TSSAA playoffs kick off tonight
The golden goal of every high school football team in the TSSAA state playoffs is to put together a memorable run over the next five weeks and end the season with a win at Tennessee Tech.
Tonight, all but one of the Chattanooga area’s 27 teams that qualified for the playoffs will begin their roads to Cookeville and the championship games. McCallie has a firstround bye in the Division II-AAA bracket and enters postseason play next week at home against the winner of tonight’s matchup between Father Ryan (2-8) and Ensworth (6-4).
For the others, here’s a look at what to expect.
CLASS 1A
Teams to watch Whitwell: The Tigers capped the program’s first 10-0 regular season with their first region championship since 2001, and they have been dominant this year. They averaged a school-record 45.2 points per game, and they have allowed more than 12 points in a game just twice. They start 10 seniors and would host all the way through the semifinals.
South Pittsburg: The Pirates had three backs rush for more than 100 yards last week and expect starting quarterback Brayden Sanders to return from injury tonight. They have allowed more than 10 points just once this season.
Tonight’s matchups
Clay County (5-5) at Whitwell (10-0): This is a rematch from last year’s first-round meeting, which the Tigers won by 59 points. The Bulldogs have allowed at least 36 points four times this season.
Monterey (5-5) at South Pittsburg (9-1): South Pittsburg hasn’t lost a first-round playoff game since 2006, and in Vic Grider’s 20 season as coach, the Pirates’ average margin in the first round is 50-10, including last year’s 41-0 win over Monterey.
Lookout Valley (4-6) at Jo Byrns (6-4): Avery Hamrick, Zane Howard, Allen Ray and Corey Talley each has more than 450 rushing yards for Lookout Valley, which won four of its past five games but is looking for the program’s first playoff win since 2011. Jo Byrns was held to one score in each of its four losses.
Sale Creek (2-7) at Gordonsville (8-2): Despite losing its final five regular-season games, Sale Creek is making the first playoff appearance in program history.
CLASS 2A
Teams to watch
Meigs County: The top-ranked Tigers finished 10-0 for the second straight season, failing to score at least 35 points only once, and they allowed more than seven points just once, a 55-14 win against Hixson in the season’s second week. Meigs would be a prohibitive favorite in the first three rounds — no other team on its side of the bracket has more than seven wins — and would host through as many rounds.
Tyner: Last year’s state runner-up has plenty of big-game experience, but the second-ranked Rams will face a much tougher playoff road than Meigs. Tyner likely would have to beat perennial power Trousdale County in the second round and travel to third-ranked Watertown in the quarterfinals before a potential semifinal against Meigs County. Tonight’s matchups Sullivan North (5-5) at Meigs County (10-0): The Raiders enter the postseason on a four-game losing streak and have been held to 16 or fewer points five times. Watch for Caleb Hyde to possibly become another big-play threat for Meigs during the playoffs. He has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this year, is a ballhawk on defense and now will be targeted more as a receiver. Said Tigers coach Jason Fitzgerald: “We haven’t had to go to him a lot, but he can really run and we’ll get the ball in his hands more now that the playoffs are starting.”
East Robertson (5-5) at Tyner (9-1): The Rams, who averaged 40 points while winning nine straight games after losing their opener at Class 6A’s Ooltewah, will have a considerable speed advantage against the Indians, who come in on a fourgame losing streak and allowed at least 50 points in two of those. Tyner’s Martavius Ryals, a talented junior quarterback and free safety, could have just as easily made the list of Mr. Football semifinalists announced Thursday. In his first year as the starting QB, he has thrown for 1,251 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for another 462 yards and 10 scores. On defense, he has a team-leading 54 solo tackles, with 16 for loss and four sacks, and he returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown. Also, burly defensive lineman Tyrique Henry will be a big key if the Rams are going to make another run at a title — he leads the area in both tackles for loss (23) and sacks (12) and has 70.5 total tackles.
Marion County (3-6) at Trousdale County (7-3): Dual-threat QB Isaiah Sampson is back for Marion after a one-game suspension. The senior, who has 960 rushing and 735 passing yards, is key to his team’s upset hopes. Trousdale’s losses have come by a combined 11 points, including by six points in overtime to Whitwell, the Yellow Jackets’ only defeat in the past seven games. The Warriors’ last first-round loss was in 2010.
Westmoreland (7-3) at Polk County (6-4): This is Polk’s first home playoff game since 2013. Westmoreland senior fullback and linebacker Tate Sloan (6-foot2, 205 pounds) leads his team in rushing yards and tackles.
Bledsoe County (3-7) at Watertown (10-0): Watertown has averaged 48 points per game and has yet to allow more than 21 in a game this year. Watertown’s Heath Price, who has committed to Tennessee Tech, has a team-leading 110 tackles to go with 445 yards rushing and 376 receiving.
CLASS 3A
Team to watch
Red Bank: The Lions, who won their second straight Region 3-3A title and finished a regular season undefeated for the first time since 2009, averaged 48 points in their past seven games, winning each by at least 21. Their only road trip before the title game would be in the quarterfinals if the opponent is Upperman, which is coached by former Sequatchie County coach Adam Caine. The Lions would host in the semis, where they would almost certainly face top-ranked and unbeaten Alcoa, a winner of 16 state titles, including the past three. Alcoa knocked Red Bank out of last year’s semifinals.
Tonight’s matchups Smith County (4-6) at Red Bank (9-0): This is a rematch of a 2017 quarterfinal the Lions won by 19. Smith County has been held to 14 or fewer points four times this year, when the Lions’ defense has yet to allow more than 21. Junior linebacker Clark Lockerby leads the stingy group with 69.5 tackles and has nine more for loss.
York (8-2) at Signal Mountain (6-4): Led by senior quarterback and middle linebacker Landrick Leffew and 230-pound junior fullback Landon Martin, the York Dragons have scored at least 38 points five times this year and knocked the Eagles out of the first round last year. After losing the first four games this season, the Eagles moved Drew Lowry from receiver to quarterback and have responded by winning six straight. Lowry has more than 1,600 all-purpose yards and gives Signal Mountain a puncher’s chance in any matchup.
Brainerd (4-6) at Sequatchie County (7-3): This is the first-ever meeting between these teams and is also the only first-round meeting of area teams. Second-year Brainerd coach Tyrus Ward has guided his alma mater to its first postseason berth since 2011. Sequatchie relies on 240-pound fullback Brett Hicks, who has 731 rushing yards, while Brainerd has several sophomores with the speed to break away on any snap.
CLASS 4A
Tonight’s matchups Sullivan South (7-3) at Central (5-5): This is the first time in 34 years the Purple Pounders have hosted playoff games in back-to-back seasons. With two all-state players and a former Mr. Football semifinalist out with broken ankles, quarterback Jaheim Jones and athletes Donya Parker and Hunter Jones will need to step up if Central is to repeat last year’s three-point first-round win.
Howard (5-4) at Elizabethton (9-1): Howard will be in unfamiliar territory — trying to manage the clock and play keepaway against the Cyclones, who averaged 44 points per game during the regular season. Howard is looking for its first playoff win since 1998.
East Hamilton (4-6) at Greeneville (10-0): The host Green Devils are the 2017 state champions and have won 25 straight games, including by an average score of 52-4 this season. No opponent has come within 14 points of Greeneville during its two-year winning streak, and only one has scored more than seven points this season. Senior quarterback Cade Ballard was both Mr. Football and the MVP of last year’s state title game. This season, the Army-committed star has completed 85.7 percent of his passes for 2,297 yards and 32 touchdowns with no interceptions in 126 attempts. Last week the Green Devils had the ball for just 54 seconds of the first quarter but led 42-0 thanks to three interception returns for touchdowns and three quickstrike scores on offense.
CLASS 5A
Tonight’s matchups Clinton (4-6) at Soddy-Daisy (5-4): Soddy-Daisy, which won its first region title since 1996, is still without regular starting quarterback Gavin Chambers but looking to advance past the first round for the first time in eight years.
Rhea County (4-6) at Oak Ridge (8-2): The Wildcats’ only losses were by single digits to topranked Fulton and Farragut, which is ranked seventh in 6A. Senior quarterback Herbert Booker has 1,180 total yards, 15 touchdowns and has intercepted seven passes, returning three for scores.
