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The 2023 high school football season has officially come to an end and what a year it was.
This year’s BlueCross Bowls once again brought out the best in teams. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, the state championship games proved once again just how great high school football is.
For me, that three-day stretch also opened my eyes to some things maybe I already knew and some I wasn’t aware of.
Here are my five biggest takeaways following this year’s state championship games.
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1. Eli Wilson should be the DII-A Mr. Football winner
I’ve said time and time again that Mr. Football should be a full-season award. Eli Wilson proved that on Thursday.
It was ridiculous to me that he was snubbed out of being a finalist entirely but all Thursday showed me is that he should be the rightful winner. In the battle between him and Tyson Wolcott, both players put up massive numbers. In the end, though, it was Wilson coming away with the gold ball with a monster performance on both sides.
Wolcott had a monster regular season and in my opinion, is going to win the award on Tuesday afternoon. He should be between the three finalists.
However, Wilson should be in that mix and if you’re basing Mr. Football on the entirety of the season, there’s no question in my mind Wilson is the winner after Thursday.
2. Replay has to happen, at least for state championships
This was another year where replay could have played a significant factor in several state championship matchups. We’re able to see the aftermath of plays on the big board, but nothing can be done. That has to change.
To put it plainly, several of the crews for this year’s championship games were bad which isn’t shocking. Most of them could have been redeemed though simply through instant replay.
The state championships are too important for the TSSAA not to have the best crews there. They’re also too important for instant replay not to be implemented at this point.
3. Houston’s run was no fluke and Memphis is back
Everyone just assumed that Oakland would beat Houston on Saturday for its fourth straight 6A title. Oh how wrong we were.
Oakland scored first in Saturday’s game but from that point on, Houston dominated en route to a 24-9 win and its first state title in school history. This game was no fluke.
Houston’s run to the gold ball was impressive. Over their five-game postseason games, the Mustangs outscored their opponents 169-26. That run included wins over Collierville, Germantown, Brentwood, and finally Oakland.
I also think that Houston’s win signified the return of Memphis football after a few down years down to COVID. The area had a big year with teams like Houston, Germantown, Southwind, and Fairley all making deep postseason runs. This year was just the start.
4. Pearl-Cohn’s win just the start for Metro Nashville
The excitement from Pearl-Cohn’s 36-27 win over Upperman on Saturday is hard to put into words. The Firebirds’ senior-heavy squad brought home the school’s first state title since 1997 and Metro Nashville’s first gold ball since 2008.
As Metro Nashville athletic director Mark North said following the game, this is just the beginning.
I believe that the dam has broken for Metro Nashville now with Pearl’s gold ball. Between their success, East’s continued runs to the 3A title game, and Hillsboro’s rebound, I personally believe another gold ball will be headed back to Metro Nashville in the near future.
Add on that every Metro Nashville school has new turf fields and several great coaches, and the area is in a prime position to continually send teams to state every year.
5. Revenge tours starting now for Oakland, Page, East Robertson
Oakland’s reign came to an end. Page brought home silver once again. East Robertson’s magical run ended only scoring seven points.
Let the revenge tours start now.
Good luck to the teams in 6A, 5A, and 2A next year because these three right now are your early favorites to bring home the gold ball. Page in particular reminds me of Pearl-Cohn last year after its heartbreaking loss to Anderson County.
With players like Eric Hazzard, Brenden Anes, Daune Morris, Isaiah Groves, and Zach Groves leading the way, I feel bad for any team that crosses their paths in 2024.
