By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
Middle Tennessee State University will host 10 teams who have run the playoff gauntlet for the right to play for a state championship this weekend.
In Class 1A, South Pittsburg is back in the finals for the first time since 1999, while McKenzie is making its first state title appearance.
In Class 2A, the championship pairing is exactly the same as last year - and the year before - as Alcoa and Goodpasture hook up. Alcoa has won the last two meetings.
Ditto for Class 3A as Knoxville Fulton and David Lipscomb lock horns again after Fulton won last season.David Lipscomb is looking to break through with a 3A state title after losing in the championship game the past two seasons.
In Class 4A, Maplewood will challenge juggernaut Maryville and the Rebels' 59-game win streak. A Maryville win would make it four-straight state titles and eight out of the last 10.
Smyrna in Class 5A will try to make history by winning back-to-back titles in the state's largest classification, which hasn't been done since 1995-96.
The Class 1A and 2A games are Friday, while the 3A, 4A and 5A games will be played Saturday.
Class 1A State Championship
South Pittsburg Pirates (14-0) vs. McKenzie Rebels (13-1)
All-Time Playoff Records - South Pittsburg (49-21, 3-2 in State Title Games), 3 Class 1A Titles, 1969, 1994, 1999; McKenzie (18-15, 0-0 in State Title Games)
Road to the Blue Cross Bowl - South Pittsburg beat Trousdale Co. 32-16, Friendship Christian 49-7, Gordonsville 33-13 and Hampton 42-28; McKenzie beat Halls 47-7, Fayette Academy 28-7, Trinity Christian 48-21 and Mt. Pleasant 35-32.
Players to Watch - South Pittsburg- RB Robert Robinson, QB Cody Robinson, WR Rashawn Weatherspoon, RB David Jones, OL Dominique Garrett; QB Derek Carr, OL Tyler Reeder, RB Tyler Moore, WR Rusty Chapman, OL Austin Winstead, DB Kyle Kirk.
South Pittsburg will raise the Gold Ball if.The Pirates can run the football especially with the duo of Mr. Football Finalist Robert Robinson and David Jones, who both can go the distance anytime they touch the football.
McKenzie will raise the Gold Ball if. The Rebel offense plays keep away from the South Pittsburg offense and the McKenzie offensive line keeps QB Derek Carr upright.
Winner - South Pittsburg has too much speed, championship experience and swagger for the Rebels.
Class 2A State Championship
Goodpasture Cougars (13-1) vs. Alcoa Tornadoes (13-1)
All-Time Playoff Records - Goodpasture (52-19, 3-4 in Title Games, 3 2A State Titles, 1995, 1999, 2001), Alcoa (62-12, 8-1 in state finals, 8 state titles, 3 1A State Titles 1977, 78, 79, 5 Class 2A Titles 1989, 2000, 04, 05, 06)
Road to the Blue Cross Bowl - Goodpasture beat CPA 47-41, Camden 26-24, Hickman 35-12 and Peabody 42-7; Alcoa beat Sweetwater 49-0, CAK 56-21, Gatlinburg-Pittman 59-36 and DCA 38-0.
Players to Watch - Goodpasture- RB Tracy Mayes, RB Benjamin Cunningham, RB Michael Rogan, RB Aaron Gillespie, QB Whit Mahan; Alcoa- QB Randall Cobb, RB Troy Hodge, OL/DL Seth Coulter, WR Sam Thompson, OL/DL Jeff Hickman.
Goodpasture will raise the Gold Ball if.They don't get in a shootout with Alcoa, control the ball and Alcoa QB Randall Cobb. Plus they forget about the last two title games in which they have been outscored 86-16.
Alcoa will raise the Gold Ball if.They remember outscoring Goodpasture 86-16 in the last two state title games and use their speed and the talents of Cobb to run the Goodpasture defense ragged to collect their fourth state title in a row.
Winner - Goodpasture is a good team but Alcoa has too many athletes and makes it three in a row over the Cougars.
Class 3A State Championship
Knoxville Fulton Falcons (12-2) vs. David Lipscomb Mustangs (13-1)
All-Time Playoff Records - Knoxville Fulton (31-14, 3-1 in Title Games, 3 Class 3A Titles 2003, 04, 06); David Lipscomb (47-15, 2-4 in Title Games, 2 2A Titles 1994, 2002).
Road to the Blue Cross Bowl - Knoxville Fulton beat Rutledge 26-0, Anderson Co. 18-0, Austin East 26-6 and Pearl-Cohn 44-16; David Lipscomb beat McNairy Central 35-7, Marshall Co. 32-14, Bolivar 38-20 and Mitchell 20-18.
Players to Watch - Knoxville Fulton- RB Terrence Cobb, FB/LB Bubba Stokes, WR Vic Smith, WR Derrick Humphrey, QB Jonathan Blair; David Lipscomb-RB Jeremy Holt, RB Russ Moneypenny, WR Zach Rogers, QB Caleb Simpson, WR Kevin Davis
Knoxville Fulton will raise the Gold Ball if.RB Terrence Cobb continues to run hard and the Fulton defense continues to play lights out as they have only given up 22 points during the playoffs.
David Lipscomb will raise the Gold Ball if. RB Jeremy Holt goes off on the ground and WR Zach Rogers makes some great catches in the Mustang passing game.
Winner - Both teams are very talented but Fulton has the killer instinct to win its fourth title in the last five years.
Class 4A State Championship
Maryville Rebels (14-0) vs. Maplewood Panthers (12-2)
All-Time Playoff Records - Maryville (75-17, 10-3 in Title games with 3 Class 2A Titles, 1970, 76, 78; 7 4A Titles, 1998, 2000, 01, 02, 04, 05, 06); Maplewood (9-14, 0-1 in title game)
Road to the Blue Cross Bowl - Maryville beat Rhea Co. 42-18, Knox. West 17-9, Red Bank 52-20 and Sullivan South 48-21; Maplewood beat Kenwood 33-12, Clarksville 19-7, Hillsboro 18-17 and Henry Co. 36-35.
Players to Watch - Maryville- QB Brent Burnette, TE Aaron Douglas, WR Steven Shiver, WR Tyler Clendenen, DE Justin Smith, DB Chris Jordan; Maplewood- QB Chris Simpson, RB Markus Cantrell, WR Quintavius Parks, FS Dominique Howard, OL Jarmarvin Howard.
Maryville will raise the Gold Ball if.They play Maryville football, which means making plays and hitting on at least one trick play.
Maplewood will raise the Gold Ball if.The stars align just right, they play flawless and Maryville isn't well Maryville in title games.
Winner - Maryille will make it 60 straight games and eight out of the last 10 4A titles, including four in a row.
Class 5A State Championship
Smyrna Bulldogs (11-3) vs. Independence Eagles (11-3)
All-Time Playoff Records - Smyrna (18-12, 1-0 in title games, 1 Class 5A Title in 2006); Independence (4-0, 0-0 in title game)
Road to the Blue Cross Bowl - Smyrna beat Cookeville 28-10, Lincoln Co. 43-16, Wilson Central 17-7 and Knoxville Bearden 17-14; Independence beat Gallatin 42-7, Antioch 44-12, Franklin 17-14 and Millington 28-27.
Players to Watch - Smyrna-WR Rod Wilks, QB Sonny Gray, RB Jeremiah Bryson, DB Jonah Hendricks, OL Tyler Eady; Independence- RB Scott Pettigrew, WR Issac Baugh, QB Alex Heckman, LB Ryan Consiglio, WR Jeff Veres;
Smyrna will raise the Gold Ball if.The dynamic duo of Batman and Robin - a.k.a. WR Rod Wilks and QB Sonny Gray - continue to hook up with big results while RB Jeremiah Bryson makes the ground game go.
Independence will raise the Gold Ball if.QB Alex Heckman continues to manage the game and make great decisions in the passing game plus the defense puts the wraps on the Wilks-Gray connection.
Winner - Smyrna. The Bulldogs make TSSAA history by becoming the first team to repeat in Class 5A since Brentwood Academy in 1995-96.
