Who is the top Nashville area high school football team for 2019? We ranked them from 1-129.

Who is the best Nashville area high school football team as the 2019 season kicks off?

The answers may differ.

Ravenwood, which returns a key nucleus from the 2018 Class 6A state semifinalist team, is The Tennessean's pick for the top spot.

The Raptors' returnees include Duke commitment Graham Barton on the offensive line, Ole Miss commitment Luke Shouse at defensive end, Rice commitment Andrew Mason at receiver, Region 6-6A Defensive MVP Bryan Rice and three-year starting quarterback Brian Garcia.

And Ravenwood has picked up two transfers in linebackers Reggie Grimes II, the top college prospect in the state according to the 247Sports Composite, and Damon Owens.

Ravenwood filed paperwork for hardships for both players after they transferred from Mt. Juliet and Brentwood Academy, respectively. The TSSAA ruled Friday that Grimes is eligible but has not announced a decision on Owens.

Ravenwood finished 10-3 in 2018, losing 43-24 to Whitehaven in the Class 6A semifinals. Ravenwood's lone loss to a Nashville area team was 31-28 to Brentwood. The Raptors avenged that loss in the state quarterfinals. 

Oakland and Brentwood Academy are ranked second and third, respectively, in the poll.

In 2018, Oakland was the preseason No. 1 and finished with the top spot after beating  Whitehaven in the Class 6A state championship game. Brentwood Academy was the top team in 2017.

Here are the full preseason rankings. In parentheses is TSSAA classification. The Tennessean ranked all of its TSSAA-playoff eligible teams in its coverage area.

1. Ravenwood (Class 6A)

2. Oakland (Class 6A)

3. Brentwood Academy (DII-AAA)

4. Mt. Juliet (Class 6A)

5. Ensworth (DII-AAA)

6. Brentwood (Class 6A)

7. Blackman (Class 6A)

8. Cane Ridge (Class 6A)

9. MBA (DII-AAA)

10. Hillsboro (Class 5A)

11. Riverdale (Class 6A)

12. BGA (DII-AA)

13. Smyrna (Class 6A)

14. Henry Co. (Class 5A)

15. CPA (DII-AA)

16. Pope John Paul II (DII-AAA)

17. Hendersonville (Class 6A)

18. Independence (Class 6A)

19. Lebanon (Class 6A)

20. Beech (Class 5A)

21. Page (Class 5A)

22. East Nashville (Class 3A)

23. Franklin (Class 6A)

24. Cookeville (Class 6A)

25. Gallatin (Class 5A)

26. Shelbyville (Class 5A)

27. Nolensville (Class 4A)

28. Pearl-Cohn (Class 3A)

29. Stewarts Creek (Class 6A)

30. Siegel (Class 6A)

31. Centennial (Class 6A)

32. Marshall Co. (Class 4A)

33. Northeast (Class 5A)

34. Lipscomb Academy (DII-AA)

35. Father Ryan (DII-AAA)

36. Tullahoma (Class 5A)

37. Summit (Class 5A)

38. McGavock (Class 6A)

39. Livingston Academy (Class 4A)

40. Stratford (Class 3A)

41. Clarksville (Class 5A)

42. Maplewood (Class 4A)

43. Lincoln Co. (Class 5A)

44. Springfield (Class 4A)

45. Overton (Class 6A)

46. Upperman (Class 3A)

47. Kenwood (Class 5A)

48. Rossview (Class 6A)

49. Dickson Co. (Class 6A)

50. Coffee Co. (Class 6A)

51. La Vergne (Class 6A)

52. Creek Wood (Class 4A)

53. Fairview (Class 3A)

54. FRA (DII-AA)

55. Friendship Christian (DII-A)

56. Davidson Academy (DII-A)

57. York Institute (Class 3A)

58. Hillwood (Class 5A)

59. Columbia (Class 5A)

60. Trousdale Co. (Class 2A)

61. Lewis Co. (Class 2A)

62. Rockvale (Class 6A)

63. Portland (Class 4A)

64. Columbia Academy (DII-A)

65. Wilson Central (Class 6A)

66. Watertown (Class 2A)

67. Waverly (Class 2A)

68. Station Camp (Class 6A)

69. Franklin Co. (Class 5A)

70. Giles Co. (Class 3A)

71. Nashville Christian (DII-A)

72. Forrest (Class 2A)

73. DeKalb Co. (Class 4A)

74. Gordonsville (Class 1A)

75. Sycamore (Class 3A)

76. Westmoreland (Class 2A)

77. Mt. Pleasant (Class 1A)

78. Cornersville (Class 1A)

79. Wayne Co. (Class 1A)

80. Huntland (Class 1A)

81. MTCS (DII-A)

82. Monterey (Class 1A)

83. Mt. Juliet Christian (DII-A)

84. Macon Co. (4A)

85. Greenbrier (Class 4A)

86. Northwest (Class 5A)

87. Montgomery Central (Class 4A)

88. Eagleville (Class 2A)

89. Clay Co. (Class 1A)

90. Hickman Co. (Class 2A)

91. Smith Co. (Class 3A)

92. White House (Class 4A)

93. Cheatham Co. (Class 3A)

94. Moore Co. (Class 1A)

95. Collinwood (Class 1A)

96. RePublic (Class 3A)

97. Goodpasture (DII-AA)

98. Jo Byrns (Class 1A)

99. Houston Co. (Class 2A)

100. Summertown (Class 2A)

101. Spring Hill (Class 4A)

102. Cannon Co. (Class 3A)

103. Harpeth (Class 3A)

104. Lawrence Co. (Class 4A)

105. East Robertson (Class 2A)

107. White House Heritage (Class 4A)

108. West Creek (Class 5A)

109. Warren Co. (Class 6A)

110. Whites Creek (Class 3A)

111. Loretto (Class 2A)

112. Antioch (Class 6A)

113. Clarksville Academy (DII-A)

114. Jackson Co. (Class 2A)

115. Cascade (Class 2A)

116. Glencliff (Class 5A)

117. Hunters Lane (Class 5A)

118. DCA (DII-A)

119. McEwen (Class 1A)

120. Community (Class 2A)

121. Richland (Class 1A)

122. Stewart Co. (Class 3A)

123. East Hickman (DII-A)

124. Grace Christian (DII-A)

125. Fayetteville (Class 1A)

126. Perry Co. (Class 1A)

127. Pickett Co. (Class 1A)

128. Red Boiling Springs (Class 1A)

129. The Webb School (DII-A)

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Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com or on Twitter @Kreager.