Here are the five biggest surprises from last week’s high school football action from across the Greater Chattanooga area:
1. Gardner tops 100 again
Junior running back Marquis Gardner carried the ball 17 times for 169 yards and scored all three touchdowns for Class 1A’s sixth-ranked Chattanooga Prep in Friday’s 20-7 victory over East Ridge.
Gardner has been unstoppable of late as the explosive 5-foot-9, 170-pounder has 100-plus yards in each game of the Sentinels’ five-game win streak. During that time, he has scored 14 touchdowns on just 53 touches and rushed for two or more scores in every game.
Helping the emergence of one of the city’s top rushers has been a strong offensive line comprised of Jaelen Banks, Zaire McCrary, Ronnie Blackwell, Hershel Brown and Jeremiah Hodge. Sophomore quarterback Austin Jones has also opened up the offense as he averages 170 yards passing and 30 yards rushing per game.