By: Zachary Harmuth
The Summit Spartans take on the Brentwood Bruins this Friday in a matchup, if not for playoff implications, for pride and District bragging rights.
Summit comes in 1-7, 0-4 and last in District 12, and played Franklin last week. The Spartans lost that one 49-12. Brentwood comes in after a bye week at 2-5, and 1-2 in AAA District 12. The last game they played was a tough, close loss two weeks ago at (still) undefeated and first-in District (and third in Class 6A) Franklin. The Bruins kept it close all game, finally losing by just three, 24-21. Like Brentwood, Summit has played a rather tough schedule because they play in a tough District; but, unlike Brentwood, the Spartans have been blown out in games against teams that the Bruins played very close or almost won.
The two teams have three opponents in common so far this year: Franklin, Centennial and Dickson County. Brentwood went 1-2 against these teams, beating Dickson, while Summit went 0-3. Also, the two games that Brentwood lost- to Centennial and Franklin- were by only a combined 14 points.
Summit, on the other hand, lost to those two teams by a total of 58 points. And it lost to Dickson County by 34 points.
So, if games against common opponents tell anything about this Brentwood- Summit matchup, it should definitely go in favor of Brentwood.
We will see if Aaron Maher will do it all, like he has all season, for the Bruins. He leads the team in passing and rushing (118 of 173 for 1228 yards, 11 TDs and 6 INTs on the year; 95 carries for 428 yards, 2 TDs running. And if he gets a little help from his defense- giving up 26 points per game this year- they should win this one.
Summit’s problem this year has not just been on offense or defense. It has been both. Its offense has averaged just 12 points per game this year; its defense has given up, on average, 34 points per game. Nothing has worked out this season for Summit, which has lost seven straight and has had an adverse year with coach Scott Keasler’s resignation at the end of September.
