Class 3A Region Preview/Predictions (Part 1)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Predicting the 3A ranks, here we start with regions one through four, where you will find all these teams residing in the East TN or Chattanooga areas. We provide below our region winners, player superlatives and more!</h2>     3A-Region 1   1. Gatlinburg-Pittman   2. Unicoi Co.   3. Johnson Co.   4. Pigeon Forge   5. Chuckey-Doak   6. Claiborne   Region MVP: (LB/RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1100693' first='Ben' last='Reece'] - Gatlinburg-Pittman   Off. POTY: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1115203' first='Kolby' last='Jones'] - Unicoi Co.    Def. POTY: (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1106234' first='Evan' last='Allen'] - Gatlinburg-Pittman    Lineman POTY: (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1249897' first='Jackson' last='Case'] - Gatlinburg-Pittman    Underclassmen POTY: ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1182191' first='Brayden' last='Maples'] - Gatlinburg-Pittman    Coach of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='552638' first='Tyler' last='Williams'] - Gatlinburg-Pittman    - It's a bit of a transitional year for Gatlinburg-Pittman. We have a new head coach at the helm along with a roster that will be leaning on some youthful talent to play key roles. It's a new offense as well with Hammonds, Orr and Avera out the door but there is talent on hand to win this region again. I see the Highlanders defense being the X-Factor this season with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1100693' first='Ben' last='Reece'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1106234' first='Evan' last='Allen'] leading the way. That defense will need to show up, especially when they face Jones and his Unicoi County team. The Blue Devils look to have a solid ball club this Fall that will certainly lean on Jones and his playmaking abilities at quarterback. His ability to push it down field with his arm or beat you with legs should provide problems for the opposition.    Competing with Unicoi Co. for that second region spot should be Johnson Co. and Pigeon Forge with Chuckey-Doak potentially right there too. The Longhorns have the most collective talent between the three along with some returning vets that could sneak up and fight Pittman for the region title. Defensively, Johnson co. should be solid with seniors Jace Stout, Sam Cretsinger and Carter Rhudy leading the way. Pigeon Forge looks to be rebuilding this year as they could be leaning on a lot of youth throughout the season. They must get things together otherwise Chuckey-Doak and Claiborne could play their way into that 4th and final playoff spot.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/jackcase.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1394008" style="width:322px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    3A-Region 2   1. Alcoa   2. Kingston   3. Austin-East   4. Union Co.   5. Scott    Region MVP: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='783053' first='Eli' last='Graf'] - Alcoa    Off. POTY: (TE) [player_tooltip player_id='219408' first='Eli' last='Owens'] - Alcoa    Def. POTY: ‘26 (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='480860' first='D'Andre' last='Hundley'] - Austin-East    Lineman POTY: (OL/DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1189145' first='Jamir' last='Turner'] - Alcoa    Underclassmen POTY: ‘26 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1606161' first='Taeshaune' last='Hamilton'] - Kingston    Coach of the Year: Brian Nix - Alcoa   - Yet again for another football season, I don't see anybody knocking the Tornadoes off their perch and taking this region away from them. Now this isn't the best of Alcoa team's but they are still head and shoulders ahead of the competition in this region. It will be interesting to see how this Alcoa version performs this year and how their strong sophomore class develops throughout the season. If any team in this region has a glimmer of a shot at competing with them, it would be Kingston. The Yellow Jackets don't have the overall talent as Alcoa but they got a stud junior back in [player_tooltip player_id='1606161' first='Taeshaune' last='Hamilton'] to lean on.    Kingston may hold the 2nd spot right now but they must continue developing as Austin-East and Union Co. are right there with them competing for playoff spots. If the Roadrunners wouldn't have lost a couple of players to other schools, they would have been picked 2nd. There is still enough talent on the roster to compete for 2nd place and play their way into the postseason. Keep ears out for Hundley and Tylee Jackson this Fall as two juniors that can become difference makers for Austin-East. At the end of the day, I think Alcoa is still just too good for anybody else to overtake them, so it's yet the Tornadoes region to lose.    - - - - -    3A-Region 3   1. Tyner Academy   2. Chatt. Central   3. Brainerd   4. Sweetwater   5. Meigs Co.   6. McMinn Central   Region MVP: (DE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='467259' first='Jaeden' last='Isbell'] - Tyner Academy   Off. POTY: (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='822698' first='Ronye' last='Watson'] - Chatt. Central    Def. POTY: (DE) Landis Ratliff - Tyner Academy    Lineman POTY: ‘26 (DT/OL) [player_tooltip player_id='491556' first='Jamarcus' last='Varnell'] - Tyner Academy    Underclassmen POTY: ‘28 (RB) D'Aerion McNeely - Tyner Academy    Coach of the Year: James Mainor - Tyner Academy    - Headed into the 2024 season, the Rams appear to be a step ahead of the competition in this region with an outside shot at getting to Chattanooga for the 3A title game. That statement is made due to a senior laden defense that sports potential college guys in Isbell, Ratliff and Varnell. The new addition of McNealy to the backfield gives the Rams offense explosion and game changing abilities that should also compliment their defense very well. Fighting with the Rams for the top spot looks to be Chatt. Central and they will need others beside Watson to step forward and produce. The Pounders have a few guys like Houston Boykin and others that can contribute more and give this team more options, which would provide balance. I still think they are a bit behind Tyner Academy but taking 2nd place in this region is very possible.    The remainder of the region is a big question mark. Off-season subtractions on a few of these teams have made scouting them a little tougher. Brainerd has good young talent to build around along with some beef in the trenches to lean on. Sweetwater was a team that I saw being a surprise until the recent loss of [player_tooltip player_id='219380' first='Brayden' last='Westfield']. Others must step forward to give the Cats a shot at making the playoffs. Meigs Co. appears to be in transition for the first time in a long time but they may also be just fine. Just says there is a lot to learn about the Tigers this year.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/jisbell.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1394010" style="width:267px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -   3A-Region 4   1. Sequatchie Co.   2. Giles Co.   3. Watertown   4. Community   5. Grundy Co.    Region MVP: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='279486' first='Sam' last='Evitts'] - Sequatchie Co.    Off. POTY: (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1125367' first='Marcus' last='Reynolds'] - Watertown   Def. POTY: ‘26 (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='540022' first='Harrison' last='Smith'] - Sequatchie Co.    Lineman POTY: (OL/DL) Kaden Reinhart - Giles Co.    Underclassmen POTY: ‘27 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1104293' first='Blake' last='Waldorf'] - Watertown    Coach of the Year: Rusty McIntyre - Sequatchie Co.    - This region has belonged to Giles Co. over the last few years but I feel it's Sequatchie's time to take the lead and become the top team. The Indians return a strong veteran class with four of the five starting O-line being seniors, their quarterback in Evitts being a Mr. Football candidate with good skill players to throw to and several underclassmen sporting star power for the future. The Indians have a team that can be really good this year with the potential to go deep in the playoffs. They can't sleep on anybody though, especially Giles Co., which is a program that knows how to win and they still have some beef in the trenches that could gain them the region title.    The Bobcats are replacing some key starters from last year but play a certain style down their way that tends to resonate year after year, keeping them in the mix for postseason play. Reinhart is a beast up front that will have to be dealt with while their defense should still be salty and one of the best units in the region. The sleeper team to watch for is Watertown. The Purple Tigers have a nice mix of vets and youthful talent that could gel nicely by the end of the year and be right there competing for first place. Reynolds is the star but Waldorf is the up and coming stud that could be a difference maker this Fall. Community has a solid ball club this year but not enough talent to compete for the top three. Fourth place and the  playoffs are available however.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/115-Harrison-Smith.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1298983" style="width:384px;height:auto" /></figure>