Unpacking the TSSAA playoffs — from contenders to pretenders
The TSSAA football playoffs kick off Friday with first-round games scheduled across the state. Who are the favorites to bring home gold ball trophies in this year's Bluecross Bowl games.
And who are the pretenders — teams that on face value should be title contenders, but will struggle living up to those lofty expectations.
Contenders
Mckenzie or Fayetteville (Class 1A)
If Fayetteville (10-0) is considered 1A then Mckenzie (10-0) is likely 1B when it comes to who are the favorites in Class 1A. The bad thing is the two programs would meet in the state quarterfinals. Fayetteville's starting defense has given up 66 points this season while the Tigers' offense was just as impressive. Fayetteville, led by sophomore quarterback Samuel Willoughby, scored a program-record 467 points in 10 games this season. The previous record of 451 points was set in 2020 in 15 games. However, Fayetteville lost to Mckenzie in last year's quarterfinals. Last year's Class 1A state runner-up is led by Mr. Football candidate Marquez Taylor.
Chattanooga Tyner (Class 2A)
Tyner has six shutouts entering the playoffs and are giving up just 6.2 points a game. The team's lone blemish was a 42-20 loss to statewide powerhouse Alcoa.
Alcoa (Class 3A)
Gary Rankin may be coaching in Chattanooga at Boyd Buchanan, but Alcoa (9-1) remains the premier program in Class 3A under first year-coach Brian Nix. Jordan Harris and Zach Lunsford, a pair of Mr. Football candidates, headline the talent pool here. Jordan Harris entered Week 11 with 1,358 all-purpose yards and 18 total TDS to pace the Tornadoes. Teammate Zach Lunsford had 1,210 passing yards and 15 TDS.
Greeneville (Class 4A)
Can the Greene Devils win their first state championship since 2018? A title run would make up for 2021 when Greeneville was upset by Elizabethton in the quarterfinals for the third straight season. This season Greeneville will likely need to get past Anderson County in the quarterfinals.
Knoxville West (Class 5A)
The Rebels have never had a perfect season. This is the year that can change. West has wins over 3A powerhouse Alcoa and 5A power Maryville. Throw in wins over Class 6A foes Bearden and Farragut and West is ready for a long run.
Oakland (Class 6A)
The Patriots (9-1) should roll through their side of the bracket. Oakland won't leave Murfreesboro and Ray Hughes Stadium until the championship game. Add in Maryville's struggles and a third straight state championship is almost a lock.
Friendship Christian (Division II-A)
Quarterback Garrett Weekly commands an offense that is averaging 41.4 points a game this season. The DII-A Mr. Football candidate has enough offensive weapons to lead the Commanders to their first state title since 2017.
Lipscomb Academy (Division II-AA)
The Mustangs have won 18 straight games and are ranked nationally. There is no such thing as a sure thing, but Lipscomb Academy (10-0) is the closest thing to it. Fourth-year coach Trent Dilfer's offense has averaged 42.4 points a game this season thanks in part to firstyear starter Hank Brown, a Liberty commitment, and Vanderbilt commitment Junior Sherrill at wide receiver. But the defense, led by Edwin Spillman and Tennessee commitment Kaleb Beasley, is giving up just 7.3 points per contest.
MBA (Division II-AAA)
The path to a gold ball won't be easy for the Big Red (10-0). But MBA proved it was the best team in the league this season, beating Baylor, Brentwood Academy,
Ensworth and Mccallie in the regular season. Ole Miss commitment Marcel Reed has thrown for 1,611 yards with 16 TDS and five interceptions. He also has 719 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDS. Teammate Johnothan Moore has 1,200 rushing yards and 19 TDS.
Pretenders
Williamson County 6A teams
A team from Williamson County has reached the TSSAA Class 6A Bluecross Bowl in each of the past three seasons. Summit was state runner-up in 2021. Brentwood was runner-up in 2020 a year after Ravenwood started the streak or runner-up finishes. There isn't a team in the county that is as good as any of those teams in 2022. That opens the door for Memphis' teams to get to a semifinal.
MASE (Class 1A)
The Memphis charter school breezed through the regular season at 10-0 and giving up just 18 points all season — just
six to Tennessee teams. The program recorded eight shutouts.
East Nashville (Class 3A)
A team that appeared locked in to reach the Class 3A championship game now enters the playoffs with significant questions. The Eagles (8-2) have lost back-to-back games, falling to Ravenwood and Smith County. That could mean a second-round game at Waverly against 2,000-yard rusher Easton Elliott.
USJ (Division II-A)
The Bruins (9-1) have scored 50 or more points five times this season in their final year in DII-A before bumping up to DII-AA due to their enrollment size. For USJ to reach the DII-A championship game the Bruins will need to figure out how to get past favorite Friendship.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager