As if there wasn’t enough hype surrounding Signal Mountain’s football team already, the second-year program earned yet another first Monday. The Eagles were No. 1 in the first Associated Press Class 2A state poll, the highest ranking they have attained. Signal Mountain rose to No. 2 last year.
“Right now that doesn’t mean anything,” Eagles coach Bill Price said. “That’s after just two games. If it’s that way after week 10, that would be great.
“To be honest, we won’t even mention it to the kids. They know how I feel about all that. We’re just going to get ready for Lookout Valley this Friday.”
Signal Mountain has outscored its first two opponents, both in higher classifications, by a combined 90-17 this season. The Eagles are ranked just ahead of two-time defending state champion and perennial power Trousdale County. Trousdale received more first-place votes (11 to 7), but Signal Mountain had more voting points.
Another area team, South Pittsburg in 1A, also is ranked atop its classification. The Pirates received 17 of 22 first-place votes from across the state after beating Grundy County 53-14 in their season opener. South Pittsburg hosts Signal Mountain in a District 6-A game Sept. 17.
Other area teams in their respective top 10s are Baylor and McCallie (Nos. 3 and 7 in Division II), Red Bank (No. 4 in 4A), Polk County (No. 6 in 3A), Ooltewah (No. 7 in 6A), Copper Basin (No. 7 in 1A) and Cleveland (No. 9 in 5A).
Stephen has covered high school sports in the tri-state area since the early 1990s, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor for more than seven years. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state and regional awards for his writing on high school athletics. He has two children, Riley ...
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