When Boyd Buchanan hosts Chattanooga Christian School at 7 p.m. Thursday, the matchup of state-ranked football teams under first-year coaches will help shape the postseason picture for Division II-AA’s East Region with the TSSAA playoffs a little more than a month away.
It will also kick off a new era for the series between private schools on opposite sides of Missionary Ridge.
CCS athletic director Daniel Russell and Boyd Buchanan counterpart Matt Pobieglo came together on the idea that the winner each season in what’s been dubbed the “Ridge Cut Rivalry” will now get to hold not only bragging rights but something more tangible: a painted car tire with a gold rim on which the winner and score from each season will be written.
“Our schools have a good rivalry history, and this just builds to it,” Russell said. “This trophy gives something special for our players and fan bases to get excited about. Both of our programs are ranked and have new head coaches. These kids train for 340 days a year, and this gives them something special to battle for. We are grateful to Boyd to agree in doing this so we can all support the kids.”
CCS (5-1, 3-0) is riding a five-game winning streak in two fashions, with Phil Massey’s Chargers undefeated since a 28-7 loss to reigning DII-AAA champion McCallie to start the season and seeking a sixth consecutive series victory against Boyd Buchanan. However, Gary Rankin’s Buccaneers (5-1, 1-1) figure to be tough at home, where they won 55-7 against Columbia Academy last week to rebound from a 28-21 loss at Silverdale Baptist Academy.