2023 TSSAA High School Football Championships
Class 1A South Pittsburg 14, McKenzie 7
A defensive struggle for most of the game South Pitt scored two TDs in the fourth quarter courtesy of Jamarion Farrior to clinch the win over the Rebels and secure their seventh title.
Class 2A Riverside 13, East Robertson 7
These two strong defensive teams battle it out. Desmond Thomas’s two touchdowns put the game away for the Panthers and clinch their first state title in school history.
Division II-A MTCS 28, Friendship Christian 13
In his first year as head coach Christian Peterson was able to lead the cougars to their first ever state title appearance and win. Eli Wilson turned into Marshawn lynch and rushed for 197yds while scoring two touchdowns.
Division II-AA CPA 35, Boyd Buchanan 13
The Lions turned in a dominant performance on both sides of the ball holding the Bucs to under 200yds of total offense for their sixth state title.
Division II-AAA McCallie 34, Baylor 28
These two Chattanooga schools put on an offensive show with over 400yds each. McCallie would go on to win in a shootout in front of a massive 18K strong crowd to claim their fourth title in five years.
Class 3A Alcoa 42, East Nashville 20
In their third straight matchup in the 3A title game Alcoa dominates East Nashville again to claim their ninth straight state title and their twenty second overall.
Class 4A Pearl Cohn 36, Upperman 27
An offensive explosion in the second half for Pearl Cohn resulted in over 300 rushing with 3 touchdowns in the third quarter. After both teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter Pearl would seal the game with a Kickoff return taken to the house for a touchdown taking home their third state title.
Class 5A Knoxville West 24, Page 19
Page got off to a strong start with an early touchdown. QB Jonathan Palmer tossed 2 interceptions and West was able to quick strike a pair of touchdowns to build a 17-7 lead going into the half. In the second half the Patriots would work their way back with two more touchdowns to match the Rebels lone TD to pull within five points with two minutes to go but Knoxville West’s defense rose to the challenge and held Page out of the endzone for their third straight state title.
Class 6A Houston 24, Oakland 9
In the heavy rain the Mustang defense forced two turnovers and held the high scoring Oakland offense to six points in the first half. In the second half Oakland added a field goal to cut the lead to 17-9. On their ensuing offensive drive Houston’s Tony Williams returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown to put the Mustangs up 24-9. The defense would come up with one more pick to ice the game and upset the perennial favorites for their first state title in program history.