Brentwood Academy Ends CBHS Football Season in Playoffs

Christian Brothers High School lost in the quarter-finals on Friday night to Nashville’s Brentwood Academy at Tom Nix Stadium by a score of 21-14, but the Brother’s hung tough and never let it get past a two-score game. 

The data from the box scoreshows how the Brothers kept the score close for the entire game. 

Despite losing in the quarter-finals of the state playoffs, the Brothers had a great season finishing with a record of 8 wins and 3 losses. They can stand tall with pride for their effort against three-time defending champions, Brentwood Academy who has 11 wins and two losses this season. 

“It’s been the best four years of my life. Traveling to road games and following the team everywhere,” Ethan Bailey, a senior at CBHS said after the loss, “I’m going to miss this.”

Brentwood Academy is a perineal powerhouse in football in the state of Tennessee. They have been called, “The Alabama of high school football,” according to former CBHS librarian, Ellen Davis. 

 “The team worked hard to get to this point in the playoffs,” said Brother Chris Englert, President of CBHS. 

CBHS knew they would have to be fully prepared and ready to play their best game of the year to beat a team with the history of success Brentwood Academy has. Unfortunately, the Brothers did not get off to a good start and had to play catch up the rest of the game. 

“Brentwood has won the past three state championships. They’re down a little this year. They have two losses, but they usually go 11-1 or 12-0,” CBHS Athletic Director Mike Kelly said, “Their two losses this year is why the game is here, instead of Nashville.”

It was a low scoring game where points were at a premium. The defenses for both teams played great while the offensives struggled. All the touchdowns, except for one, were off of long sustained drives which shortened the game. 

The only quick score of the game came in the fourth quarter when CBHS senior quarterback Owen Bradycompleted a slant pass to senior wide receiver Antonio Layfor a 61-yard touchdown. This play got the Brothers back to within seven points of Brentwood Academy, and brought the CBHS crowd back on their feet and making noise. 

For the entire game it seemed like the time clock never stopped, because it did not stop much for a football game. Four out of the five touchdowns came off of time-consuming drives. The box scoreshows how methodical this game was and how the Brothers stayed in the game for its entirety. 

The Brothers had one final chance to try to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The Brothers needed a three and out on defense and use their timeouts to stop the clock. CBHS held Brentwood Academy on the first two downs giving the Brothers one more chance to get the ball back. 

Brentwood Academy was facing a critical third down late in fourth quarter. Everyone in Tom Nix stadium thought a run play was coming so CBHS would be forced to use their final timeout, but Brentwood Academy had the perfect play. With the defense focusing on stopping the run, Brentwood Academy quarterback Wade Williams completed a pass over the middle for a first down and the win.

After the game, CBHS Head Coach Thomas McDaniel was in his office taking in the recent playoff loss. 

“Our kids battled, but you know, we got to get back to the drawing board and figure out a way to get over the hump,” McDaniel said, “We’ve been close all four years I’ve been here.” 

When McDaniel talked about this year’s team there were conflicting emotions in his voice that could be heard, seen and felt. 

“We have a lot of really talented kids, a lot of great team players. We have no selfishness in our locker room, McDaniel said, “It makes it hard when you have to hang it up.”

For seniors hanging their helmet up for that last time is very emotional. “These are the nights you don’t look forward to, however there are so many great memories along the way,” McDaniel said, “It’s about the journey, you know. It’s not about the end result.”