Number two tried hard Friday night, but try as they might, Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish were no match for No. 1.
The Chattanooga Irish, the state’s second-ranked Class 3A team, saw their unbeaten streak demolished, 54-9, by visiting Knoxville Catholic, the top-ranked Class 4A team.
“No doubt they’re the No. 1 team in 4A football and showed why they are,” Notre Dame coach Charles Fant said. “So many times in our program we’ve been trying to find a way to take that next step against the Alcoas and teams like this. Teams like this show us where we are.”
What they learned is the need to get bigger, stronger and faster, and it’s hard to win playing three quarterbacks, especially when all are young and inexperienced.
The Knoxville Irish arrived on a pair of charter buses, and more than 90 percent of them played before the night ended. A running clock began less than three minutes into the second half.