Alcoa, Maryville top Knoxville area football rankings entering TSSAA football playoffs

Posted by Admin November 4, 2024 Football

The TSSAA football regular season has ended, and teams turn their attention to the Tennessee high school football playoffs.

Here are the top 10 Knoxville area high school football teams after last Friday’s games.

1. Alcoa (8-1): Alcoa closed out the regular season, its final one in Class 3A, with a 49-7 win over Kingston. The nine-time defending state champion begins its quest for a 10th straight against Pigeon Forge in the first round Friday sporting a eight-game win streak. Eli Graf rushed for 120 yards with two touchdowns against Kingston. Last week: Ranked No. 1.

2. Maryville (9-1): It wasn’t easy, but Maryville responded to its loss to Alcoa with a 28-21 win over Farragut last week. Will Jones’ 218 yards passing with two TDs kept the Rebels afloat as they go into the 6A playoffs hosting William Blount. Last week: Ranked No. 2.

3. Sevier County (10-0): Sevier County secured its first undefeated regular season since 2009. The Smoky Bears had no issues, dropping David Crockett, 48-7, on Friday. Sevier County faces Central in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, a team it knocked out in last year’s opening round. Last week: Ranked No. 4.

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4. West (7-3): West may have calmed some fears of its struggles this season with an emphatic 30-18 win over Powell last week. The two-time defending 5A state champ put the game out of reach when QB Parker Dubon passed to Troit Patterson for a 65-yard TD in the fourth quarter. West opens its title defense against David Crockett on Friday. Last week: Ranked No. 5.

5. Powell (8-2): In a repeat from last year, Powell goes into the 5A playoffs having suffered a loss the week before. Powell lost to West for the fourth straight time Friday and drops in the rankings. The Panthers will face Tennessee in the first round of the playoffs as they look for the second state title in program history. Last week: Ranked No. 3.

6. Anderson County (8-1): The Mavericks have won two straight and go into the Class 4A playoffs with momentum. Anderson County faces Northview Academy with a running attack that featured Lane Larue, who rushed for 157 yards with three touchdowns on only six carries in last week’s 47-13 win over South-Doyle. Last week: Ranked No. 6.

7. Greeneville (7-2): The Greene Devils captured the Region 1-4A title, crushing Elizabethton, 41-7, last week, They’ll face Carter in the first round of the playoffs, looking for a sixth straight win. Last week: Ranked No. 7.

8. Bearden (7-3): Bearden ran through the gauntlet with a difficult regular-season schedule the culminated with a 31-22 win over Bradley Central last week. That second-place finish in Region 2-6A secured Bearden a home playoff game, and it will host Jefferson County. Last week: Ranked No. 8.

9. Gibbs (9-1): Gibbs’ loss to Anderson County two weeks ago was just a momentary lapse. The Eagles soared past Fulton last week 35-6, led by Brady Hughes’ 156 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Gibbs now has 24 state playoff appearances but has never advanced past the quarterfinals (2010). This is only the second time since 2010 Gibbs has nine wins. Last week: Ranked No. 9.

10. Loudon (10-0): Another impressive defensive effort led to Loudon’s 18-13 win over Red Bank. Loudon earned its first undefeated regular season since 2019 and will open the 4A playoffs hosting Stone Memorial, a team against which it holds a 3-1 series lead. Last week: No. 10.

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Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.