Alcoa coach Gary Rankin is a hall-of-famer with more than 400 career wins and 13 state championships. (Photo by Danny Parker)
The state of Tennessee isn’t bereft of great high school rivalries.
There’s South Pitt and Marion. Brentwood Academy and MBA. Farragut and Bearden.
But this week is Maryville-Alcoa Week, and no other rivalry matchup in this state can boast 32 state titles between the two programs.
Alcoa has 16. Maryville has 16. And both reside in Blount County, just a handful of miles or so apart.
Legendary players and head coaches have graced the fields during this series, this “Battle of Pistol Creek.”
And this Friday will mark the 90th meeting between Alcoa (3-0) and host Maryville (3-0). Both teams No. 1 in the state and coming off state titles in 2017.
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