Last year, five area teams brought back BlueCross Bowl championships to the 5Star Preps coverage area.
This week in Cookeville, Alcoa (3A), Greeneville (4A) and Central (5A) are this area’s local representatives.
So let’s get to know their opponents, coaches comments from all six teams involved, trends to watch, players to know and look at some predictions.
We even included the weather, which can always be a determining factor in Cookeville.
THE QUICK READ
Alcoa players warm up prior to playing Austin-East in Week 11 of the 2018 regular season. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Class 3A
Alcoa (14-0) vs. Covington (14-0), 3 p.m. Central on Saturday
Venue: Tucker Stadium at Tennessee Tech University
Alcoa’s Road: Claiborne (56-0), Unicoi County (56-0), Austin-East (24-6), Upperman (27-14)
Covington’s Road: Melrose (49-6), McNairy Central (35-30), Milan (22-0), Stratford (20-14)
Alcoa History: Alcoa has won 16 state titles, including the last three in Class 3A, and is tied with Maryville for the all-time lead in TSSAA History.
Covington History: Covington is a five-time state runner-up, having lost to Alcoa in 2017 (Class 3A), Fulton in 2012 (Class 4A), Fulton in 2003 (Class 3A), Portland in 2000 (Class 3A) and Tennessee High in 1971 (Class AAA).
About Alcoa: The Tornadoes don’t have a 1,000-yard rusher nor a 1,000-yard receiver — not even a quarterback who’s thrown for more than 2,000 yards. That’s because their depth allows the wealth to be spread among their playmakers, as well as the amount of blowouts that relegate their starters to the sidelines. Quarterback Walker Russell is a Mr. Football finalist this season and led Alcoa past Upperman in the semifinals by rushing for more than 100 yards, nearly twice the production he had through the previous 13 games.
Alcoa coach Gary Rankin: “Haven’t seen it (the Wing-T). Haven’t seen it for years, really, until we played them (Covington) last year. Brian Nix and Richard Gamble and our defensive coaches are familiar with it and have played it for years. So I feel like we’re in good shape. We understand what they’re trying to do. Trying to stop them is a different thing. You got to be very disciplined. We hope we’re that most of the time. But if you make a mistake against them … they’ll make you pay in a hurry. They probably have one of the fastest backs in the state.”
About Covington: The Chargers love to run in their Wing-T offense. Heading into the state semifinals, Codarries Page, Marcus Hayes, Ke’Shun Gant and Brock Lomax had combined for 4,142 yards, according to the Covington Leader. Hayes, a sophomore and Mr. Football finalist, entered that game with 1,978 yards and added 58 yards in the semifinals to put him over the 2,000-yard plateau.
OPPOSING HEAD COACH:
NOTABLE: Alcoa enters with a 25-game win streak and a 6-1 record in championship games played in Cookeville.
WEATHER: 61 degrees, Rain (40-50 percent)
PREDICTION: Alcoa 23, Covington 14.
Greeneville senior QB Cade Ballard surveys the Maplewood defense during a 43-8 win in the 4A state semifinals. (Photo: Darren Reese)
Class 4A
Greeneville (14-0) vs. Haywood (10-4), 3 p.m. Central on Thursday
Venue: Tucker Stadium at Tennessee Tech University
Greeneville’s Road: East Hamilton (54-21), Sullivan South (49-7), Anderson County (42-21), Maplewood (43-8).
Haywood’s Road: Fayette-Ware (35-0), Ripley (49-7), Dyersburg (47-14), Springfield (49-14)
Greeneville’s History: The Greene Devils won 4A state titles in 2010-2011 after a runner-up finish in 2009. Greeneville tacked on a third title in program history last season.
Haywood History: This will be Haywood’s third appearance in a state final. The Tomcats lost in the 1994 and 1995 Class 4A championship games to Cleveland by a combined 12 points.
