EDITOR’S NOTE: As spring football practice gets underway for high school teams across Tennessee, the Times Free Press is publishing a weeklong series taking a look back at how last season ended while offering a sneak peek at what the expectations are for each of our area teams in 2026. We begin with TSSAA Division II-AAA.
Chattanooga’s dominance of the state’s toughest and most talent-laden classification continued last fall as Baylor capped its first undefeated season since 1973 by winning its second state championship in four years with a 28-24 victory over previously unbeaten Brentwood Academy in the BlueCross Bowl.
In finishing 12-0, the Red Raiders put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by Briggs Cherry’s 6-yard touchdown toss to Braxton Rein with just more than three minutes remaining at Finley Stadium to extend the Scenic City’s run of consecutive Division II-AAA titles to seven.
(READ MORE: Red Raiders resilient in final scoring drive of title game)
Along the way, Baylor swept rival McCallie, winning on the road in the series for the first time since 1996 in the regular-season matchup, then scoring three unanswered touchdown in the fourth quarter to break a 35-all tie and pull away for a semifinal win.