Every so often, statistics don't fully explain a story. This is not one of those times.
When McMinn County's football team steps on its home field Friday night to face perennial powerhouse Maryville in a showdown of state-ranked teams facing off for the Region 2-6A title, the Cherokees will need to set aside a collection of numbers that are staggering to consider.
First, second-ranked Maryville has not lost to a region opponent in more than 20 years. That's not a typo. Maryville has reeled off an incredible run of 135 consecutive league wins since falling 21-14 at Halls on Sept. 15, 2000. The Rebels even righted themselves after that loss to eventually win the state championship that season, and during the past 20 years they have earned 13 of their 17 state titles overall.
But as impressive as all of that is, the number that should be of more concern to the Cherokees - and our area in general - is the fact that Maryville has won its past 46 meetings with Chattanooga-area teams.
The last area team to knock off mighty Maryville was Cleveland on Oct. 7, 1994, by a score of 42-6, but since then it has been all Rebels as they have beaten 11 area programs by an average of 42-12, including 25 playoff matchups.
During the streak, only four area teams have come within 20 points of the Rebels, including McMinn County in 2009 (28-20 in a second-round playoff game) which is also the most recent "close call" for Maryville.
Incidentally, Maryville's Blount County neighbor Alcoa has been just as hard on area competition as the Tornadoes have won 48 straight meetings - including 19 in a row in the playoffs - against teams from our area since falling to Meigs County in the 1995 semifinals.
But that's a different monster to discuss on a different day. For now the focus is squarely on Maryville as McMinn County carries the weight of trying to end decades of futility and earn a level of respect for Chattanooga-area teams competing in the state's largest public school classification.
In sports, no matter how impressive a dominating streak may be, the only certainty is that they all come to an end, and the Cherokees look as though they have closed the talent gap. Led by a veteran offensive line that includes four players who have been three-year starters, including all-state mauler Bryce Goodner, and an overshadowed but stingy defense, McMinn County is whipping foes by an average score of 48-8.
The Cherokees have arguably the best backfield combination in the state with dual-threat quarterback Jayden Miller accounting for more than 1,300 yards and speedy Jalen Hunt leading the state with nearly 1,600 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.
So far this season the two teams have beaten each region opponent by nearly identical margins.
The combination of Cherokees talent and Maryville's tradition guarantees there won't be a single ticket unsold. The school was given the go-ahead to increase crowd capacity, so around 2,000 fans will be admitted to the game, and certainly more will find a spot on the hill just outside the stadium with a good view.
"People around here have been talking about this game for a long time, and now it's finally here," Cherokees coach Bo Cagle said. "You can definitely feel a difference in the atmosphere for this one, but honestly I don't know that the kids think about games from a year ago, must less what's happened in years past. They just know there's a lot of excitement.
"Every accolade you can think of, Maryville's done it. They've been able to do what they've done by coming out every Friday and just being consistent. They don't make mistakes to beat themselves; they make you beat them."
If the Cherokees can simply maintain the level that's brought them this far, the most impressive number - the only one that will truly matter by game's end - could be a scoreboard that adds up to finally ending Maryville's dominance.
Times Free Press sports editor Stephen HargisContact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.