COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Colton Wright kept running Friday night - away from Liberty Tech Magnet defenders, toward the end zone and into the TSSAA record book with his Alcoa High School football teammates.
Wright, a senior running back, finished with 161 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries as the Tornadoes won 45-12 in the BlueCross Bowl Class 3A championship game at Tennessee Tech.
Alcoa (14-1) earned its 15th football state title and tied Maryville for the most in Tennessee history.
Liberty Tech closed to within 17-12 at halftime after Christian Ballard ran for a 1-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. But that was before Wright - named the game's offensive MVP - sparked a game-ending 28-0 run with a 72-yard scoring run midway through the third quarter.
Alcoa's Terran Cox was named defensive MVP after he made nine tackles and picked off a pass.
Ballard led the Crusaders (12-3) with 12 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Farragut 45, Independence 35
Cooper Hardin ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns, including a 20-yarder with 5:07 left in the fourth quarter that helped Farragut cap an incredible comeback as the Admirals defeated Independence in the BlueCross Bowl Class 5A championship game.
The Admirals (14-1), who won their first state title, trailed 35-7 with 2:49 left in the second quarter after the Eagles' Brandon Hines scored on an 8-yard run. However, Braden Collins reeled in a 12-yard touchdown on the last play of the half, then caught a 74-yard score on the first play of the third quarter to put Farragut back in business.
Jacob Warren's 10-yard catch on the first play of the fourth tied the game at 35 following Hardin's conversion run, and Joe Doyle's 42-yard field goal gave Farragut its first lead with 8:30 remaining.
Farragut's Jack Devault picked off two passes and was named defensive MVP. Hardin was offensive MVP.
Hines passed for 327 yards and two scores for Independence (14-1) but was also picked off six times.
Dresden 62, Greenback 27
Dresser Winn passed for 245 yards and five touchdowns as Dresden won the BlueCross Bowl Class 1A title game for its first football state championship.
Winn, the game's offensive MVP, completed 15 of 23 passes and added 58 rushing yards and another score. Austin Thomas was Winn's favorite target, catching five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Dylan Yates also had a big game, with 16 carries for 260 yards and three touchdowns, plus four catches for 46 yards and two touchdowns. His 13-yard catch and the ensuing point-after kick with four seconds remaining in the second quarter gave the Lions (15-0) a 34-27 lead, and they settled in from there.
Dresden's Blase Cashion was defensive MVP with 11 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Kayne Roberts led Greenback (14-1) with 106 yards on 22 carries, including two touchdowns.