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Who wins gold and who brings home silver?
Nine state champions will be crowned between Thursday and Saturday at Finley Stadium. We’ll be there for every single game.
Here’s a look at who we have ending the season as state champions.
WEEK 16 RANKINGS: Macon County, Oakland, Page make it to state
GOING 1-9: Ranking every TSSAA football state championship matchup
Class 6A
Cam (Oakland 42, Houston 38): High octane offenses collide! Look for Chandler Day to have success vs the Patriot defense. But Daune Morris and Craig Tutt will match the Mustangs fire power and get revenge for last seasons championship game.
Chris (Oakland 23, Houston 21): Houston slows Daune Morris, but Craig Tutt has just enough answers to avenge last year’s shocking championship defeat.
Isaac (Oakland 23, Houston 18): I’ll have to admit that after last year, I’m pretty hesitant with this pick but I just can’t pick against the three-headed monster that is Oakland’s backfield. The Patriots defense has concerned me all year long but after last week’s effort against a good Maryville team, I’m slightly more comfortable picking Oakland to avenge last year’s loss in the monsoon to Houston.
Joe (Houston 35, Oakland 31): It’s hard to pick against the Patriots and their loaded backfield but what Houston does well is Oakland’s weakness. The Mustangs are strong up front on defense and with Chandler Day back at quarterback, they repeat as the kings of 6A
Scott (Oakland 38, Houston 35): Kevin Creasy is rarely out coached and given the results from last year, I imagine that CoachCreasy was reviewing film from last year and on the bus ride home. Another advantage for the Patriots is that they are getting healthy at the right time.
Tyson (Oakland 35, Houston 28): I think Oakland is going to run through Houston, literally. They’re three headed monster of a backfield is firing on all cylinders, but Oakland has had a notably poor secondary, so I do think Houston can keep it close in the air.
Class 5A
Cam (Page 35, Sevier County 17): Sevier County’s postseason run has been magical, Page’s season has been historical. Eric Hazzard, Brendan Anes, and the rest of the Patriot Seniors will end their high school careers as legends… and state champions!
Chris (Page 27, Sevier County 7): The Patriots make the fourth time the charm behind seven sacks from their dominant defense.
Isaac (Page 35, Sevier County 7): I don’t like predicting blowouts, but when one team has Eric Hazzard, Brendan Anes, and William Wiebush on the same defensive unit, it’s hard for me not to. The Smokey Bears of Sevier have proven they are a resilient, hard nosed team this year. But after several close games, I think their season comes to an end at the hands of an angry Patriots Squad.
Joe (Page 38, Sevier County 9): Page hasn’t given up double digits all year and if you think I’m picking that streak to end here, you’re wrong. The Smoky Bears will be great eventually but this year is the Patriots’ time.
Scott (Page 28, Sevier County 16): This Sevier County team is playing like a team of destiny, winning games in ways similar to Page three years ago. But the Smoky Bears will be facing a team unlike any they’ve played yet.
Tyson (Page 24, Sevier County 21): Page hasn’t allowed a lot of points but I’m not sure they’ve faced a team with a resume like Sevier Co. with wins over Powell and Knox West, two teams that defeated Page in state, but Page is fueled like no other team.
Class 4A
Cam (Macon County 35, Melrose 20): The Tigers have been a team locked in on bringing home the first gold football back to Lafayette in school history. The Borders (Gabe and Zach) both go for 100+ yards and the Tigers pull away from the Wildcats.
Chris (Macon County 34, Melrose 22): Gabe Borders goes for 225 yards and three touchdowns and Zach Borders adds another score as the Tigers complete their title breakthrough.
Isaac (Macon County 26, Melrose 22): This is the game that, for my money, has the chance to be the best game of the weekend. Both teams are on a story book run, but I see the Borders twins leading Macon to its first title in school history. That won’t be easy, with a Melrose defense that has been dominant this year, but I think Kyle Shoulders has his tigers poised for an all time performance on Saturday.
Joe (Macon County 31, Melrose 20): This game is either a slugfest or one team rolls the other. I’d lean with one team rolling and I’d put my money on Macon being that team with the Borders twins leading the way to the team’s first state title.
Scott (Macon County 27, Melrose 21): Since neither team has played for a gold ball recently, experience goes out the window. Coach Kyle Shoulders is one of the most creative offensive minds in the game, but it has been their defensive intensity that will lead them to their first gold ball.
