The Chattanooga area’s two most successful football programs of the past 20 years will make a bit of history tonight.
Boyd-Buchanan has reached at least the state quarterfinals in 11 of the last 14 years, and South Pittsburg has played for a state championship four of the last five seasons and reached at least the quarterfinals 13 times in the last 20 years. The two schools have combined for five state titles, four runner-up finishes and seven other trips to the semifinals since 1992, almost as much as the rest of the area’s Tennessee teams combined.
But when Boyd-Buchanan (7-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 2A) plays tonight at South PIttsburg (6-1, top-ranked in 1A), it will mark the first time ever that two area teams met while ranked atop their respective classifications.
There have been numerous matchups of state-ranked area teams, and even twice (Marion County vs. South Pittsburg in 1995 and Signal Mountain vs. South Pittsburg in 2011) when teams coming off state championships met the next season. In 2001 defending 5A champion and top-ranked Red Bank hosted McCallie, which was ranked third and would go on to win the Division II title, but tonight will be the first time two area teams face off while ranked No. 1.
“Wow, it seems like one of us is ranked up there near the top every time we play, but that’s pretty cool to know it’s the first time to have this situation,” Buccaneers coach Grant Reynolds said. “It’s a testament to the hard work both programs have put in. It’s not the end-all, but at the same time it’s something to be proud of.