Alcoa Earns 1st Ever 4A State Title

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Playing in a new classification this year, especially in this title contest, it proved to be no problem for the Tornadoes as they scored early and often then prevailed in the end to knock off Pearl Cohn for the Class 4A state championship.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The championship setting is something Alcoa knows all too well and they yet again performed at a high level on the big stage in their 47-28 victory over Pearl Cohn. The Tornadoes had plenty of mistakes in the flag department but beyond that, Alcoa played very well from both sides of the ball and looked like the better team from start to finish. <strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their path towards their first ever Class 4A championship started on the first play of the first drive where <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='904844' first='Micah' last='Jones'] </strong>broke loose on the outside and stampeded 45 yards towards paydirt to put the Tornadoes on the board, 7-0. Almost immediately, the Tornadoes would extend their lead as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1629965' first='Carter' last='Cowart'] </strong>got pressure on the quarterback, jarred the ball loose and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656088' first='Cade' last='Stinnett'] </strong>scooped it up for a defensive score.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like that, Alcoa held a 14-0 lead and it looked like Pearl Cohn was a deer in the highlights, however they would gather themselves on their second offensive series. The Firebirds got back into the mix after a long drive that was capped off with a nice back corner pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1286233' first='L.J.' last='Funk'] </strong>to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1937546' first='LaDamion' last='Hunter']</strong>. Smiles from the Firebirds began to show but <strong>De'Mauri DuBose </strong>turned them back upside down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The immediate kickoff after the Firebirds score, DuBose returned a 99 yard run to push the game back out to 14 points. It was an outstanding run by DuBose where his speed and vision stood out along with his ability to separate from the Pearl Cohn special teamers. DuBose is a guy to watch over the off-season as he presents the athletic profile for either receiver or defensive back that college coaches might enjoy looking into. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holding a 21-7 lead, the Tornadoes would extend things on their next drive as Jones produced his second touchdown of the half. The Firebirds had a hard time dealing with Jones as his physical build and powerful lower base was too much for them to handle. This wouldn't be the last time we heard from Jones as the Tornadoes offensive staff continued to feed this junior backer throughout the rest of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alcoa was in full control up to this point with Pearl Cohn having to play uphill the rest of the way. The Firebirds kept themselves within striking distance as their offense went on another long drive that ended with Funk finding <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1587357' first='Omarion' last='Starnes'] </strong>over the middle and the senior athlete fought through tackles to make his way into the end zone.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pearl Cohn was starting to move the ball and gain confidence but just when you thought the Firebirds had hope, the explosive Alcoa offense struck again. The Tornadoes used a balance of pass and run to get down to the red zone where Jones plowed his way in for his third rushing touchdown. Every time Pearl Cohn seemed to gain steam, the Tornadoes would stomp it out. Alcoa had an answer for everything and would go into the break, ahead 33-14.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2076242,"width":"350px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/IMG_20251206_145114-crop-1639x1076-1765055314.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2076242" style="width:350px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Shayne Pickering Prep Redzone TN </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first half consisted of powerful, speedy rushing from Alcoa with strong work up front in the defensive seven and big play action on special teams. All three facets of the game, the Tornadoes were delivering. Alcoa just needed to continue their formula and methods into the second half and that's what they did.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Firebirds got back on the board in the 3rd quarter to make things a bit more interesting at 33-21 but Alcoa continued to answer and would eventually push the game out of distance. The eventual MVP of the game in Jones added his fourth touchdown of the game and after a special teams forced fumble by Stinnett, the Tornadoes put another score on the board after a great pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2058759' first='Thomas' last='Manu'] </strong>to senior wideout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630037' first='JaColby' last='Cooper']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pearl Cohn would add a late touchdown to bring the deficit to 19 points but Alcoa would go on to win their 24th overall state championship and their 11th in a row. The final score was 47-28 but it could have been much worse had the Tornadoes not been called for so many penalties. The Firebirds could almost say the same as a lot of flags were thrown on them as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, it was an outstanding, championship performance from the Tornadoes and a great send off for their senior class. The crazy thing though is that a lot of top players like Manu, Jones, Dean, Sudderth and others are back in 2026, so it's hard not to see Alcoa right back in Chattanooga next year, going after their 12th title in 12 years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["904844"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69349a5a9d2d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">&nbsp;It was an easy choice for our player of the game as Jones produced a high level game with 120 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns in the Tornadoes 19 point 4A title game win over Pearl Cohn. Whenever Alcoa got into the red zone, Jones touched the ball and just about every time, he found paydirt. The Firebirds had a hard time grasping onto the Alcoa back and bringing him to the ground, due to his broad build and powerful legs. Jones had some good action on defense but it was his work on offense that helped bring another “Gold Ball” to the Alcoa hall ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Stars …….</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1656088' first='Cade' last='Stinnett'] - Alcoa</strong>: If anyone came in second place for game MVP, it was this senior linebacker. Stinnett was all over the field as a game changing defender that produced a scoop and score, one sack and a forced fumble along with many other tackles in the championship win. The Tornadoes tackler was an impactful player in this victory that played with an all-out motor and a nose for the ball that the Firebirds O-line could not block.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1587357' first='Omarion' last='Starnes'] - Pearl Cohn: </strong>When the Firebirds started to focus on giving the ball to Starnes, it made a difference and kept the team within distance. This senior playmaker is built like a running back but played out wide where he made several tough receptions, including a pair of touchdown catches. What I liked best about Starnes was his tough running after the catch. He broke several tackles to pick up first downs or gain extra yards, proving to be a tough guard for the Alcoa defenders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1630037' first='JaColby' last='Cooper'] - Alcoa: </strong>It was tough picking our third star but I had to go with Cooper due to his big play abilities that were flashed throughout this contest. If it wasn't for a first half flag, Cooper would have had two scores on the day but he settled for one, which came in the 4th quarter to put the game away. The Tornadoes senior is an elite athlete that does a lot of damage after the catch and has the breakaway speed to separate from his defender. That was on full display today versus the Firebirds!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Top Performers: </strong>‘27 (QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2058759' first='Thomas' last='Manu'] </strong>- Alcoa,‘27 (QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1286233' first='L.J.' last='Funk'] </strong>- Pearl Cohn, ‘27 (WR) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='817933' first='Jamir' last='Dean'] </strong>- Alcoa, (OL) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1366546' first='Jacob' last='Crow']</strong> - Alcoa, (Edge) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1629965' first='Carter' last='Cowart'] </strong>- Alcoa, ‘27 (DB/RB) <strong>Landan Left </strong>- Pearl Cohn, ‘27 (Ath) <strong>DeMauri DuBose </strong>- Alcoa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":437774,"width":"359px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/alcoa-scaled-crop-2560x1681-1662482417.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-437774" style="width:359px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Times Free Press (Chattanooga) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->