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Between Thursday and Saturday night, nine state champions will be crowned at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. That means nine games that we’re covering over three.
Just how good are each of the championship games though?
Historically, the state finals are a good mix of blowouts and classics. This year’s slate figures to have much of the same.
Our group ranked the nine matchups 1-9 from the matchup they’re most excited to see to the matchup they think could be ugly. Here’s a look at how Cam, Chris, Joe and Scott ranked the games out.
Cam Reid
1. McCallie vs. Baylor: 12k, 15k, 20k? Maybe the biggest crowd ever for a TSSAA State Championship game. The atmosphere will be electric come Thursday night.
2. Page vs. Knoxville West: Revenge. In the Patriots’ third straight title game, will they get over the hump against a talented Rebel team?
3. East Robertson vs. Riverside: The Indians are playing for gold for the first time ever, but the experienced Panthers will be a formidable opponent.
4. Friendship vs. MTCS: Tyson Wolcott vs Eli Wilson round 2. Wilson and the Cougars will attempt to win their first football state title, while Friendship tries to go back-to-back.
5. Oakland vs. Houston: Houston is coming off a near-flawless victory over Brentwood, but the Patriots are doing what they do…win when it matters.
6. Upperman vs. Pearl-Cohn: Upperman makes their first state title appearance, while the Firebirds attempt to bring home gold for the first time in 25 years.
7. South Pitt vs. McKenzie: Will the third time be the charm for the Rebels against the Pirates, or will the Pirates find golden treasure?
8. CPA vs. Boyd-Buchanan: The Lions have been the favorite for most of the year, while the Bucs make their first state title appearance since moving to Division II.
9. Alcoa vs. East Nashville: Eagles get another shot at the Tornadoes but the youth of the Eagles will be a challenge.
Chris Brooks
1. Baylor vs. McCallie: Large crowd potential aside, the matchup is the best on the docket from a rivalry-plus-talent standpoint. It’s already a heated feud, and the stakes cannot possibly be any higher.
2. Friendship Christian vs. MTCS: Tyson Wolcott and Eli Wilson want to put on a show, but both defenses showed in the first meeting that it won’t be easy for either. Another rivalry game with everything on the line.
3. East Robertson vs. Riverside: A first-timer to the championship scene with tons of talent against a previous runner-up with weapons of its own. Either way, somebody’s celebrating for the first time.
4. Knox West vs. Page: Just like Pepperidge Farm, Page remembers. Last year’s loss left a bitter taste in their mouths and the nasty defense they’re bringing with them this time is primed to cause maximum damage. But the champs won’t relinquish their crown quietly.
5. Houston vs. Oakland: Another first-timer to the title game, Houston is a worthy recipient of a championship opportunity. However, Oakland’s title pedigree and top form in the playoffs will be hard to stop.
6. CPA vs. Boyd-Buchanan: Best coaching matchup of the weekend, hands down. Boyd Buchanan’s ascension has been rapid under Gary Rankin, but Ingle Martin’s bunch has tasted tough defeats each of the last two years and will be a difficult challenge.
7. Pearl-Cohn vs. Upperman: A Pearl-Cohn team that has had its eyes on this weekend for a year now, against an Upperman team that could be in the first days of a long string of deep playoff runs. The Firebirds have roasted every 4A team they’ve come across, and unless the Bees find early success, they’re next on the menu.
8. McKenzie vs. South Pittsburg: South Pittsburg has established itself as arguably the top team in 2A, while McKenzie wants revenge for that 2021 title game loss. Will the Rebels sink the Pirate ship, or does South Pittsburg make McKenzie walk the plank again? (No apologies for bad pirate puns.)
9. Alcoa vs. East Nashville: East Nashville’s seniors have seen this movie before, and they’d like to flip the script for once. Alcoa’s the supervillain with an incredible run of state titles, and the Eagles will play the hero if they can come away victorious.
Joe Spears
1. Baylor vs. McCallie: The Battle Chattanooga is going to have an electric atmosphere. This game may set attendance records as the entire city will be out to see this one.
2. East Robertson vs. Riverside: There may not be a better running back matchup all week. Desmond Thomas for Riverside is healthy and Isaiah Groves has been on a tear since Week 1. This one could be epic.
3. Knox West vs. Page: West rolled in last year’s championship meeting between these two teams. Don’t expect that sort of game again though. The Patriots are significantly better and still have that loss fresh in their minds.
4. Friendship Christian vs. MTCS: Round No. 2 between these DII-A rivals should as physical as the first. It could have more scoring, but the battle between Eli Wilson and Tyson Wolcott is what I’m looking forward to the most.
