...the Tornadoes cruised to their fifth-consecutive Class 2A state championship — a ring for the thumb so to speak — with a 28-14 win over previously-unbeaten Milan (14-1).

“I’ll tell you what I’m amazed at, and it’s how our kids have showed up every year to play in this game,” said Nix, the defensive architect for the duration of the Tornadoes’ five-year rule and a certain future head coach. “There’s a lot of pressure. These are high school kids, and sometimes people lose sight of that. And they show up every year to play. They come out confident, just get after it.

Congratulations to all the young people at Alcoa High School for their hard work to achieve this goal!

We kept hearing load booms outside last night. Finally, we decided to go check it out. There were fireworks over Alcoa High School football field. Ah, yes, every time they score a touchdown fireworks rise into the sky.

Alcoa scored 68 points against Cumberland Gap for a shutout.

That's a lot of fireworks!

JOHN SEVIER AND SPRINGBROOK POOLS WILL OPEN TODAY, MAY 23.

Yeah!

So when Nike came calling, offering incentive money if the school would buy their new uniforms, shoes and equipment from Nike, it was an easy decision for the coach.
...
He won't say how much extra stuff the incentive money will buy, only that it will make a difference.

They learn so young how important it is to be influenced by corporate America. Is it any wonder most of our young players have such attitude when they move on to the next phase of their lives?

Congratulations to the Maryville High Rebels for an unprecedented fourth consecutive 4A State Championship.

According to the MDT, The Rebels have won 60 consecutive games, 99 of 100 and 113 of their last 115; they last lost during the regular season in September 2001.

Congratulations to the Alcoa High Tornadoes for an unprecedented fourth consecutive 2A State Championship.

Up next: Maryville's chance to do the same in 4A...

The defending state 4A champion Maryville High Rebels face off against Sullivan-South and the defending 2A champion Alcoa High Tornadoes face off against Donelson Christian at 7PM tonight in state semi-finals matchups.

It's a pretty huge night for football in Blount County. Best of luck to both teams!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Maryville and Alcoa on the big wins. Now it's on to the state championships.

We went over to Springbrook Park for our summertime nightly walk. I commented to the Mrs., hey, there's no place to park, but there's nobody at the park? There must be a ballgame, she replied. Must be a big one, says me.

Little did we know that we were wading into the middle of one of the biggest high school sports rivalries in Tennessee.

We asked a couple of kids walking by, who's playing? Maryville and Alcoa, they said.

Oh, my! The 4A v. the 2A State Champs, hometown teams from our own county squaring off. We were somewhat embarrassed that we hadn't been keeping up and didn't know.

Anyway, it's an exciting night in Blount County. Probably bigger than Boomsday over there in Knoxville this weekend. Can't wait to read about the game in tomorrow's paper.

A few photos after the jump...