The Five: Class 3A Top Title Contenders

<h2>Can someone knock the Tornadoes off their throne? Well we clue you in right here w/ our preseason look at the best teams from the 3A ranks!</h2>   The Class 3A ranks has been controlled by Alcoa for seven years now and this coming 2022 season, the Tornadoes are yet again the team to beat but others are pushing hard to knock them off the top of the mountain.    Here we breakdown the five teams who appear to have the best chance at making it to Chattanooga to compete for the 3A title during the 2022 Fall football season.    1. Alcoa Tornadoes …#EastTN    - Another football season ahead and another year where the Tornadoes are the team to beat. The 7-time defending Class 3A state champs look primed for another deep playoff run and the personnel to win their 8th championship in a row and right now, I don’t see anyone challenging them for the top spot. This year’s team has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball but will be led by their offense where they are big and talented in the trenches along with a quarterback, running back combo that can put up some big numbers.    Senior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id="102276" first="Zach" last="Lunsford"] is finally the starter behind center for the Tornadoes and he could be poised for a big season, especially with a guy like [player_tooltip player_id="302319" first="Jordan" last="Harris"] behind him carrying the ball and sliding out wide to catch passes. Those two will be protected by one of the best offensive lines in the state with seniors and Power Five talents [player_tooltip player_id="102358" first="Lance" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="102257" first="Tyler" last="Jeffries"] leading the way. It’s a well balanced offense that could go to another level if some receivers step up and develop into go-to targets.    Over on defense, the Tornadoes are stacked in the front seven with multiple difference makers and a good mix of veteran and youth talent. Senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="302363" first="Riley" last="Long"] is the catalyst up front, who could lead the East Tennessee region and possibly the state in sacks. Behind him at linebacker are high energy guys in veteran tackler [player_tooltip player_id="150371" first="Aaron" last="Davis"] and rising junior edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id="258669" first="Joe" last="McCord"]. This looks like another talented, well coached Tornadoes team that will be ready to defend their title and place another “Gold Ball” into their trophy case.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/rlong.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-390009"/></figure>     2. Covington Chargers …#WestTN    - Last year was a bit of a disappointment for the Chargers as they had a team primed to make it to Chattanooga and compete for the 3A title but they were bounced out of the playoffs unexpectedly. The Chargers are looking to right those wrongs from last year and make a deep playoff run this season that puts them in contention to fight Alcoa for the top spot in the 3A ranks.    Everything starts with Chargers athletic, dynamic duo in running back [player_tooltip player_id="102218" first="Jamarion" last="Dowell"] and two-way talent [player_tooltip player_id="150379" first="A.C." last="Mason-Young"]. Dowell is one of the top returning rushing leaders in the entire state and a prime contender for Class 3A Mr. Football this year. Mason-Young is another Mr. Football candidate that does a little bit of everything for his Chargers squad. He is a talented young man that can excel on either side of the ball as well as star on special teams.    Looking beyond Dowell and Mason-Young, the Chargers have several key pieces surrounding them that will be factors towards a successful 2022 season. One of those areas is on the defensive line, where senior [player_tooltip player_id="301329" first="Atyrun" last="Smith"] runs the show. Smith and the rest of his defensive counterparts will be important towards helping the Chargers make a move on Chattanooga to compete for the 3A title.    Covington is the top program and team from the West Tennessee region in the 3A ranks and a top contender towards facing Alcoa for the title. We shall see how things play out this year but the Chargers have some “dudes” that can lead them to the promiseland.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/jdowell-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-383817"/></figure>     3. Gatlinburg-Pittman Highlanders …#EastTN   - One of the more consistent programs from the Class 3A ranks over the last decade are these Highlanders but because they are in the same region as the state power Tornadoes, reaching the title game has been tough. This year’s team is yet another talented squad that looks stacked to make a deep playoff run but they must get over the hurdle that is Alcoa, if they want to accomplish their dreams of becoming a champion.    Everything for the Highlanders starts on offense with a possible deadly junior combo between quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="207312" first="Brady" last="Hammonds"] and stud receiver [player_tooltip player_id="149163" first="Carlos" last="Orr"]. Both juniors are talented with college upside, especially Orr who could be one of the top overall prospects in the state for the 2024 class. Complimenting those two juniors is senior two-way talent [player_tooltip player_id="150323" first="Jackson" last="DeSear"] and a solid offensive line, led by interior versatile lineman [player_tooltip player_id="301373" first="Joseph" last="Ryznic"].    Defensively is where the difference will be made in how far these Highlanders go this season. Their linebackers are talented with juniors [player_tooltip player_id="149400" first="Whittman" last="Whaley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="149388" first="Luke" last="Burkett"] running the show but it will be the front four and the secondary that will need to step up and become a force for this defense to play at its highest potential. The pieces are there to have a big year but the roadblock of Alcoa will be in the way to maneuver through and if they do just that, Gatlinburg-Pittman could find themselves in Chattanooga competing for the 3A title.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/corr.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-390016"/></figure>     4. East Nashville Eagles …#MidTN    - Last season was a banner year for these Eagles as they made it all the way to the Class 3A title game and most of the guys from last year’s squad are back in 2022, ready to lead this Nashville area program back to Chattanooga. Head coach Jamal Stewart and his coaching staff have done a great job at growing this program and turning itself into a perennial contender year in and year out and this 2022 season appears to be no different.    Both sides of the ball look to be deep and talented for these Eagles with a senior quarterback in Zaccheus Beard running the show on offense, throwing to a top level wideout in [player_tooltip player_id="201088" first="Trey" last="Joyner"]. Inside the trenches, East has a few dudes that can cause some damage in senior O-lineman [player_tooltip player_id="201090" first="DeMarco" last="Ellis, Jr"] and over on defense, junior D-Tackle [player_tooltip player_id="287426" first="Malik" last="Bolling"]. Both of these linemen are future college players and two big men that will be relied upon a great deal this coming Fall football season.    Looking over the entire roster, these Eagles have a nice balance of veterans and talented underclassmen that could blend well together this year and push this Middle Tennessee program back into the title chase. It won’t be an easy road as East have several tough opponents within their region and on their schedule but the pieces are there for yet another deep playoff run.     5. Giles Co. Bobcats …#MidTN   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/tballentine.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-390017"/></figure>   - People need to watch out for these Bobcats headed into the 2022 campaign as they have a veteran squad that has won a lot of football games over the past few years and could be in-store for their best season yet. If there is one thing that Giles Co. does year in and year out is playing hard and tough. You won’t push around these Bobcats and you can bet that you will get their best each and every snap.    This is a run based team and offense that succeeds at playing physical up front and allowing their backs to dominate the game. This year should be no different but if they can find a decent passing attack to complement their run game, a move towards the 3A title game could finally be possible.    The strength of this Bobcats team is within their secondary where they have three guys who have college futures and the ability to change the momentum of the game at any given time. Senior safeties Trevon Dangerfield and Trey Ballentine are ballhawking, hard hitting guys that will lay the wood but also chase down the ball. Junior defender [player_tooltip player_id="149848" first="Tyrick" last="Brown"] was an All-Region selection last season that can play a variety of roles across the back end. All three of these defensive backs are talented and key players for the Bobcats this coming season.    This team isn’t flashy nor has a bevy of college prospects but they play hard and play for their teammates. You don’t wanna see this team on your schedule as you will be in for a war and a hard time gaining the victory.    Three Others to Watch: Fairview Yellowjackets (#MidTN), Sheffield Tigers (#WestTN), Smith Co. (#MidTN)