This story is exclusive to subscribers.

A look at area’s winningest programs: Calhoun, South Pitt maintain prep football excellence

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Calhoun players take the field at the start of the 2024 state championship game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Calhoun players take the field at the start of the 2024 state championship game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

By Stephen Hargis July 20, 2026 2 min read

As we count down to the start of another high school football season, the Times Free Press continues its daily coverage by taking a look at the area programs that have had the most on-field success recently.

Whether it was an impressive run of wins over the past five years, or a more long-term level of success that has stretched across 10 or even 15 years, here are the Chattanooga area’s winningest programs:

LAST 5 YEARS

Team and overall record

Stephen Hargis

Stephen has covered sports in the tri-state area for the Times Free Press for more than 35 years and was named Sports Editor in February of 2015 after 10 years as assistant sports editor, where he oversaw the prep sports staff. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP newsroom, having won more than 60 awards at the state, regional and national level ranging from investigative work to feature and news writing. Stephen was named one of the top 10 sports writers in the nation at the Associated Press Sports Editors' conference in Kissimmee Fla., in 2012, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists with Green Eyeshade southeast regional awards three times. He received an Associated Press national award for a season-long story following the Taft Youth Center football team, was named the state's top overall sports writer by the AP Media Editors as well as Tennessee Sports Writers Association three times and has also been named the state's top prep writer 19 times by the TSWA. Stephen is a lifelong Chattanooga area resident and has two children, Riley and Lauren.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.