Baylor's Ryan Parker gains yards against MBA Friday, October 23, 2015 at Baylor. 
East Ridge's Traneil Moore (32) runs the ball in for a touchdown against Notre Dame during Friday's quarterfinal playoff game on Nov.20, 2015. Tennessee TitansMr. Football winners
Tennessee TitansMr. Football winners are:Class 1ABack: Dresser Winn, Dresden; lineman; Daniel Bituli, Nashville ChristianClass 2ABack: Andrew Goldsmith, Trinity Christian; lineman: Boone Sweeney, ForrestClass 3ABack: Traneil Moore, East Ridge; lineman: Jonathan Decker, AlcoaClass 4ABack: Amari Rogers, Knoxville Catholic; Emmit Gooden, HaywoodClass 5ABack: Tee Higgins, Oak Ridge; lineman: Tyrel Dodson, CentennialClass 6ABack: Dillon Mitchell, White Station; lineman: T.D. Blackmon, MaryvilleDivision II-ABack: Chase Hayden, St. George’s; lineman: Trey Smith, Univ. School of JacksonDivision II-AABack: Ty Chandler, MBA; lineman: Ryan Parker, Baylor; Kicker: Crews Holt, Ravenwood
NASHVILLE For the first time since 2011, the Chattanooga area had two position players selected as TSSAA Mr. Football winners.
Baylor linebacker Ryan Parker joined East Ridge running back Traneil Moore in bringing home not only Mr. Football plaques but Tennessee Titans jerseys with their appropriate numbers. Parker won the Division II-AA lineman award and Moore was honored as Class 3A back of the year.
The last time the Chattanooga area had multiple position players earn Mr. Football the players were both linemen: South Pittsburg's Coltin Blevins in Class A and Baylor's Barrett Gouger, now a starter at Vanderbilt, in Division II-AA. The 2008 season was the last previous occasion for a Mr. Football back (South Pittsburg's David Jones) and lineman (Ooltewah's Jacques Smith) to be selected from Chattanooga.
Boyd-Buchanan offensive guard and linebacker Jake Harden was a runner-up to Forrest's Boone Sweeney for the Class 2A Mr. Football lineman and tweeted after the event, "Couldn't have asked for better people in my life supporting me. Thanks to everyone and I will always treasure this day."
So too will Moore and Parker, each of whom felt he was likely an underdog in his respective division.
"I was so shocked - definitely shocked - especially knowing the guy I was going against (Brentwood Academy offensive lineman Bryce Mathews) is such a great, great football player," Parker said. "I guess you could say the feeling was one of pure joy, but I wasn't expecting it. Maybe that's what makes it so much better."
An Ole Miss commitment, Mathews, in a very classy move, was one of the first to congratulate Parker on Twitter.
"We were so worried. We didn't think he was going to win. Sometimes it's hard to beat a midstate player," East Ridge coach Tracy Malone said about Moore's honor.
Moore is the first Mr. Football award winner from East Ridge, and the award comes in the same season as the school's best football record.
"There aren't words to express how I feel. It's the best feeling ever," he said.
"The season he had - it was a special year for everybody involved, and he was the catalyst for it," said Malone, whose team finished 12-1. "But he always wanted to share the credit and always wanted to get his offensive line credit."
Moore, who would have won best dressed for his light blue suit highlighted by a long, shin-length coat, admitted his palms were sweating.
"I was very nervous coming in, but I am so honored," he said. "I thank my family, my coaches, the teachers and fellow students, and I definitely thank my line, because none of this would be possible without them. I wouldn't be here today without my teammates."
In addition to having current Titans, including quarterback Marcus Mariota, at the awards presentation, which this year was moved to Nissan Stadium, the NFL team presented each Mr. Football winner with a Titans jersey with his respective number. That presentation took place away from the public and even parents, in the team's locker room.
"It was awesome. We weren't expecting it," Parker said. "They just kept coming with better surprises. I was trying to enjoy the moment. I didn't really want to take it off."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.