Excitement is building for the 2025 high school football season. Georgia is set, Tennessee has reclassified, and several new head coaches have taken the reigns of area programs. Here, local sports gurus Jeff Cate and Justin Sims share their predictions for the upcoming season.
Jeff: The Chattanooga domination of Division II-AAA continued in 2024, with McCallie winning a championship game thriller against Baylor, 27-21, at Finley Stadium after falling to the Red Raiders by 32 points during the regular season. This marked the sixth consecutive state title between these bitter rivals, and 2025 could easily make it the seventh. Elliott Drapeau (McCallie) and Louisville commit Briggs Cherry (Baylor) return for their senior seasons at quarterback while Tennessee commit Jamyan Theodore (Baylor) and Cooper Gentle (McCallie) will help lead their teams defensively. Christ Presbyterian Academy out of Nashville makes the move up from Division II-AA after winning the state championship in 2024, and the Lions are looking to make their mark at the state’s highest level. Prediction: McCallie, Contender: Baylor
Justin: Boyd-Buchanan enters this season on an unprecedented 14-0 run in region play. If the Bucs are going to make it 21 straight, they will have to do so by replacing a multiyear starter at QB and relying on the legs of RBs Sabastian “Bash” Jones and David Green. Silverdale Academy returns QB Connor Jenne and WR Cannon Rogers as well as seven starters back on both sides. If the Seahawks can overcome the loss of LBs Landon Deitch and Lincoln Meshell, they are likely to unseat the reigning champs. Certainly, don’t count out Chattanooga Christian School, who returns talented sophomore WR Carter Charapata, senior QB Nathan DeLoach, and five starters on the offensive line. In what will be a super competitive region, I’m going out on a limb and picking the Gary Rankin-coached team. Prediction: Boyd-Buchanan, Contender: CCS
Justin: After over a decade as Grace Academy head coach, Bob Ateca probably thought he had seen everything. That was until a tornado ripped through the Golden Eagles’ campus, completely wiping away all the athletic facilities. Now, entering his 15th year as Grace’s head man and five years removed from playing in a region, his team can compete for a championship and playoffs. After finding success in eight-on-eight ball and building the roster to compete at eleven-on-eleven, there is excitement around the program to return to the success achieved prior to those April storms. The region won’t be very welcoming, with a schedule that includes Notre Dame, Middle Tennessee Christian, and Columbia Academy. It is, however, a good possibility that Grace can put together enough wins to get that playoff spot that just a few years ago probably seemed impossible. Prediction: Providence Christian Academy, Contender: Middle Tennessee Christian
Jeff: Old and new, traditional and fresh – many more words can describe the biggest public-school classification in Tennessee going into 2025. Maryville looks to have the inside track to repeating as region champs after going unbeaten in region play last season, while local squads Cleveland and Bradley Central look to close the gap and compete with traditional powerhouses like the Rebels and newest region addition Oak Ridge. Chris Brown is back in the head coaching ranks (was the head coach at Red Bank from 2018-2021), where he will be in his first season as the head coach at Cleveland after spending the last three seasons as Baylor’s defensive coordinator. Bradley Central head coach Damon Floyd is going into his 20th season as the leader of the Bears, who will have senior Tyler Cook returning at quarterback and welcoming transfer AJ Westfield, a Tulane commit, to help anchor the defensive line. Prediction: Maryville, Contender: Bradley Central
Jeff: If you are looking for a region with tough defense and a mix of offensive philosophies, this will be one to keep an eye on. Soddy Daisy and Lenoir City are the newest additions to the region after the latest reclassification cycle and join the mix with McMinn County, Walker Valley, East Hamilton, Rhea County, and Ooltewah. Matt Moody will begin his first year leading the Owls, while Bo Cagle is going into his 19th season as the head coach of McMinn County. West Virginia commit Camden Goforth is a monster up front for the Cherokees, the Mustangs will lean on senior Roman Eulo as an offensive weapon, and the Hurricanes will look to Jaden Haywood, who is committed to East Tennessee State, to continue to tote the rock like he has done in previous seasons. Prediction: Walker Valley, Contender: East Hamilton
Jeff: Loudon was the king of the region last year with an undefeated regular season on their way to a third region championship since 2019. Red Bank comes into the 2025 season with a chip on their shoulder and looking for another deep postseason run. The Lions will lean on RB Olivir Merritt as the lead horse in the backfield after Josiah Featherstone graduated, while also welcoming Chattanooga Prep transfer Austin Jones. Hixson will look to find their next leader as Luke Finch transferred during the offseason and Chase Barnard graduated. Red Bank’s defense will be a steady unit, but look for Lawuan Hughley (Hixson) and Bo Cooper (Signal Mountain) and those defensive units as well. I think Ted Gatewood’s team will put everything together and take home the region championship. Prediction: Red Bank, Contender: Loudon
Jeff: Only four teams make up this region during the most recent reclassification cycle with Brainerd, Tyner, Chatta-nooga Central, and Chattanooga Prep competing for the region title hardware. Tyner welcomes back defensive coordinator Tyler Manes, who was the leader of the Ram Train defense during their 2022 state championship run. The Rams and head coach Christian Mainor will have plenty of athletes to lead the 2025 squad, including Dion Edwards, Tyler Anderson, and Jaqraun Little. Chattanooga Prep makes the move up from 1A to 3A and will depend on Marquis Gardner once again, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2024. Glen Carter goes into his first full season as head coach at Central, which ended 2024 by winning 5 of their last 6 games and had an upset win over Tyner in September. At the end of the day, I don’t see anything derailing the Ram Train in 2025. Prediction: Tyner, Contender: Chattanooga Central
