TSSAA football playoffs: What to know about Division II state championships in Chattanooga
The 2023 Division II TSSAA football state championships will take place Thursday at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.
Here's a look at all three games.
Division II-AA
CPA (12-1) vs. Boyd Buchanan (12-0)
Time: 11 a.m. When: Thursday
CPA features five Division I commitments. Three are 2024 prospects committed to Power 5 schools: receiver/defensive back Ondre Evans (Georgia), offensive tackle John Wayne Oliver (Ole Miss) and linebacker Crews Law (North Carolina). Evans, a receiver and defensive back, is questionable due to a knee injury. Boyd Buchanan coach Gary Rankin's 17 state championships are the most by a Tennessee coach. He has the Buccaneers competing for a title in just his second year at the school.
Division II-A
MTCS (11-1) vs. Friendship Christian (11-2)
Time: 3 p.m. When: Thursday
MTCS will play for a football state championship for the first time, led by first-year coach Christian Peterson. Friendship Christian is the defending Division II-A champion led by John McNeal, who’s won four titles. MTCS running back Eli Wilson has rushed for 1,940 yards and 33 touchdowns. FCS’ Tyson Wolcott has 2,820 rushing yards and a TSSAA single-season record 52 TDs. MTCS won the regular-season meeting 16-14.
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Division II-AAA
McCallie (11-1) vs. Baylor (10-2)
Time: 7 p.m. When: Thursday
Both teams boast future Power 5 talent. Baylor, the defending state champion, is led by four-star Alabama commitment Amari Jefferson. The Red Raiders also have four-star 2024 Ohio State tight end commitment Max LeBlanc, four-star 2025 receiver Cameron Sparks and 2024 Vanderbilt quarterback commitment Whit Muschamp. McCallie has three-star 2024 prospects Marcellus Barnes Jr. (uncommitted), quarterback Jeremy St-Hilaire (Vanderbilt) and tight end Carson Gentle (Tennessee). McCallie junior receiver Carson Lawrence is committed to Vanderbilt.
Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA football playoffs: DII state championships games what to know
