MBA denies Hayden, Purple Wave title bid
Friday’s 42-14 loss ends remarkable playoff run
NASHVILLE — Dallan Hayden fought back tears the best he could Friday night.
The four-star running back’s high school football season and magical Christian Brothers career ended one step from the TSSAA Division II-AAA Bluecross Bowl and the program’s first state championship game since 2005.
MBA defeated Christian Brothers 4214 at Tommy Owen Stadium in the DIIAAA state semifinals. The Big Red (9-3) play two-time defending state champion Mccallie (12-0) at 7 p.m. (ET) on Dec. 2 at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium.
Christian Brothers finished the season 8-5.
“He had a heck of a season and two phenomenal years,” Christian Brothers coach Thomas Mcdaniel said. “He’s a selfless kid, a great leader. We’re definitely going to miss him.”
Hayden, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior, finished the season with 256 carries for 2,002 yards and 33 total touchdowns. Over the past two seasons, he ran for 4,012 yards and scored 57 touchdowns.
“I’m going to miss putting on the gold helmet and going to battle with my brothers,” Hayden said
Hayden, an Ohio State commitment, is the No. 9 college football prospect from Tennessee for the Class of 2022 and is the No. 24 running back in the country.
Hayden, the 2020 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football for Division II-AAA, was held to 52 yards on 12 carries against MBA, which advances to its second state championship game in three years. Hayden had an 8-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left in the game.
He is also a Mr. Football semifinalist this season.
The loss ends a remarkable playoff run for Christian Brothers. The Purple Wave entered the postseason 6-4 and were the fifth seed from the DII-AAA West Region. Christian Brothers beat Knoxville Catholic 28-24 in the opening round of the TSSAA playoffs and followed it up with a 35-33 win over Briarcrest Christian to avenge a two-overtime loss.
“We were 4-4 coming off fall break and I think everyone had written us off,” Mcdaniel said. “We ripped off four in a row. In this league, it’s about matchups and we felt like the way the tournament was, was good for us.”
Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager @gannett.com and on Twitter @Kreager.