Irish-Chargers game Friday moved to Finley Stadium

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Notre Dame's Class 3A TSSAA playoff game Friday has been moved off campus and will be played at Finley Stadium.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Irish, 11-1 and owners of an 11-game win streak since a season-opening loss to Knoxville Catholic, will host McMinn Central, which is 10-2 following a 30-7 victory last week over Red Bank.

Notre Dame won District 6-AA and was top-seeded in the second quadrant. McMinn Central was second in District 5-AA (behind unbeaten Loudon) and was the second quadrant's No. 2 seed. The programs last met in 2012 with McMinn Central posting a 41-20 victory at Notre Dame.

Duff, Cooper picked

Hixson's Dan Duff was selected the District 6-AA football coach of the year. His team, led by district player of the year Marshall Cooper, went 9-3 and successfully defended its district title. The Wildcats were undefeated in 6-AA, in fact.

Central defensive coordinator Cortney Braswell was named the league's assistant coach of the year, and one of his linebackers, Jamel Metcalf, was the defensive player of the year.

Other player of the year awards went to Red Bank's Malik Davis, offense; Central's Tareq Falah, special teams; Hixson's Brody Gregory, offensive line; Red Bank's Cortney Stamper, defense; Central's Kevin McKenzie and Brainerd's Marcus McMillian, linebackers; Central's D.J. Baxter, defensive back; East Ridge's JoJo Tillery, quarterback; Red Bank's Ben Brown, wide receiver; Hixson's James Cole, running back; and East Ridge's Darius Moore, tight end.

Nationally esteemed

In a recent power poll CBS/MaxPreps listed Tennessee's Division II-AA as the nation's seventh-toughest high school district/region.

Division II-AA playoff semifinalists are Ensworth, Memphis University School, Montgomery Bell Academy and Baylor.

McCallie and Brentwood Academy were ranked in the top 10 in some of the group's Southeast region ratings during the year but were eliminated last week. Other DII-AA members are St. Benedict, Briarcrest, Pope John Paul II, Father Ryan and Christian Brothers.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

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