By KEVIN WARNER
Bentwood High School stands as one of the most successful football teams in Williamson County in its 30-plus years on the gridiron.
The Tennessee Prep Football Database had their regular-season record since 1982 at 184-156 and a 28-18 postseason mark as of 2015. The Brentwood Bruins’ most successful season came in 2002, when they captured the TSSAAA 5A State Championship in a 10-7 victory over Riverdale in head coach Ron Crawford’s first season at the helm. He also won Tennessee Sportswriter Association 5A Coach of the Year. Crawford would remain head coach until 2011.
He returned last season and brought the Bruins back to the playoffs for the first since 2013, tied for the second-longest absence in school history (1995-96). He is also 18-10 all time in the playoffs as a Bruins head coach.
The Bruins also boast a number of players, especially in the 2000s, who played at the highest level of college football. Quarterback Austen Everson signed with Ohio University in 2003, after receiving All-State honors. 2002 defensive back Richard Freeman signed with Vanderbilt University.
Former Bruin Thomas Welch (Class of 2005) signed with the Commodores as well, becoming a standout offensive linemen and being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010 in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Welch and Freeman were not the only BHS alums to sign with the same school, 2006 defensive back Bruce McCurdy and 2009 tight end Cameron Mason signed with the U.S. Naval Academy. Lucas Patrick (Duke University 2010) and Cole Tischer (Western Kentucky, 2009) are just a few others that went on to Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
Max Preps.com puts the 2016 Brentwood Bruins’ Roster number at 82 with 26 seniors. The seniors defeated crosstown rival Ravenwood 41-10 this season. The Bruins stand at 4-4 with two games to play including a 117- mile round trip to Clarksville on Oct .28. They Host Henry County this week.
Find more information on the 2016 Brentwood Bruins on our Football Focus page.
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