NASHVILLE — Dreams continue to come true for a pair of Chattanooga-area high school football stars, who each have their senior season still to come.
Five days after claiming his first TSSAA state championship gold ball trophy while also earning BlueCross Bowl MVP honors, Baylor’s David Gabriel Georges joined elite company as the Terrebonne, Quebec, native became the fifth high school football player from the Chattanooga area to win the Mr. Football award for a second time.
The five-star recruit and the nation’s No. 14 prospect for the Class of 2027 finished the season with 162 carries for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns to help Baylor cap off a perfect 12-0 season in Division II-AAA and earn a No. 16 national ranking from ESPN.
South Pittsburg junior Dayon Cooper also earned the state’s most prestigious individual honor as he was named Class 1A’s Mr. Football winner. The speedster helped the Pirates win their eighth TSSAA state title and finished the regular season with 29 catches for 681 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 37 carries for 421 yards and five scores. Cooper also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.
“All the hard work I have put in to this game was worth it. Winning a state championship and then Mr. Football is a blessing,” Cooper said. “I am very thankful for all of my teammates. Today is a special moment for me and my family. Today makes me flash back to scoring a touchdown on my first play ever in a football game when I was little. My dream is to play in the SEC one day. I just have to keep working and stay humble.”