#PRZTN State Championship Preview: D2-Class A, AA & AAA

<h2>The TN State Championships kick off on Thursday morning with the private schools and #PRZTN has your complete preview below w/ game breakdowns, predictions & more! </h2>     D2-Class A Championship   Friendship Christian Commanders (12-0) vs. Nash. Christian Eagles (10-2)   - The 2022 season has been nothing but sensational thus far for Friendship Christian as they come into this game undefeated and confident with their eyes on that Gold Ball but a senior laden Nash. Christian team stands in their way, who also would like to leave Chattanooga as state champs. These teams did not meet in the regular season, so it will be new territory against each other on Thursday and a chance to see who truly is the best team from the D2-Class A ranks.    The Commanders have relied heavily on their rushing game and lines of scrimmage this year along with a nice 1-2 combo through the air with Garrett Weekly and [player_tooltip player_id='149160' first='Brock' last='Montgomery']. They are well balanced on offense and have been quite stout on defense as well. Nash. Christian is almost built in the same way as they like to run the ball and lean on their defense to keep the score low. It's almost a similar attack from both schools, so whoever has the biggest playmakers and the least turnovers, might walk away as the victor.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/bmontgomery.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-430374" width="330" height="330" /></figure>   Both of these teams have had almost two weeks to rest up and prepare for this matchup, so we should have healthy rosters headed into Thursday morning. Something about this game makes me want to go with Nash. Christian because they are hot right now and a program that has been to the D2-Class A title game multiple times but I have to roll with the Commanders in this matchup as they are too strong up front and have the game changers on offense to make the plays needed for the win.    Key Matchup: The Eagles defensive front seven vs. [player_tooltip player_id='185580' first='Reid' last='Powers'], Likely and the Commanders O-line   Game Prediction: Friendship Chrst. 24  Nash. Christian 17      Top Players/Prospects   - (QB) Garrett Weekly - FCS: Weekly has been a major reason for the Commanders undefeated record and placement in the state title game. His leadership and play will be key to their victory on Thursday.    - (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id='102316' first='Jayden' last='Satterfield'] - NCS: This is the Eagles go-to guy on offense and a big play threat that the Commanders defensive backs must keep in check or he might go off and be the difference maker in his team's possible victory.    - ‘24 (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='149160' first='Brock' last='Montgomery'] - FCS: Montgomery has been near unstoppable on offense this season, using his size to high point the ball while also using his speed to break away from defenders.    - (OG/C) [player_tooltip player_id='102273' first='Devin' last='Lively'] - FCS: This has been the best season yet from Lively who has had a dominating season on both sides of the ball, especially on defense where he has played well vs. the run and excelled against the pass.    - (DT/OL) [player_tooltip player_id='102183' first='Kevin' last='Bradley'] - NCS: Bradley has been a multi year starter for the Eagles and the one guy with the size in the trenches who can make a difference against the Commanders front line.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/devlively.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-531040" width="346" height="346" /></figure>   -------------   D2-Class AA Championship   CPA Lions (8-5) vs. Lipscomb Academy Mustangs (12-0)   - For the third year in a row, CPA and Lipscomb will meet up for the D2-Class AA state championship with each school winning a title, so this is the rubber match and a familiar contest between two schools that know each other very well. Lipscomb defeated CPA earlier this season but over the past month and half, the Lions have played some of their best football of the season, so this will be a different team compared to who the Mustangs played earlier in the year. CPA is full of college talent, led by London Humpheys, [player_tooltip player_id='102187' first='Bo' last='Burklow'] and others, so Lipscomb can't sleep on the Lions or they will jump up, bite them and walk away as champs.    Lipscomb Academy has become an in-state power and team full of college players that are destined for the next level. They are the reigning D2-Class AA champs and are the clear cut favorite to win this contest. The Mustangs haven't been tested too much this season but maybe the Lions can provide that and turn this into a close game that isn't settled till the very end. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='185565' first='Jr' last='Sherrill'], [player_tooltip player_id='285338' first='Hank' last='Brown'] and others will try to not let that happen and a lot will be put on the Mustangs offense to continue producing points like they have all season long. They can be explosive and overwhelming at times, so the Lions can't allow big plays and quick scoring drives to occur if they want a shot at winning this game.    I could easily see this game remaining close early and even into the 2nd quarter due to the Lions experience and overall talent but in the end, Lipscomb will just have too much firepower. The Mustangs are a well oiled machine that nobody has had an answer for this season and that will continue on Thursday morning against their region rival.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/blongwell.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-303387" width="322" height="322" /></figure>   Key Matchup: The Lions secondary vs. [player_tooltip player_id='185565' first='Jr' last='Sherrill'], [player_tooltip player_id='102365' first='Dylan' last='Wroblewski'] and the Mustangs receivers   Game Prediction: Lipscomb Academy 38  CPA 24      Top Players/Prospects   - (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='285338' first='Hank' last='Brown'] - Lipscomb Acad.: Brown has been a steady performer for the Mustangs this year, throwing for tons of yards but also being the leader they needed after losing Richesson to the college ranks.    - (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='185565' first='Jr' last='Sherrill'] - Lipscomb Acad.: An explosive playmaker with elite speed, Sherrill has been one of the more dynamic prospects in the state this year and he will be a key cog in the Mustangs hopes of winning another state title this year.    - (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='207352' first='London' last='Humphreys'] - CPA: It's been a breakout season thus far for Humphreys and the future Vanderbilt Commodore will be very much needed in this title game as someone that can take the top off on offense and provide big plays for his Lions team.    - (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='150372' first='Bryan' last='Longwell'] - Lipscomb Acad.: Longwell has been one of the best LB's in the state this season where he has boosted his stock into a Power Five guy, who could continue to see bigger offers come his way over the next two months.    - (TE/DE) [player_tooltip player_id='102187' first='Bo' last='Burklow'] - CPA: A two-way talent for his Lions team, Burklow is a mismatch problem at TE for opposing defenses and those abilities need to be exploited on Thursday against a good Mustangs defense.    - ‘24 (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='149389' first='Kaleb' last='Beasley'] - Lipscomb Acad.: Considered the top DB prospect for the in-state ‘24 class, Beasley is up for Mr. Football this year after putting together a dominating junior campaign where he has been stellar at locking down receivers.    - ‘24 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='228694' first='Crews' last='Law'] - CPA: The Lions defense has struggled at times this year but the play from Law has not. This guy has been a tackling machine that also has made plays against the pass, making him one of the top LB prospects for the in-state ‘24 class.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/claw.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-420691" width="382" height="382" /></figure>   -----------   D2-Class AAA Championship    MBA Big Red (12-0) vs. Baylor Red Raiders (10-2)   - This matchup between these two schools might turn out to be one of the best games of the entire state championship slate and a re-match that Baylor has been itching to partake in ever since the Big Red defeated the Red Raiders earlier this season. You have countless future college players that will be on the field Thursday night for both squads and if this game is anything like the one they played in October, we are in store for a championship classic.    For the team from Chattanooga, if Baylor wants a shot at knocking off the Big Red, they must keep [player_tooltip player_id='102308' first='Marcel' last='Reed'] in-check and keep the MBA offense on the sidelines. In their 1st matchup, Reed and his offense was simply able to outscore the Red Raiders to pick up the win, so Baylor has to show up on defense this time around and do something different to get the Big Red offense off the field. Baylor has some talent on defense too, like D-line standouts [player_tooltip player_id='205281' first='Anthony' last='Boggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='153183' first='Marceo' last='Collins, Jr'] as well as some dudes in the secondary with [player_tooltip player_id='102248' first='Evan' last='Haynie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='207309' first='Joshua' last='Hampton'] running the show but the Red Raiders need them all to show up in this contest and make a difference.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/mreed.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-323264" width="299" height="299" /></figure>   So far this season, MBA has been able to take on all challengers and walk away as the victors and they have won a lot of games with help from both sides of the ball. Their defense in particular has been steady and consistent all year and I don't expect that change in this game. Baylor will be ready and eager to take on the Big Red but in the end, MBA will have just enough magic left to eke out a win and come away as D2-Class AAA champs.    Key Matchup: Baylor's front seven vs. the MBA O-line (Getting pressure on Reed)   Game Prediction: MBA 38  Baylor 35      Top Players/Prospects    - (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='102308' first='Marcel' last='Reed'] - MBA: The future Ole Miss Rebel has played at an all-star level this season and is the main factor in his team's efforts and chances to win against Baylor on Thursday evening.    - ‘24 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='323145' first='Whit' last='Muschamp'] - Baylor: Over the past several weeks, Muschamp has been on fire and really coming into his own as a quarterback. He put forth a great game against the Big Red in their first matchup, so MBA is sure to key on this future college signal caller.    - (RB) Johnathon Moore - MBA: Moore has been an outstanding compliment on the ground to Reed and the team's passing attack this season and he will be very much needed in this championship game vs. Baylor.    - (OT) [player_tooltip player_id='102315' first='Brycen' last='Sanders'] - Baylor: The best O-line prospect in the state will need to play his best game of the season as his run blocking and pass protecting will be crucial towards the Red Raiders offensive success against MBA.    - (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='200429' first='Caleb' last='Hampton'] - Baylor: Hampton is a Mr. Football Finalist and it's well warranted after a breakout senior season where he has run around and through defenders all year making him one of the toughest backs to tackle and bring down.    - (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='226009' first='Eriq' last='George'] - MBA: The Big Red have one of the best defenses in the state this season with George at the forefront of that effort and his play will be key on Thursday night in trying to stop Hampton and the Red Raider rushing attack.    - ‘24 (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='148873' first='Amari' last='Jefferson'] - Baylor: Jefferson could be the X-factor in this contest as he broke loose for multiple big plays in Baylor's 1st game against MBA and if he is allowed to go off in this contest, it might push the Red Raiders to victory.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/brysanders2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-294412" width="319" height="319" /></figure>