Just two years ago, with a roster made up solely of freshmen and sophomores for its first season of varsity competition, Chattanooga Prep was the youngest high school football program in Tennessee.
Now, in the school’s first year with a senior class, head coach Joe Banks has the Sentinels looking like a real threat to compete for a state championship in TSSAA Class 1A.
Confidence is building rapidly for the program, and one reason why is quarterback Austin Jones showing impressive growth in just a year’s time. The sophomore carved up the Brainerd defense in Friday night’s 43-0 road win for 194 total yards in the first half, which included a 50-yard touchdown strike across the middle to senior team captain Jaydan Parker.
Jones, Parker and sophomore Romel Koon were key contributors to Chatt Prep’s state championship basketball team last season and now are part of a fast and hungry football team.
“We have a chip on our shoulder and a lot to prove to the whole city,” said Parker, who is also a standout on defense at safety. “We are not just known as a middle school anymore. We want to come out here and dominate, play fast and go for the ball. Everyone has put in so much work, and the success is starting to show.”