Tyson (Macon County 28, Melrose 21): Macon is riding high after tearing down their goal posts and I think they, too, will ride that momentum to the promised land.
Class 3A
Cam (Westview 41, Alcoa 35): One of the most interesting matchups of the weekend, Alcoa’s legacy vs the hotshot Freshman, Graham Simpson. Westview has a way of dragging teams into shootouts, if that happens it favors the Chargers and their high flying offense.
Chris (Alcoa 40, Westview 33): Graham Simpson and the Chargers make it exciting, but the Tornadoes make a defensive play late to avoid the upset and move to 4A having won 10 straight state titles.
Isaac (Westview 45, Alcoa 41): Yes I know this is probably not happening, but somebody has to take down the Tornadoes, and it might as well be these Chargers. Graham Simpson has been a revelation at QB and very well could be a future number 1 prospect in the country. Both Eli’s Owens and Graf will have their say about that, leading Alcoa to its possible 10th straight title, but I’m feeling lucky about predicting the upset here.
Joe (Alcoa 45, Westview 27): The story of freshman phenom Graham Simpson being the one to dethrone Alcoa at the top is one that would steal the weekend. I just don’t see it happening though as Alcoa is a 5A team in 3A that will win its 10th straight state title.
Scott (Westview 45, Alcoa 42): Two of the top two QB’s in the state face off in the Tornadoes’ Eli Graf and the Chargers’ prodigy, Graham Simpson. I think that the underrated Chargers defense gets enough stops that allows the Chargers to get ahead and stay there.
Tyson (Alcoa 42, Westview 38): Alcoa is gonna go out of 3A with a bang and then Simpson and Westview are going to dominate. Alcoa beat maryville and that’s hard to argue against
Class 2A
Cam (Marion County 27, Marion County 21): One of these two will claim their first state title since the 90’s. Both teams have workhorse athletes in Jaydon Peete(Milan) and Sam Pickett(Marion). I think the supporting cast around Pickett is a little better and gets the Warriors their first state title since 1995.
Chris (Marion County 21, Milan 14): A stout Marion County defense makes a last-minute stop to deliver the Warriors their first title since 1995.
Isaac (Marion County 28, Milan 13): I’ve been rooting this year for Milan to make it to state, and I’ve been really impressed with this bulldogs team. Jaydon Peete has proven he’s worthy of a Mr Football Finalist nod, but I think Marion is coming into this game with a more diverse attacking arsenal. I expect Peete to get his carries, but I think Marion out-athletes Milan here.
Joe (Milan 28, Marion County 24): I flip-flopped on this game more than any of the others. Ultimately I went with the team I know from personal experience and a coach that’s been on this stage before leading his team to a gold ball.
Scott (Milan 31, Marion County 20): This game is going to be determined on whether or not the Warriors can keep Jaydon Peete corralled. In fact, their only loss was to a Jackson Central team that took advantage of mistakes and scored 47 on them. I don’t see that happening again.
Tyson (Marion County 31, Milan 21): Marion County has had a very impressive playoff run and I think they continue the momentum.
Class 1A
Cam (MASE 22, South Pittsburg 20): This could be the best game all weekend as both teams have the tangibles to become state champions. If the Phoenix can settle in early, I think they lean on their defense to hold on for their 1st state title.
Chris (South Pittsburg 28, MASE 14): MASE inadvertently opened the door for South Pittsburg to go back-to-back and the Pirates make it three out of the last four with a gold ball as a pair of Mr. Football semifinalists do the heavy lifting.
Isaac: (South Pittsburg 35, MASE 28): South Pitt started the season as somewhat of an unknown for me. I knew they’d be good, but could they channel the magic they had last year? Their defense has stepped up this post season, and overall they have evolved into a state title team. I expect MASE to score with them, but I think the Pirates out-tough the Phoenix in this one.
Joe (South Pittsburg 24, MASE 17): I wanted the South Pitt and MASE rematch but MASE spoiled that. This is MASE’s first time here and against a Pirates team that knows what it takes to win gold, I don’t like their chances.
Scott (South Pittsburg 36, MASE 30): South Pittsburg struggled early this year with a young team that graduated all but 4 starters. This team has grown up fast and know what the expectations are.
Tyson (MASE 24, South Pittsburg 21): I will admit I know nothing about this matchup, so I asked my teammate Jade Kneeland (Bartlett ‘24) and he doesn’t either. All I know is both teams had a lot of blowout wins and MASE had more shutouts.
