The TSSAA football playoffs kick off its final week Thursday as the Division II teams square off in BlueCross Bowl state championship games
Christ Presbyterian Academy (13-0) faces Battle Ground Academy (11-2) at 11 a.m., ET, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.
CPA is making its seventh straight trip to the state championship game as coach Ingle Martin looks for this fifth title as the Lions’ coach. BGA’s Bobby Bentley, in his first season as the Wildcats coach, has won four high school state championships in South Carolina and is looking for his first in Tennessee.
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Stream HS Football in Tennessee with the NFHS Network
How to watch TSSAA football playoffs: BlueCross Bowl games
The championship games will be televised across the state on these stations (channel numbers over the air, cable channels can be found here):
- Nashville: WUPX MyNetwork TV Channel 30
- Memphis: WMC-TV+ Channel 5.5
- Knoxville: WKNX Channel 7
- Chattanooga: WFLI MyNetwork TV Channel 53.2
- Jackson: Jackson Energy Authority E+ broadband Channel 6 (not OTA)
- Tri-Cities: WCYB.2 CW Network Channel 5.2
TSSAA football championships schedule: Full BlueCross Bowl game schedule
All times Eastern; Games in Chattanooga
Thursday, Dec. 5
- Division II-AA: BGA (11-2) vs. CPA (13-0), 11 a.m.
- Division II-A: Nashville Christian (11-1) vs. Columbia Academy (10-3), 3 p.m.
- Division II-AAA: Baylor (12-0) vs. McCallie (10-2), 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 6
- Class 3A: Alcoa (12-1) vs. Westview (13-0), 11 a.m.
- Class 1A: South Pittsburg (12-2) vs. MASE (12-1), 3 p.m.
- Class 5A: Sevier County (14-0) vs. Page (14-0), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7
- Class 4A: Macon County (12-2) vs. Melrose (10-3), 11 a.m.
- Class 2A: Marion County (12-2) vs. Milan (13-1), 3 p.m.
- Class 6A: Oakland (13-1) vs. Houston (12-2), 7 p.m.
How many state titles have CPA, BGA won
- CPA 6 (2023, 2020, 2018, 2014, 2002, 2000).
- BGA 6 (2003, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1966).
Rankings: CPA (No. 3 in Super 25 rankings; No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports Network statewide DII-AA rankings). BGA (No. 18; No. 2)
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What to know about CPA, BGA football
Bentley brings his fast-paced offense led by Mr. Football finalist, Kaedyn Marable at quarterback. Marable has thrown for 3,027 yards with 33 touchdowns and three interceptions. Arnett Hayes, has 81 receptions for 1,113 yards and 13 TDs. Those 81 catches this season is typical of Bentley’s approach of a rapid passing scheme that allows his playmakers to utilize their speed.
CPA, the defending state champs, features junior wideout Owen Cabell who holds offers from Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisville and Wisconsin. Cabell has 40 receptions for 946 yards and 12 TDs. The Lions also have and efficient QB in DII-AA Mr. Football finalist, Hutson Chance and one of the more productive and reliable running backs in Middle Tennessee in Rawls Patterson. Lions coach Ingle Martin is searching for his fifth state title at CPA.
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Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports