Friday night greater Chattanooga high school football free-for-all

photo McCallie Blue Tornado coach Ralph Potter, left, and Baylor Red Raiders coach Phil Massey will meet on the gridiron Friday night as their teams are ranked No.1 and No. 2 respectively in Division II-AA.
photo Football fans enjoy the bonfire at Baylor's homecoming rally.
photo Baylor quarterback Nick Tiano
photo Calhoun quaterback Kaelan Riley
photo Kareem Orr of Notre Dame
photo Rhea County running back Jacob York

In recent years, college football Saturdays across the country have been christened by alliteration to try to magnify the meaning.

For the high school football fans in the Tennessee Valley, forget Showdown Saturday or Separation Saturday this week.

Call it Free-for-all Friday.

Rivalry passion meets championship dreams in at least four regional showdowns Friday, with one meeting between the top-two ranked teams in the state and another for a traditional power that has not lost a region game since 2001. All told, there are four games that will all-but-cement the front-runner in the respective regions, and the eight teams involved all are state ranked and have a combined 41-1 ranking so far this season.

The annual showdown between McCallie and Baylor highlights Friday fight night. Known simply as The Game within the two camps, this game will be between the state's top-two-ranked Division II-AA teams. It's believed to be the first time the longtime rivals have met atop the state polls, and for top-ranked McCallie, playing a team ranked No. 2 in the state is statistically an easier task than the last two weeks, when the Blue Tornado beat Bowling Green, Kentucky's top-ranked team, and previous Division II No. 1 Ensworth.

In fact, the overflow crowd expected at Spears Stadium and the overflow crowd expected for the de facto 7-AA championship game forced Notre Dame to move its game with Signal Mountain to Ringgold (Ga.) High School. The Irish - ranked No. 5 in Class 3A in Tennessee - and the Eagles - No. 3 in 4A - each believe this could be a steppingstone for lengthy postseason runs.

Farther down the road in North Georgia, the area's most successful program in the last decade puts its 13-year region winning streak on the line. Second-ranked Calhoun, which dominated in Class AA before moving into AAA this season and has not lost a region game since falling to Darlington in October 2001, faces an unbeaten Adairsville team for control of 6-AAA.

Rhea County hosting Cookeville completes the Friday night clash of heavyweights in a game that likely will decide the 6-AAA champ in Tennessee.

CLASHES OF THE TITANS

* BAYLOR (5-0) at McCALLIE (6-0)

The story: Baylor has an average margin of victory of 27 points per game (37-10); McCallie has an average margin of victory of 20 points per game (47.2-27.2). In a rivalry that never lacks for emotion, the teams meet ranked No. 1 and 2 for the first time.

The stars: Baylor quarterback Nick Tiano, a Mississippi State commitment, has 559 yards passing and eight passing TDs. On a team filled with stars, McCallie fullback Alex Trotter has been the area's most productive player with 1,173 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.

The stakes: Division II-AA's top-two-ranked teams will play at McCallie. State rankings and potential homefield advantage in the playoffs until the state title are on the line, but notoriety and convenience take a back seat to pride here.

- Jay Greeson

* ADAIRSVILLE (4-0) at CALHOUN (5-0)

The story: Each team is ranked in the latest state poll, the Tigers 10th and the Yellow Jackets second, and each features balanced offenses and attacking defenses. If results against common opponents mean anything, Adairsville has a strong shot. The Tigers defeated Ringgold 35-0, while Calhoun had to rally to down Ringgold, 27-13.

The stars: Adairsville has perhaps Region 6-AAA's most dangerous player in quarterback Marcus Childers, a 6-2, 200-pound senior who has hurt teams running and passing in the team's Pistol attack. Calhoun's typically stingy defense is led by Auburn commitment defensive end Landon Rice, and offensively they lean on quarterback Kaelen Riley.

The stakes: Barring major upsets down the road the winner will be the region champion.

- Lindsey Young

* SIGNAL MOUNTAIN (6-0) vs. NOTRE DAME (4-1) at Ringgold

The story: Signal averages 44.2 points per game behind a strong ground-and-pound offensive approach, while the more-balanced Irish are averaging 37.2. Defensively, both allowing fewer than 10 points per game.

The stars: The Irish are led by Louisville commitment Kareem Orr, who may show up at any of the skill spots offensively and also in the defensive secondary, and running back Auston Banks, who is averaging 158.6 yards per game. Signal running back Skye Wilson already has 16 TDs.

The stakes: Although each has district games remaining, this one should be for the 7-AA championship.

- Ward Gossett

* COOKEVILLE (6-0, 2-0) at RHEA COUNTY (5-0, 2-0)

The story: Both teams have had no problems with their competition so far. Cookeville is beating its opponents by an average of 40 points per game - the same average margin as the Golden Eagles so far.

The stars: The Cavaliers have been led by Wilson Central transfers Vic Johnson and Gabe Angel. The two have combined for 950 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns so far. Rhea has been led by the four-headed rushing attack of Cody Bice, Zac Daoust, Dylan Smith and Jacob York, who have combined for 1,229 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The stakes: The winner of this game will be on the fast track to the District 6-AAA championship.

- Gene Henley

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