Division II-AAA
Cam (Baylor 31, McCallie 21): McCallie will come out ready to play after being embarrassed by Baylor in the regular season 44-12. But look for Baylor to lean on their two headed monster in the backfield to pull away in the 2nd half to avenge their state title loss last season.
Chris (Baylor 47, McCallie 18): The all-Chattanooga final won’t be nearly as good as last year’s classic as the Red Raiders roll to avenge last year’s title loss.
Isaac (Baylor 35, McCallie 10): The annual Chattanooga Private School Bowl continues this year, and I don’t see the Big Blue making any improvements from their regular season matchup against the Red Raiders. Briggs Cherry and David Gabriel Georges should carry Baylor to another title win, and cap off their season with an undefeated record and the 2nd title in 3 years.
Joe (Baylor 34, McCallie 13): McCallie won this game last year but that’s a distant memory. The Red Raiders cruised in the regular season matchup and I don’t see much changing the second time around.
Scott (Baylor 35, McCallie 24): Baylor doesn’t play when they get a rematch against teams they have defeated in the regular season. They are the exception to the rule in that regard.
Tyson (Baylor 35, McCallie 24): McCallie keeps it a lot closer than they did in the regular season but the Baylor Canadiens are just dominant. Their only close in-state game was a 7-6 win over BA in a downpour that Baylor proved to be a fluke with a blowout in the semifinals.
Division II-AA
Cam (CPA 35, BGA 21): CPA has been dominant but this BGA team has improved weekly since their first matchup with the Lions. Rawls Patterson will be the difference this time around, winning BCB MVP honors.
Chris (CPA 32, BGA 25): The Wildcats threaten late, but a veteran CPA defense gets a late turnover to finish the Lions’ run in DII-AA as champions again.
Isaac (CPA 34, BGA 28): I would like to start this off by saying that I am openly rooting for BGA to pull this upset. I picked them as my state dark horse at the start of the year, and I’ve been following what Coach Bentley has done with this squad with lots of excitement. However, in the end I know better than to pick against Ingle Martin when gold is on the line.
Also, CPA Man knows where I live.
Joe (CPA 31, BGA 17): CPA pulled away late in the first half the first time these two teams met. This game should be closer but I don’t think the Wildcats have an answer for Owen Cabell or a healthy Rawls Patterson.
Scott (CPA 45, BGA 28): Both teams are capable of putting points on the board, but this game will come down to the Lion’s superiority In the trenches. Skylar Smith, Brady Smith, Mack Sherrod, and friends give Hutson Chance the time to make big time throws, as well as opening the holes for Rawls Patterson. Oh, and CPA has Ingle Martin.
Tyson (CPA 31, BGA 28): I think this game will be closer than most think. BGA is electric and their passing attack is on of the best in the class. However CPA is really good, and with low temps, I favor CPA’s smash-mouth running game.
Division II-A
Cam (Nashville Christian 42, Columbia Academy 21): Jared Curtis and the Eagles have been a juggernaut offensively all year, throw in TJ Ward and “it’s a wrap”. Montae Baldwin will do all he can for the Bulldogs but I expect it to not be enough.
Chris (Nashville Christian 43, Columbia Academy 20): Columbia Academy hangs around for a while, but Jared Curtis and the Eagles pull away in the fourth to take their first crown since 2015.
Isaac (Nashville Christian 30, Columbia Academy 14): Jared Curtis comes in to this game as the Mr. Football favorite and I think this is where he cements his legacy. While I do think Columbia Academy has the toughness to hang in this game for a while, I think the score will end up being similar to the result we saw in the regular season between these two teams.
Joe (Nashville Christian 42, Columbia Academy 13): No DII-A program will test the Eagles as long as Jared Curtis and TJ Ward are on the roster. Thursday afternoon they win the first of what I expect to be back-to-back state titles in dominant fashion.
Scott (Nashville Christian 38, Columbia Academy 18): Not many teams are playing as well as Nashville Christian is right now. As good as this team has been all year, they are getting better. Their defense will allow Montae Baldwin his yards and will play to prevent the big play, meanwhile Jared Curtis and TJ Ward will do what they do best, burn out scoreboard bulbs.
Tyson (Nashville Christian 35, Columbia Academy 21): Nashville Christian is one of the best offenses we’ve seen in D2-A ever and who can compete with that? Columbia is gonna put up a fight but Jared Curtis will prove to be too much.
