Alcoa Earns Another State Championship, Defeating East Nashville

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>The Gold Ball is returning to Alcoa for the 8th time in a row after a strong showing and win over an Eagles team that gave the Tornadoes everything they had and then some! </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Different year, same result for the Alcoa Tornadoes as they walked into Chattanooga as the seven time 3A state champs and they left as the eight time state champs after a 45-26 win over a feisty East Nashville squad.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It took a while for the Tornadoes to grab a hold of this game but they eventually did. The Eagles gave everything they had, including jumping out early with a statement.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Nashville came out with a bang, scoring on their opening offensive drive after two long pass plays to senior wideout <strong>Frank Gordon </strong>then capped off by a tremendous run by running back <strong>Trequan Waters</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Cam_615Preps/status/1598722708887539714?s=20u0026t=3ZMrZ9xtTerlIQlSv5BNhQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cam_615Preps/status/1598722708887539714?s=20&amp;t=3ZMrZ9xtTerlIQlSv5BNhQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles then proceeded to go on defense and force the Tornadoes to punt, so early on it looked like the team from Middle Tennessee had the momentum. That didn't last too long as Alcoa immediately answered with a nice roll out pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102276' first='Zach' last='Lunsford'] </strong>to sophomore wideout <strong>Luke Cannon </strong>to put the Tornadoes in front at 7-6.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What we got from there was a back and forth contest with both teams going blow for blow without giving an inch. Momentum did start to swing in the favor of the Tornadoes after a pick six from edge linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='197517' first='Brayden' last='Cornett']</strong>, pushing Alcoa out to a 21-14 lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/joe_spears7/status/1598725596791468032?s=20u0026t=3ZMrZ9xtTerlIQlSv5BNhQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/joe_spears7/status/1598725596791468032?s=20&amp;t=3ZMrZ9xtTerlIQlSv5BNhQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Nashville would respond with a touchdown run by <strong>Zac Beard </strong>but a second blocked extra point kept the lead with Alcoa and then over the next few minutes, mistakes began to happen for the Eagles which went into the favor of the Tornadoes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A short kickoff to Alcoa that was recovered at midfield gave the Tornadoes great field position that led to the second touchdown pass and catch from Lunsford to Cannon then on the ensuing kickoff, the East Nashville returner botched the catch where it was recovered by Alcoa.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With three seconds to go, Alcoa's kicker knocked through a short field to give the Tornadoes a 31-20 lead heading into the locker room and all the momentum on their side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest question coming out of halftime for the Eagles was if they would continue to fight or just lay down and give the Tornadoes another title. Well the fight was still there for East Nashville as they blocked a Tornado punt then took the ball and drove it 50 plus yards to the red zone where Beard found senior receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201088' first='Trey' last='Joyner'] </strong>for the touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Cam_615Preps/status/1598739729788243968?s=20u0026t=3ZMrZ9xtTerlIQlSv5BNhQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cam_615Preps/status/1598739729788243968?s=20&amp;t=3ZMrZ9xtTerlIQlSv5BNhQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holding a 31-26 lead going into the 4th quarter, Alcoa had a battle on their hands as they were held scoreless in the 3rd period and losing momentum as the game went along but that wouldn't last.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a few minutes in the fourth, Alcoa started to take over and it began with a great pass down the middle of the field from Lunsford to Cannon for their 3rd touchdown connection of the day but the scoring wasn't over for the Tornadoes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On their very next possession and with good field position, Alcoa went to the ground game with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149381' first='Elijah' last='Cannon'] </strong>then finished the drive with Harris racing into the end zone from the ten yard line for his second rushing touchdown of the day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holding a 45-26 lead with less than five minutes to go, it was all but a formality that the Tornadoes were about to walk away with their 8th state championship in a row. After forcing East Nashville to turnover on downs, Alcoa would run out the clock and find themselves as champs yet again.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a battle for quite a while for Alcoa but in the end, their talent, physicality up front and winning tradition won out for the top football program from the East Tennessee region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Game/MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102276' first='Zach' last='Lunsford'] </strong>- Alcoa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Throughout the entire championship game, Lunsford was consistent and steady, always playing with poise and when asked of him, he launched some beautiful passes down the field that resulted in scores. The Tornadoes senior quarterback produced three touchdown passes on the day with no turnovers and showing the kind of leadership that leads to championships. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":442553,"width":311,"height":311,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/zlunsford.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-442553" width="311" height="311"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Top Performers&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (Ath) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302319' first='Jordan' last='Harris'] </strong>- Alcoa: It took a minute for Harris to show up but the Mr. Football finalist definitely did by producing two rushing touchdowns on the day as well as locking down receivers on defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (OL) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102358' first='Lance' last='Williams'] </strong>- Alcoa: This future Virginia Tech Hokie played a lot of snaps in this game, paving the way for his runners on offense while also lending a hand in the trenches on defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (QB) <strong>Zac Beard </strong>- East Nashville: Before leaving late in the game due to injury, Beard put forth a great day making several key throws through the air while also producing two touchdowns on the ground.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘24 (LB/RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149381' first='Elijah' last='Cannon'] </strong>- Alcoa: Today's championship game was a bit of a breaking out party for Cannon as he carried the ball several times on offense, picking up multiple key 1st downs while also playing fast and hard on defense at linebacker.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (WR) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201088' first='Trey' last='Joyner'] </strong>- East Nashville: His number wasn't called a lot in this game but Joyner made his mark on the contest several times. He produced a catch and a big gain late in the game while scoring once late in the 2nd quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘25 (WR) <strong>Luke Cannon </strong>- Alcoa: Talk about breaking out on the big scene, Cannon had a stellar day as he caught the ball three times but on those catches, he produced three touchdowns with all three coming at critical times in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":299817,"width":307,"height":307,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/lwilliams.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-299817" width="307" height="307"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->