When the TSSAA's three-day football-palooza, otherwise known as the BlueCross Bowl state championships, begins later this week, there is the possibility that three of the eight titles could be claimed by Chattanooga-area teams.
Baylor (Division II-AA), South Pittsburg (Class 1A) and Signal Mountain (Class 2A) will play for state championships on successive days at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. The last time three area programs played for state titles in the same season was in 1994, when Cleveland (4A), Marion County (3A) and South Pittsburg (1A) all brought back gold trophies.
After the D-II schools took a week off, Baylor (10-1) plays Ensworth (9-2) on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST. Second-ranked South Pittsburg (11-2) plays top-ranked Jo Byrns (13-0) at 1 p.m. Friday, and Signal Mountain (13-0) plays surprising Trinity Christian (9-4) at 1 on Saturday.
The only other area team still playing is Calhoun, which hosts top-ranked Carver in Georgia's Class AA semifinals. Carver (13-0) has not allowed a touchdown in eight of its victories, while Calhoun (13-0) has allowed one TD or less eight times as well.
Baylor lost at home to Ensworth, 41-29, in the eighth week of the regular season. That was during a tough four-week stretch in which the Red Raiders played three state-ranked teams plus rival McCallie.
"I think it helps a lot that we're playing a team that beat us. It will have our kids' attention," Baylor coach Phil Massey said. "As soon as we lost to them, the kids immediately wanted a rematch to redeem themselves. We got what we want; now it's just a matter of being sound in all phases of the game."
After losing its first two games of the season, Ensworth has won nine straight, including a come-from-behind one-point win over Brentwood Academy in the semifinals. The Tigers are making their first title-game appearance and are led by Mr. Football lineman finalist Keenen Crenshaw and back finalist Cornelius Elder, a sophomore who ran for 202 yards and a touchdown in the semifinal win.
Signal Mountain claimed its 10th win by the state's 35-point mercy rule in Friday's semifinal against Boyd-Buchanan and will be a heavy favorite to claim a championship in the Eagles' second season of varsity competition.
"I've been coaching for a long time and this is my first chance to go to the state, and it means a lot to me," Eagles coach Bill Price said after Friday's win. "I think it means a lot to this community, and this community has really been behind them."
Trinity Christian also will be making its championship game debut. The Lions have won their last two playoff games by less than a touchdown, including a one-point win over McKenzie in overtime. That avenged a regular-season loss ad included blocking a 28-yard field-goal attempt with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. McKenzie then missed an extra point in overtime.
The Lions are led by quarterback Jabriel Washington, who had 244 passing yards and 79 rushing in the semifinal win. A verbal commitment to Alabama, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Washington is rated a four-star prospect by several recruiting services. Projected to be a cornerback in college, he has eight other offers from SEC programs, as well as offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State and California.
"We've talked about it some, and it's a dream to get to play for a state championship, especially as a senior," Signal Mountain offensive lineman Shea Baker said. "But we have not accomplished anything yet. We have to keep working because we have talked about winning state - not just getting to state."
South Pittsburg faces a Jo Byrns team whose average margin is 41-7 with none below 14 points. In their only other appearance in a state final, the Red Devils lost 31-14 to Trousdale County in 2008. Brandon Holt rushed for 194 yards and four TDs in the semifinals and Frankie Traughber added 172 rushing yards and two TDs.
The Red Devils have not allowed more than 14 points in a game all season, while the Pirates, who are making their third title-game appearance in four years, have scored seven touchdowns or more eight times.
* Calhoun coach Hal Lamb won a coin flip Saturday morning to earn the Yellow Jackets a home game against the top-ranked Columbus school in their state semifinal.
Carver, nationally ranked in several services, rolled past Thomasville 40-14 on Friday as Isaiah Crowell rushed for 305 yards and five touchdowns. Crowell is one of several top college prospects for Carver.
"Carver is going to be a tremendous challenge for us," Lamb said. "Getting home-field advantage is always great for us."