Jeff: Sequatchie County is the only local team in region 4-3A and are coming off a region championship in 2024 that saw the Indians make a run to the semifinals, ultimately losing to eventual state champion and powerhouse Alcoa. The Indians welcome in transfer Luke Finch, who played quarterback at Hixson, and will have junior Kason Hicks returning. Hicks played both offense and defense, scoring 20 touchdowns and recording 94 tackles in 2024. Giles County and Forrest are going to battle for the 2nd seed during the year, because I predict the Indians will win back-to-back region titles. And with Alcoa moving up to 4A, it’s entirely possible we’ll see a potential playoff showdown with Tyner in November. Prediction: Sequatchie County, Contender: Giles County
Jeff: Marion County’s 2024 2A state championship was the first time since 1995 that the Warriors brought the gold ball trophy back to Jasper and are looking to go back-to-back again after winning consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. The Warriors will have to find a way to replace BlueCross Bowl MVP Sam Pickett, but keep an eye on Ashton Martin to be a difference maker on offense. York, Grundy County, and Monterey are battling for third place in this region. With Bledsoe County now in the region, you can expect a battle when head coach Dewayne Tabor takes his squad to Jasper on October 3
in a battle of Warriors. I think that show-down will ultimately decide the region championship. Prediction: Marion County, Contender: Bledsoe County
TENNESSEE 1A – REGION 3
Jeff: 2024 was supposed to be a rebuilding season for South Pittsburg, with less than five returning starters coming back from the 2023 team. If making it to the BlueCross Bowl is rebuilding mode, then look out for this Pirates team as they aim for their seventh straight region championship. Coach Wes Stone’s team brings back Dayon Cooper, a Mr. Football semifinalist from last year, along with another Mr. Football semifinalist in running back Jamychal Buckner. The Pirates also welcome Caden Jones, a transfer from Chattanooga Central, to steer the ship at quarterback. Whitwell looks to battle with their county rival while finding a way to replace Bennett McDougal, who was a Mr. Football finalist in 1A last season, while veteran coach Jason Fitzgerald begins his third season as head coach at Sale Creek. Prediction: South Pittsburg, Contender: Whitwell
Justin: For new Dalton head coach Chris Prewett, there is nowhere to go but up. The proud and traditionally strong Dalton Catamounts program struggled mightily last season, going winless in all 10 games and giving up an average of 32 points a game. Coach Prewett is poised to meet the high expectations of Catamounts fans as he comes off an impressive stint as head coach at Roswell, compiling a tremendous 50-13 record, including consecutive GHSA quarterfinal appearances from 2021-2023 and Region 7-AAAAAA Championships in 2022 and 2023. In a region with the likes of Cartersville and Cedartown, the turnaround might not be quick for Dalton, but Coach Prewett certainly seems more than up to the task. Expect improvements on the defensive side of the ball this season and for the Catamounts to end their 11-game losing streak. Prediction: Cartersville, Contender: Cedartown
Justin: Calhoun, led by sensational sophomore QB Trace Hawkins, is likely to remain the cream of the crop in this region. But there are two area teams that might have enough to unseat the Yellow Jackets. Heritage and Northwest Whitfield finished 2nd and 3rd respectively last season, and both bring back key players. For the Generals, this season rests on the shoulders of seniors RB Brayden Slaughter, WR Cody Bryan, LBs Cooper Chappelear and tackling machine Brody James. The game I’m most anticipating in this region is September 26, when the Generals storm Northwest Whitfield’s Bruin Stadium. If Heritage can find a way to stifle the Bruins’ fantastic senior QB Gavin Nuckolls, they may very well end this season as region champs. Prediction: Calhoun, Contender: Heritage
Justin: The game I am most looking forward to in this region is The Battle on Battlefield Parkway between the Ringgold Tigers and the LFO Warriors. Although neither team is likely to compete for the region crown, the rivalry game between these two this season should be a good one. Ringgold will field one of the coldest backfields in the area led by the one-two punch of RBs Haddon Fries (pronounced “freeze”) and Jeremiah Frost. The Tigers backfield will certainly be tough to tame. LFO looks to replace talented RB Trae Lewis, but otherwise brings back senior experience throughout the roster led by QB Darian Keefe. I’m giving the Warriors the edge to win a close one at home on September 19. Prediction: Rockmart, Contender: North Cobb Christian
Justin: Lots of questions for last season’s region champion and runner-up Fannin County and Christian Heritage, as graduation greatly affected both squads’ skill positions. Fannin County lost QB Lawson Sullivan along with leading rusher Carson Callihan, and Christian Heritage graduated the outstanding QB Carter Triplett. The losses for both schools might just leave a crack big enough for Gordon Lee Trojans senior RBs Peyton Groce and Layne Vaughn to bust through. The Trojans host both teams this season and are still stinging from a 3-point loss to the eventual region champs Fannin County late last season. Expectations should be high in Chickamauga, and the Trojans are my favorite to win the region championship. Prediction: Gordon Lee, Contender: Fannin County