The Tennessee Sports Writers Association Prep Poll The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced football rankings after Week 1 on Monday. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were … [Read more...]
BIG TAKEAWAYS from Powell’s 56-44 win at Anderson County (Week 1 | 2026)
BY JESSE SMITHEY For those who wanted to see plenty of offense in the 2026 high school football season opener Thursday night, you got all you wanted — and then some. Powell and host Anderson County combined for 150 plays and 100 points in an … [Read more...]
5STAR PREPS WEEK ONE (2026) PREDICTIONS
BY JESSE SMITHEY 5Star Preps doesn't just try and forecast the big contests. It tries to predict all games relating to 5Star Preps area teams. And in 2025, 5SP correctly picked 399 games across a 16-week season, connecting on 81.8 percent of … [Read more...]
THE BIG PREVIEW: Week One (2026): Powell at Anderson County, Catholic vs. Riverdale, Oak Ridge at Halls
BY JESSE SMITHEY Real football is finally here. None of those 7-on-7 appetizers or that diet football, also known as scrimmages. Nope, real meaningful football. And Week 1 of the 2026 high school football season kicks off Thursday, as … [Read more...]
Battle of Pistol Creek 2026 Preview: Alcoa at Maryville
BY JESSE SMITHEY Though it happened a decade ago, Kenny Cobble can well recall his baptism into an East Tennessee high school football rivalry known as the Battle of Pistol Creek. After a five-year stint as Jefferson County High School's head … [Read more...]
FARM BUREAU INSURANCE Student Section of the Week: Alcoa vs. Maryville
Welcome to the first battle of Student Section of the Week, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. Students and fans can vote HERE for the honor until NOON on Friday, August 21. WINNING STUDENT SECTION will receive some 5Star Preps T-shirts at … [Read more...]
WEEK ONE (2026) PLAYER WATCH
The high school football season kicks off this week, as Anderson County plays host to Powell on Thursday. Even four games involving area teams will be played on Saturday. So let's reboot our Player Watch series in honor of it all coming … [Read more...]
TSWA High School Football State Rankings – Week One (2026)
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association Prep Poll The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its football rankings for the preseason on Monday. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II … [Read more...]
5STAR PREPS 2026 PRESEASON FOOTBALL RANKINGS
BY JESSE SMITHEY Just one team brought back a gold TSSAA BlueCross Bowl state championship trophy to this area last fall. Alcoa. But could this be a year where more hardware winds up here? Sure looks like it. Check out the top teams … [Read more...]
Derek Wright named new Farragut boys soccer head coach
BY JESSE SMITHEY Farragut High School called upon one of its own to take the wheel of the boys' soccer program. … [Read more...]