Beech, Hendersonville and Station Camp will stay in Class 5A football through 2029 under initial TSSAA classifications released Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The three Hendersonville-area programs are projected to share a revamped Region 6-5A with Portland and Liberty Creek, which moves up from Class 4A. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) will set official districts and regions after an Oct. 2 deadline for schools to request classification changes or withdraw from the football playoffs.

The region assignments are not yet final.

The projected five-team region would replace the current Region 6-5A alignment, which includes Hunters Lane. Hunters Lane remains in Class 5A, according to enrollment figures published by The Tennessean, but its region placement for 2027-29 has not been announced.

Enrollment drives the classifications. Beech leads the projected region at 1,435 students, followed by Hendersonville at 1,397, Station Camp at 1,152, Portland at 1,051 and Liberty Creek at 1,023.

Liberty Creek's jump is the biggest shift for the area. The Wolves started in Class 3A football in 2023, played the last two seasons in Class 4A and now land in 5A with a growing enrollment. Head coach Bill Alexander, a former Beech player and assistant, told Main Street Media the move was always the plan.

"That's where we wanted to be. That's where I wanted to be," Alexander said. "You know, I coached in that league for nine years, and that was always the goal."

Alexander said Liberty Creek had been in early talks with Station Camp and Hendersonville about non-region games before Tuesday's announcement made them potential region rivals. Of the five teams in the projected region, Liberty Creek has only played Portland in regular-season competition, according to Main Street Media.

The reclassification also touches other Sumner County programs. Westmoreland drops from Class 3A to Class 2A. Statewide, defending Class 5A champion Page moves up to Class 6A alongside Nolensville, according to Yahoo Sports.

Schools that disagree with their placement can appeal before the TSSAA Board of Control at its November meeting. Scheduling meetings for the 2027-29 cycle will follow.

Through five weeks of the 2026 season, all three Hendersonville-area programs are competing. Beech head coach Anthony Crabtree recorded his 200th career win in a 42-19 victory over Upperman in his 21st season leading the Buccaneers. Hendersonville opened Region 6-5A play with a 49-20 win over Hunters Lane on Friday, Sept. 18. Liberty Creek sits at 4-1, its best start in school history.

Beech hosts Hunters Lane at Shackle Island Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.