Interesting greater Chattanooga area high school matchups

Sunday, November 3, 2013

photo TSSAA logo

TSSAA playoffs first round matchupsFriday, Nov. 8Division II-AAPope John Paul II (3-6) at Baylor (6-4)McCallie (3-7) at Father Ryan (6-4)Class 1ASouth Pittsburg has a byeClass 2ABoyd-Buchanan has a byeRockwood (7-3) at Silverdale Baptist (9-1)Middle Tennessee Christian (6-4) at Marion County (8-2)Class 3AGrundy County (4-6) at Upperman (10-0)Tyner (4-6) at Smith County (6-4)Cascade (7-3) at Notre Dame (7-3)Sequatchie County (5-5) at Polk County (8-2)Class 4AMarshall County (4-6) at Signal Mountain (7-3)Central (5-5) at Sequoyah (8-2)East Ridge (5-5) at Hixson (7-3)Class 5ALenoir City (5-5) at Rhea County (9-1)Cleveland (7-3) at White County (8-2)Oak Ridge (7-3) at East Hamilton (8-2)Stone Memorial (6-4) at Ooltewah (8-2)Class 6ABradley Central (5-5) at Maryville (10-0)

Since its inception, the TSSAA football playoff six-classification format has created controversy. But it can also produce intriguing matchups, and this year there's a chance for several area rematches in the first two rounds alone.

When the brackets were released Saturday, 20 Chattanooga-area teams had earned postseason berths, including East Ridge not only narrowly qualifying but earning a second shot at District 6-AA foe Hixson.

"I hate that the playoffs are set up where you have to play somebody out of your own district in the first round," Hixson coach Jason Fitzgerald said. "It's not a good thing. We just played them four weeks ago and nearly wound up playing Central, who we just played two weeks ago.

"Hopefully after losing to Brainerd [this past Friday], we'll go into the game with a chip on our shoulder. We talked about how to handle success, and then after wrapping up the district championship last week we wound up coming out Friday and not showing up. Now we have to get ready for a team we just had a tough game with a few weeks ago."

The Wildcats trailed East Ridge before a third-quarter touchdown led them to a 19-14 win in that meeting less than a month ago.

"I'm just happy just to be in the playoffs, first of all," Pioneers coach Tracy Malone said. "To be honest, I like opening up against a team we've already seen. It's the old 'devil you know better than the one you don't,' and we played them close last year and earlier this season."

The only other matchup of two area teams in the first round is Sequatchie County at Polk County in 3A, but if Sequatchie's Indians win that one they could be in a rematch against District 7 foe Notre Dame, which opens against Cascade. Also, in the 5A bracket, if East Hamilton and Ooltewah each advance they would earn a rematch in what has become one of the area's top rivalries. And although they didn't meet during the regular season this year, if state-ranked Cleveland and Rhea County each win, the longtime foes would face off in the second round.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.