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Chattanooga Prep falls to Forrest in battle of Mr. Football semifinalists

Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Prep junior Cedric Baulding carries defenders down near the goal line on his 15-yard fourth-down conversion catch in Friday's game TSSAA Class 3A first-round playoff game against visiting Forrest at Howard. Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Prep junior Cedric Baulding carries defenders down near the goal line on his 15-yard fourth-down conversion catch in Friday's game TSSAA Class 3A first-round playoff game against visiting Forrest at Howard.

By Patrick MacCoon November 7, 2025 3 min read

Chattanooga Prep senior Marquis Garnder believed he had a purpose to fulfill with his high school football team.

Even as the standout running back saw many of his teammates transfer out after a stellar 2024 campaign for the Sentinels — but with the program about to move up this year two TSSAA classifications to 3A — he stood firm.

And late Friday night on Howard School’s Reggie White Field, Gardner stood strong in the postgame huddle after Chatt Prep’s 49-36 loss to visiting Forrest in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs, when the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist told his teammates how much he loved them and said they are “one big family.”

For the third time this season, Gardner rushed for more than 200 yards as he carried the ball 21 times for 217 yards and scored five touchdowns to finish the season with 2,100 total yards and 24 touchdowns.