Best Tennessee High School Football Programs

[rollredroll]

More interesting tidbits from MBA's history:

 

Same 'ol Vandy?: I'm not sure how Vanderbilt's varsity fared in 1927, but the Commodore freshmen must not have been that good. MBA beat them 25-0 (that was shutout #17 of the aforementioned 23-game shutout stretch).

 

If you think Ezell runs up the score: in 1925, MBA beat Castle Heights Military Academy 103-0, Paducah Tilghman 91-0, Portland 87-0, and Knoxville High 89-0. I understand recruits could be bought for one cent or a half-pint of moonshine in those days.

 

If you didn't take that last comment as a joke: if you think MBA was recruiting back in those days, perhaps its 5-0 loss - to Sewanee Grammar School in 1903 - may change your mind.

[Edited by rollredroll on 11-13-02 12:07A]

 

[just1np]

I wonder if that military academy is still around.

I would like to think that our armed forces would put up a better fight than that.

[HarryBudIvy]

Cleveland and Marion County both have several titles.

[sneakypete]

I read an article a few years back that Halls of Knoxville has had only one losing season since 1968. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it's pretty impressive. The only problem is they don't have a lot of championships.

[CHHS72]

For tradition, pride and all the other intangibles that go into making a great tradition it will be hard to beat Dobyns-Bennett. They have had a great program since the 1920's. Admittedly they have not won the championships one would expect since the playoffs where instituted but they have been in them most of the time. This come from someone who loves to beat them almost more than life itself and has been the victim of the Kingsport arrogance. As they (Dobyns-Bennett fans) say "Loved or Hated but never ignored." Even you folks from the middle and west love to hate them. Probably because they are consistently good in all sports and not just one.

[PowerSet]

Some of the best in West Tennessee are:

 

Lake County (A)- Have fallen on hard times in the last few years, but still one of the more tradition rich programs. Won stste titles in 1980 and 1985, with runner up finishes in 1979 ans 1994. Powerful jr high team this past year, so maybe the green and gold will be back soon.

 

Milan (AAA, AA)- Any explaination needed? Was an outstanding program before John Tucker led them to titles in the 1970's and 80's. More recently won back to back titles in 1998 (AAA) and 1999 (AA). Yet to be seen how this year's team fares.

 

Bruceton (A)- Blessed with talent year in and year out, Sturdivant always has a team with a legitimate shot at the gold ball. Long line of running backs (Joe Longmire, Adrian Jamison, Patrick Willis) that would make any school proud. Not sure of state championships, but they do have a number of runner up finishes.

 

Humboldt (AA, AAA)- Going through rough times right now as a new coach gets adjusted, but usually has a very competitive team on the field. The John Tucker team that lost in the Clinic Bowl in 1995 was one of the best overall teams in terms of talent that I've seen in a while.

[Guest]

Certainly, MBA is the one of, if not the greatest football teams in the state of Tennessee historically. Who won the first clinic bowl, who has been in the Super Top 25 (USA Today) twice. Who has been to the playoffs 8 straight years? These are a few questions that are simply answered by the response: MBA

[PaulBearer]

BA had a streak of 33 consecutive wins starting in '95-'97. That included 2 state championships in 5A in 95 and 96. They also were ranked #6 in the nation in 95 and #4 I believe in 96. Their team that year was one of the best the state has seen since BA has been around.

[swamp]

Kingston is one of the better teams in the East. Granted, they don't have the titles that Oak Ridge, Maryville, and Alcoa do, but they have one championship and are four-time runners up, with a 27-18 playoff record and several district/region titles, undefeated regular seasons, and 10-win seasons (playoffs included).

 

Top east teams (in no particular order)

 

Oak Ridge

Dobyns Bennett

Jefferson County

Halls

Maryville

Alcoa

Kingston

Oneida

Webb

Rhea County

Cleveland

Baylor

Sweetwater

Greenback

Austin East

[JohnPaul]

Knox. Central has the best coaching staff in Knoxville(that includes U.T)

[PiGeOnS4LiFe]

Region 3a is one of the toughest in TN. Packin with Austin-East, Anderson County, Fulton, and Kingston!!! That's awesome football right there!

[warriordawg31]

One reason Riverdale did not do much in the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's is that it did not exist. But Murfreesboro Central did, and was not a bad program. Riverdale, Oakland and blackman are all spin-offs and they ain't done bad either.