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QB Cooper Campbell helps Notre Dame close in on playoff berth

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton/ Notre Dame senior quarterback Cooper Campbell has led a potent passing attack for the Fighting Irish, who have won three straight games and are closing in on the program's first TSSAA playoff berth since 2018.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton/ Notre Dame senior quarterback Cooper Campbell has led a potent passing attack for the Fighting Irish, who have won three straight games and are closing in on the program's first TSSAA playoff berth since 2018. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton/ Notre Dame senior quarterback Cooper Campbell has led a potent passing attack for the Fighting Irish, who have won three straight games and are closing in on the program's first TSSAA playoff berth since 2018.

By Patrick MacCoon 4 min read

The last time Notre Dame High School’s football program made the TSSAA playoffs was the same year the popular superhero movies “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War” were released.

It was long enough ago that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has added more than a dozen feature film releases since then, not only moving on from the Infinity Saga but getting closer to the end of the Multiverse Saga than the beginning.

Any way you look at it, 2018 seems far too long ago for the Fighting Irish, but they might be much closer to the end of their playoff drought than the beginning.

After being outscored on average 37.8-14.1 the past six years in Division II-AA East Region play, Notre Dame (4-3, 2-2) has the potential to secure a return to the postseason with a home win Friday night against Chattanooga Christian (1-5, 0-3).

Notre Dame’s hardships became lessons that have given way to success, with the Irish having scored 120 points during a three-game winning streak heading into the visit from the Chargers.