Winning a state championship wasn’t a prerequisite for being a finalist for this year’s Scrappy Moore Coach of the Year, but it certainly helped. All six finalists guided their respective teams to state titles, some even repeating the feat.
The six are Whitwell’s Randall Boldin, Dalton’s Matt Cheaves, Heritage’s Tanner Moore, Baylor’s Ben Nelson, Bradley Central’s Jason Reuter and Baylor’s Kelli Smith.
The 2019 Best of Preps banquet is set for Tuesday night at the Chattanooga Convention Center, with doors opening at 6.
In only his second season as Whitwell’s football coach, Boldin guided the program to its first unbeaten season (15-0) and first state championship. The Tigers set several school records along the way to winning the Class 1A title, including most points scored. Whitwell rallied late in each of its final three playoff wins, beating rival South Pittsburg in double overtime, kicking a field goal with just seconds remaining to beat 2017 state champion Greenback in the semifinals, then scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of the title game before holding off a desperation drive by Cornersville in the finals seconds for a 7-6 win.
“Our kids were playing for way more than just themselves and knew the game was much bigger than just them,” Boldin said. “The last three weeks in general will be what I’ll always remember, just the way our kids fought and the adversity they overcame.”