About Greeneville: The Greene Devils are loaded with next-level talent, and it starts at the quarterback position with reigning Mr. Football winner Cade Ballard. The Army commitment has thrown for 2,955 yards, 40 touchdowns and one interception. He’s completed 81.4 percent of his passes and also rushed for 681 yards and 16 touchdowns. His top two targets are ACC-bound: Virginia commitment Dorien Goddard (1,268 yards, 14 touchdowns) and Wake Forest commitment Cameron Hite (870 yards, 15 touchdowns). The team has rushed for 2,536 yards this season and has an active and massive defensive front.
From Greeneville coach Caine Ballard: “You better believe they (Haywood) are better than their record shows. They’ve lost to some really good teams in West Tennessee. They weren’t healthy at the time. They’re healthy now, and they’re showing what they can do. Huge up front. And I mean, huge. They have probably the best running back we’ll have faced all year, and also a really good quarterback who’s a great threat to run, too. … I think you’re going to see two tight ends, a full backfield and here we come. But they can throw the football. They show multiple multiple formations, but they hang their hats on the power run game.”
About Haywood: Much like Greeneville, Haywood operates with a dual-threat senior quarterback (Deyondrious Hines). But Hines likes to run more than Ballard and has fewer outlets to utilize in the pass game. He and DeCourtney Reed have combined for seven rushing touchdowns in each of the last two weeks. But the Tomcats love to hang their hats on their defensive ability. Two of Haywood’s losses are to teams also playing BlueCross Bowls this week: Henry County (5A) and MUS (Division II-AAA). The Tomcats rebounded from a 2-4 start and haven’t lost since.
OPPOSING COACH:
NOTABLE: Greeneville enters with a 29-game win streak and its lowest point production in a single game this season was 35 (Oct. 12 vs. Elizabethton).
WEATHER: 47 degrees, Rain (33 percent chance)
PREDICTION: Greeneville 30, Haywood 20.
Central’s Abraham Dudley (28) warms up after halftime against Catholic on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at Catholic.
Class 5A
Central (12-2) vs. Henry County (13-1), 7 p.m. Central on Saturday
Venue: Tucker Stadium at Tennessee Tech University
Central’s Road: Cocke County (48-6), Daniel Boone (49-7), David Crockett (23-12), Catholic (24-19).
Henry County: Munford (42-14), Ridgeway (31-8), Kirby (42-20), Beech (13-7)
Central History: The Bobcats lost to Memphis East in the 2016 and 1999 state championships games, respectively, in Class 4A.
Henry County: The Patriots won Class 5A state titles in 2011 and 2013 in their only two appearances in the championship round.
About Central: The Bobcats get better each week. In 2016, they started 1-2 and reached the state final. In 2017, they started 1-3 and made a semifinal appearance. This season, they overcame an 0-2 start and haven’t lost since. Much of that should be attributed to head coach Bryson Rosser and his staff. Junior quarterback Dakota Fawver suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the 2017 season and has been fantastic in his return this fall. He and 6-3 senior receiver Demetrien Johnson have connected for 11 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards receiving. Central also has a relentless defense led by Johnson (eight interceptions), fellow safety Xavier Washington (20+ tackles for loss) and sophomore linebacker Kalib Fortner (13 sacks). Central forced four Catholic turnovers in the semifinals.
Central coach Bryson Rosser: “They’ve done a great job. They do a great job of running the ball. They can throw it some. They have some athletes out there. Just a complete team, all around. Big on the line. Really good technique. Really good scheme on both sides of the ball. They do a good job of putting their kids in a position to be successful. For us, we’re just going to try and focus on ourselves. Control what we can control — and hopefully give ourselves a chance to win.”
About Henry County: The Patriots don’t like to throw. They’ve only done that a combined 15 times in the last three games. Junior tailback Jaylin Foster is their workhorse, and he’s rushed for 1,690 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. He ran for more than 150 yards in each of the first three playoff games. Sophomore Jemarcus Johnson has been a bright spot for Henry County in the playoffs, rushing for a combined 213 yards and three scores the last two outings.
OPPOSING COACH:
NOTABLE: Henry County has been a stumbling block to Knox County teams, having beaten Powell, 17-14, in the 2011 Class 5A championship and then West, 28-27, in the 2013 Class 5A finale
WEATHER: 59 degrees, Rain (43 percent).
PREDICTION: Central 15, Henry County 14.