CLASS 6A
This whole bracket is haunted with the realization that somewhere out there, topranked Maryville, the 16-time state champion, awaits. Tonight’s matchups Hardin Valley (6-4) at Ooltewah (8-2): Hardin Valley junior Kelton Gunn is a track star learning to play running back and gaining more confidence each week. His 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown helped the Hawks upset Bearden two weeks ago. Hardin Valley’s Luke Defur, a linebacker and tight end, is being recruited by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Bradley Central (7-3) at Science Hill (5-5): Take away a 42-0 loss to 4A’s Greeneville, and Science Hill’s four other defeats were by a combined 14 points. Bradley won last year’s firstround meeting by seven.
Cleveland (4-6) at Farragut (9-1): Blue Raiders coach Scott Cummings has a long-standing relationship with Farragut counterpart Eddie Courtney from his time as a head coach in Knoxville before coming to Cleveland. Admirals running back Isaiah Gibbs is committed to UT-Martin and safety Tanner Corrum is committed to Southern Illinois, but defensive end Caleb Kuhn (6-2, 210) may be the most talented player on the roster.
DIVISION II-A
Tonight’s matchup Tipton-Rosemark (5-5) at Grace Academy (6-3): The Eagles are hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2008. If they are to earn their first postseason win, expect all-state athlete Cade Tinsley to play a big role. The senior quarterback and defensive back has more than 1,100 rushing yards — he has averaged 8.9 per carry — and 16 touchdowns as well as nearly 600 passing yards. He also leads his team with 52 tackles. The Rebels have been shut out in two of their past three games.
DIVISION II-AA
Team to watch
Notre Dame: After an open date in the regular season’s final week, the Fighting Irish should be rested, healed up and ready for another deep playoff push. Similar to last year’s run to the title game, Notre Dame has rebounded from a season-opening loss to Baylor to win eight straight, with only one of those coming by fewer than 16 points. There’s plenty of size, speed and experience for a return trip to Cookeville. Tonight’s matchups CAK (3-7) at Notre Dame (8-1): Notre Dame senior Cam Wynn, a Mr. Football semifinalist, has averaged better than 9 yards per carry while gaining 1,047 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns this year. In his Fighting Irish career, he has 60 scores and nearly 4,000 total yards. Christian Academy of Knoxville had nearly 100 snaps in the first meeting between these teams this season — a 16-point Notre Dame win on Aug. 31. Said Irish coach Charles Fant: “We’ve made some pretty big adjustments on both sides of the ball since that game. Our offensive line has changed completely, and we’ve become a more aggressive defense that puts pressure on teams. They showed us some things we needed to change and get better at, and we have.”
Chattanooga Christian (5-5) at Knoxville Webb (5-5): These teams have been headed in opposite directions in the second half of the season. Webb has won four straight, including by 28 points over Chattanooga Christian, which has lost its past three. Webb sophomore running back Elijah Howard (5-11, 165) received a scholarship offer from Tennessee as an eighth-grader and now has offers from Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. He has 979 total yards 12 touchdowns and has made 45 tackles.
Silverdale Baptist Academy (5-5) at Battle Ground Academy (8-2): BGA has scored fewer than 38 points in just one of its wins this year. Silverdale will try to earn its first playoff win since 2013.
DIVISION II-AAA
Team to watch McCallie: Other than a nightmarish night of seven turnovers against Montgomery Bell Academy on Aug. 31, the Blue Tornado have been impressive against a brutally tough schedule. That includes a four-point win at Brentwood Academy that snapped a 24-game winning streak for the Eagles, state champions the past three years. That Oct. 5 victory, which is part of a six-game streak by McCallie, helped secure a first-round bye and the right to host a quarterfinal next week. Junior dual-threat QB DeAngelo Hardy, a Mr. Football semifinalist, is the key to an offense that has scored at least 27 points seven times. Hardy has 1,169 rushing yards, 1,035 passing and 20 total touchdowns. Tonight’s matchup Pope John Paul II (5-5) at Baylor (4-6): Baylor, which won the regular-season meeting with the Knights by seven, has advanced past the first round every year since 2008. Since topping the Knights, the Red Raiders have lost three of four, failing to score more than seven points in any of those defeats.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.