORE: Clarksville High chasing postseason breakthrough in 2026
3. Northeast Eagles
After being one of the worst teams in Montgomery County in recent years, 2026 could be the year Northeast takes a leap. Led by one of the deepest receiving corps in the area, the ball should be flying all over Exit 1. There is plenty of turnover on the defensive staff, which could be a liability, but overall, the Eagles appear to be a well-rounded team ready to put together a winning season this fall.
| MORE: Northeast High believes rebuild is over entering 2026
4. Rossview Hawks
The Hawks shouldn’t have too many holes this fall. After an underwhelming 4-7 record in Stratie Young’s first year as head coach, Rossview looks to be a much more complete team in 2026. Dawson Deer is one of Montgomery County’s top quarterbacks, while West Creek transfer Chris Hercules fills a valuable role at safety. Turnovers were an issue last year, so if the Hawks can play clean football, they should be in position to pick up some wins.
| MORE: Midnight practice sets tone for Rossview in 2nd year under Young
5. Kenwood Knights
Kenwood had one of the best seasons in program history in 2025, going 6-5 and earning a playoff berth. The Knights may not reach those heights this year, but their defense is still one to watch. Linebacker Brian Howard and cornerback Jayquain Pappillion are two of Montgomery County’s best defensive players. The Knights have struggled to find an offensive identity, and until that becomes clear, they can’t enter that next tier of teams.
| MORE: Kenwood High looks to build on breakthrough 2025 season
6. Montgomery Central Indians
This is a pivotal season for Montgomery Central and head coach Wyatt Page. The pairing hasn’t had much success to this point, but the Indians believe this could be the year the tide turns. Seniors Cayson Rasch and Malosi Laban provide game-changing veteran presences and give the team confidence heading into the season. Surpassing a .500 record will be difficult, but a significant improvement from last year’s 1-9 record is certainly within reach.
| MORE: Montgomery Central betting on youth in Coach Page’s pivotal 3rd season
7. Northwest Vikings
Northwest is a tricky team to evaluate because the Vikings lost a significant amount of talent from a team that went 2-8 in 2025. Still, there are plenty of playmakers within the offense. Tyler Couey is one of the area’s best tight ends, while Garrett Garton could break out at receiver during his senior season. Much like last year, the Vikings simply don’t have the depth to compete week-to-week throughout a 10-game schedule, but don’t be surprised if they come out hot to start the season.
| MORE: Optimism grows as Northwest chases 1st winning season in decade
8. West Creek Coyotes
West Creek has size and talent, but a winning culture hasn’t been established yet. After going 1-9 last year, the Coyotes are in urgent need of improvement in 2026. The offensive line is one of the biggest in Montgomery County, led by Kaleb Wilcox, but this is a team that still needs to find its identity. I don’t love the schedule for the Coyotes, and unless something changes, it could be another tough year.
| MORE: West Creek carries Joshua Farmer’s legacy into pivotal 2026 season
9. Fort Campbell Falcons
Fort Campbell plays a brand of smash-mouth football, and that formula gives the Falcons a chance to win games. Unfortunately for Fort Campbell, it’ll be much tougher to find consistent success this year. Karson McClellan will start at running back after playing offensive tackle to this point, while Isaiah Messer Cruz moves from linebacker to quarterback. Those are significant adjustments, and finding success with so many players in new roles will be a difficult task.
| MORE: Football preview: New-look Fort Campbell team faces season of change | PHOTOS
10. Clarksville Academy Cougars
With all due respect, Clarksville Academy would be fortunate to make it through the season. As of now, first-year head coach Rob Rininger inherits just 18 players, barely enough to field a team. Senior Joshua Reed is a talented running back, but if he gets hurt, the offense will be in a difficult spot. Nearly everyone will have to play both sides of the ball this year for the Cougars, which could quickly become a difficult situation over the course of a 10-game season.
| SCOREBOARD: Check out scores, schedules for every Clarksville-area football team