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The TSSAA football state championship games are always bound to produce classics that leave people talking for a lifetime. This year’s games will be no different.
We posed the question to our team, what are the five best championship games you’ve seen? As 615 Preps has only been around since 2019, we limited our lists to the last five years total.
Here’s a look at the games Cam, Chris, Joe, KJ, and Scott came up with.
Cam Reid
Baylor 38, MBA 34 (2022 DII-AAA): Marcel Reed did everything he could but the Red Raiders would not be denied in their own city.
Fayetteville 20, South Pittsburg 14 (2020 1A): Upset special! One of the biggest upsets in the championship game saw freshman KJ Jackson lead the Tigers past the heavily favorited Pirates.
Friendship Christian 34, Nashville Christian 27 (2022 DII-A): A true classic. The Commanders forced a fumble inside the 10-yard line as the Eagles were attempting to tie in the last minute. This preserved FCS’s fourth gold ball.
Powell 42, Page 34 (2021 5A): This one was wild. One of the craziest championship games of recent years saw the Patriots’ late rally fall just short.
Tullahoma 21, Elizabethton 14 (2OT 2021 4A): Slugfest! The Wildcats stimy the Cyclones and send Coach John Olive into retirement with a gold ball.
Chris Brooks
Tullahoma 21, Elizabethton 14 (2 OT 2021 4A): The finish itself puts atop my list. Krys Uselton’s interception to seal Tullahoma’s first-ever state title in double overtime is an ending you wouldn’t likely have scripted, and that makes it even better.
Alcoa 21, Covington 14 (2018 3A): Walker Russell’s 1-yard run with 16 seconds left capped off a 17-play, 80-yard drive that gave the Tornadoes the 3A title in a game where seven of the 11 possessions went for longer than four minutes.
CPA 35, Lipscomb Academy 28 (2020 DII-AA): Alex Broome gave the Mustangs a chance in the fourth quarter, but Cade Law and Cade Reynolds hooked up with 2:31 left to lift the Lions to the title in the first of three straight BlueCross Bowl meetings between the two teams.
Friendship Christian 34, Nashville Christian 27 (2022 DII-A): The Commanders looked like they were going to pull away in the second half after Tylor Smiley’s pick-six put them up 14 in the third quarter. But Nashville Christian hung tough, and Smiley’s second interception slammed the door on an Eagle comeback in the final seconds.
Powell 42, Page 34 (2021 5A): The Patriots’ last-minute heroics fell one pass short of overtime, but overcoming a 21-0 first-quarter deficit to get a shot at a Hail Mary will be remembered for the effort.
Joe Spears
CPA 35, Lipscomb Academy 28 (2020 DII-AA): The first of three straight championship meetings between these two proved to be the most exciting. A three-yard touchdown strike from Cade Law to Cade Reynolds with 2:31 remaining proved to be the difference.
Friendship Christian 34, Nashville Christian 27 (2022 DII-A): Friendship looked well on its way to an easy championship win thanks to three touchdown strikes from Garrett Weekly to Brock Montgomery. The Eagles fought back and had an opportunity to tie the game late. Tylor Smiley recorded an interception on Friendship’s one-yard line for the win.
Peabody 17, Trousdale County 9 (2018 2A): Sorry Cam, this one will always hold a special spot for me. Peabody’s win was the first time I had a team in my then-coverage area win a state title. Cooper Baugus connected with Noah Halbrook for a 51-yard touchdown midway through the third. That would seal the win and kick off the first of three straight title runs for the Golden Tide.
Powell 42, Page 34 (2021 5A): This game seemed like something out of a movie. Against a team full of Power Five talent, including the nation’s No. 1 player in Walter Nolen, Page quarterback Jake McNamara led a comeback for the ages that came up just short.
Tullahoma 21, Elizabethton 14 (2 OT, 2021 4A): Another game that felt like a movie, these teams went into overtime tied at seven. After both scored in the first overtime period, Ryan Scott connected with Jacob Dixon to put the Wildcats up. Krys Uselton sealed Tullahoma’s first state title two plays later with an interception in the end zone.
Scott Burton
Baylor 38, MBA 34 (2022 DII-AAA): This was a game of two halves. MBA led 28-24 at halftime behind the arm of current Texas A&M Aggie Marcel Reed. Baylor held the Big Red to only 6 second-half points as Whit Muschamp led the Baylor comeback for the Red Raiders’ first championship in 49 years.
CPA 35, Lipscomb Academy 28 (2020 DII-AA): The Mustangs displayed an explosive offense with Luther Richesson and future Boston College running back Alex Broome. The Lions countered with UNC’s Cade Law and Vandy’s Langston Patterson. This game was up for grabs until Law hit Cade Reynolds with a scoring pass with less than three minutes to go.
Davidson Academy 31, USJ 21 (2019 DII-A): An 18-point second half coupled with a defensive shutout in the last two quarters cemented Jonathan Quinn as one of the top football minds in the state. Griffin Swinea was a workhorse in relentless Bear ground attack. He ran for 285 yards and four touchdowns en route to be named the game’s MVP.
Friendship Christian 34, Nashville Christian 27 (2022 DII-A): Garrett Weekley and Tylor Smiley’s legends were forged in Chattanooga on this day. Weekley matched Nashville Christian’s Jared Curtis tossing 3 touchdowns. Smiley and the defense pulled out two late stops including the game-sealing interception by Smiley at the Commander two-yard line.
Powell 42, Page (2021 5A): Powell jumped out to a 21-0 lead before Page mounted a 20-point comeback to pull within 1 at the half. The Panthers would jump out to another double-digit lead in the second half only to see the Patriots storm back. McNamara’s last chance pass deep in Panther territory was knocked away on the last play.
KJ Harris
Powell 42, Page (2021, 5A): A roller coaster of emotions, with Powell storming ahead early by three scores before Page rallied to be down by one at the half. A late score gave Powell enough to survive Page’s late rally that fell short on a Hail Mary attempt at the end.
Tullahoma 21, Elizabethton 14 (2 OT, 2021 4A): It unfolded like a storybook climax in a charged atmosphere when Tullahoma secured its first state championship in school history. The thrilling victory was sealed with a prayer heaved up and answered, providing a fairy-tale ending that will be remembered for a lifetime.
CPA 35, Lipscomb Academy 28 (2020 DII-AA): The rivals went score-for-score, showcasing the true essence of high-stakes competition. Ultimately, CPA’s offense was able to get the last strike, securing a state championship victory.
Oakland 43, Summit 26 (2021 6A): An eagerly-anticipated matchup with a clash of talents – particularly the duel between the Wade twins and five-star standout Jordan James. Knowing this made the game a must-watch, leaving a lasting impression on spectators as Oakland continued its historic championship reign.
Knoxville Central 14, Henry County 9 (2018 5A): A game that had to be moved to Sunday due to lightning turned into a defensive showdown where Knoxville Central’s defense held Henry County to 131 total yards and 2-of-14 on third down. Neither team had more than one drive to last more than three minutes.