5. Houston vs. Oakland: Is Houston the team that finally dethrones Oakland? The Mustangs continually stack up impressive wins but the Patriots have been rolling over everyone since that Week 11 loss to Riverside.
6. Pearl-Cohn vs. Upperman: As long as Pearl limits the penalties, the Firebirds should roll to their first state title since 1997. Upperman won’t roll over though and the Bees have the talent to make this a game.
7. CPA vs. Boyd-Buchanan: Gary Rankin playing for a state title isn’t anything new but doing it with Boyd is. Unfortunately for them, they’re playing a CPA team sick and tired of silver after the last two years.
8. McKenzie vs. South Pittsburg: A rematch of the 2021 1A title game, McKenzie isn’t quite as loaded as they were that year. Meanwhile, the Pirates are arguably better and consistently proven they’re the top team in the state.
9. Alcoa vs. East Nashville: Is the third time the charm for the Eagles? I think East is great and only going to get better, but it’s hard to pick against Alcoa until you finally see them lose.
Scott Burton
1. Friendship Christian vs. MTCS: Not only is this a grudge match between two of the area’s most prolific rushing attacks, but it’s also a game in which both teams come in with something to prove. The Cougars want to prove they are the best and that their best back, Eli Wilson, was snubbed for Mr. Football, while Friendship wants to prove their loss earlier in the season was more that they beat themselves.
2. East Robertson vs. Riverside: Neither team has ever won a state championship, so there is history to be made here. While the Panthers would like to get last year’s disappointment in their rear-view mirror, they should not glance back too much, or they might not see the Indians in their blind spot. Lots of offense to be had in this game, it should be one of the best of the day.
3. Baylor vs. McCallie: A battle of two elite quarterbacks highlights this crosstown battle, McCallie’s Jeremy St. Hilaire against Baylor’s Whit Muschamp. The Blue Tornado won the regular season battle but that was early. The Red Raiders will use Amari Jefferson to try to repeat while McCallie tries to get back on top for their fourth gold ball in the last five years. It should be an electric atmosphere.
4. McKenzie vs. South Pittsburg: These teams met two years ago, and the Pirates walked away with gold. What should be a tremendous quarterback battle between McKenzie’s Tate Surber and South Pittsburg’s Kamden Wellington has been put in jeopardy with Wellington’s injury. The Pirates will do their best to scupper the defending champions and take the trophy 30 minutes west.
5. CPA vs. Boyd-Buchanan: A matchup of two of the best coaches in the state will resemble less of a chess match and more of an actual battle. Ingle Martin’s Lions have been on a mission to get back on top of the mountain, while the Buccaneers have arrived earlier than expected. Coach Gary Rankin is going for his 18th gold ball, but to get it, they will have to beat a very physical and extremely talented CPA crew.
6. Page vs. Knox West: Will the third time be the charm for the Patriots, or do the Rebels get their second gold ball in a row? It will all depend on how effective the Page offense can be against a tough West front. If they cannot get Ethan Cunningham going, the defense may need to help out with a score. Either way, expect a defensive battle with lots of big hits.
7. Alcoa vs. East Nashville: Another Midstate team going in for a win in their third attempt, but this Eagles team goes against a Tornado squad that has a 9-year winning streak. East’s Jordan Houston has been an interception machine and will be tested by Alcoa’s Brandon Winton, Jr. To win this one, the Eagles will need to be nearly perfect in every phase of the game and play disciplined. Running backs Keland Anderson and KJ Johnson must have a solid performance to prevent gold ball number 10 from heading to Blount County.
8. Houston vs. Oakland: The Patriots took a one-point loss to crosstown rival Riverdale and turned it into, as the Waterboy would say, “Tacklin’ Fuel.” Since that loss, they have been punishing teams with their ground attack led by Mr. Football finalist Duane Morris. Houston raised a lot of Midstate eyebrows with their dominating performance against Brentwood, and they will need to play even better against Oakland to get the win.
9. Pearl-Cohn vs. Upperman: Upperman has had a tremendous year and their defense has been exceptionally tough. Quarterback Bronzden Chaffin is definitely the straw that stirs the drink in Baxter but this Pearl team is on another level offensively. They are loaded with size on the line and speed at all the skill positions. The biggest risk to the Firebirds is the Firebirds. If the Bees can come out and get Pearl off their game, slow the game down, and capitalize on chances, they could come out on top. But against a team who walked off the field last year angry and with an eye toward this year, that is a tall ask.
