Class DII-AA Championship Preview: FRA vs. BGA

After nearly three and a half months, the 2025 TSSAA football season is down to the final round: state championships in Chattanooga.   Every game is lined up to be a good one, but the Division II-AA matchup between 12-1 Battle Ground Academy and 11-1 Franklin Road Academy is one of the most intriguing of them all.   These are two of the premier programs in Tennessee, boasting unbelievably talented squads led by stout defenses.   BGA and FRA met earlier in the season, where the Panthers won 21-14 at their place. However, the ‘Cats had several key players out for that game.   Both squads are relatively healthy, although nobody is genuinely 100% at this point in the season. But it should be a good-on-good contest between a pair of elite Tennessee teams.   I'm breaking down this state championship matchup, including players to know, keys for both teams and a game prediction. Let's get into it.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/kmarabl.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1629361" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: BGA QB [player_tooltip player_id='914547' first='Kaedyn' last='Marable']. Photo by BGA Athletics.</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    Key Players to Know   BGA Wildcats   '26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='914547' first='Kaedyn' last='Marable'] – Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='914547' first='Kaedyn' last='Marable'] is one of the most dynamic players in Tennessee. The D2-AA Mr. Football finalist has accounted for 4,008 total yards and 64 touchdowns in 13 games played this season.   He's a dual-threat guy who will hurt you with his legs or throw it over your head to one of his blue-chip wide receivers.   '29 (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1537396' first='Maddox' last='Porter'] – 2029 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1537396' first='Maddox' last='Porter'] took the world by storm this season, putting up one of the best freshman seasons we've seen in recent memory.    Even though he missed a game, the 6-foot-2 WR caught 70 passes for 1,424 yards and 26 touchdowns   '26 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1103031' first='Elijah' last='Fernandez'] – This senior linebacker is the heart and soul of BGA's stout defensive front. He's a bigger, but athletic backer who can play inside and out.   The Memphis commit had an excellent season for the Wildcats, totaling a team-high 77 tackles, 10 TFLs and two sacks in 12 games.   '28 (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1177837' first='Ayden' last='Woodruff'] – Big [player_tooltip player_id='1177837' first='Ayden' last='Woodruff'] is a force on the defensive front, even as a sophomore. The unanimous top 150 player nationally is one of several studs on that line, but Woodruff may be the best.   In 12 games, he's recorded 36 tackles, 11 TFLs and four sacks in what's been a dominant sophomore campaign.   '27 (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='902956' first='Justice' last='Pittman'] – The junior defensive lineman is one of the most underrated players in Tennessee, but is having himself a standout season under Bobby Bentley.   Pittman led the team in sacks with 10, while being productive in stopping the run.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/osanders2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1674317" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: FRA DB [player_tooltip player_id='903033' first='Omarii' last='Sanders'].</figcaption></figure>   - - -    FRA Panthers    '27 (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='903033' first='Omarii' last='Sanders'] – The newly committed Vanderbilt Commodore is one of the most dynamic players nationally. The 6-foot-4 safety patrols the back end of FRA's defense, while being a great tackler.   He's also a standout wide receiver, totaling nearly 1,000 receiving yards.   '28 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1037670' first='Jack' last='Nimitz'] – The sophomore quarterback came in halfway through the season as the new starting signal caller, and has been a solid player for the Panthers.   In just six games, the 2028 QB has thrown for nearly 1,500 yards and accounted for 18 total touchdowns. He's a dual-threat player who could give BGA trouble.   '26 (ATH) [player_tooltip player_id='1167514' first='Jayden' last='Rush'] – This senior athlete is one of my favorite players in the Midstate. He's not some superstar, but he's been Mr. Reliable on both sides of the ball for FRA his entire high school career.   [player_tooltip player_id='1167514' first='Jayden' last='Rush'] is a good boundary corner who's physical, but also provides another weapon on offense as a wide receiver.   '26 (ATH) Mike Hassell – FRA's leading rusher has been good for the majority of the 2025 season. Running for over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns, he's allowed the passing game to take off with defenses having to respect the run game.   Mike Hassell also plays defensive back, where he has been a solid rotational player.   '27 (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] – [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] has been fantastic all year for the FRA Panthers. He plays that defensive end spot, where he's totaled over 10 sacks and shown he can stop the run as well.   Neal is also one of their starting offensive linemen and has been one of the better players in Tennessee over the past two seasons.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/jpittman.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1352873" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: BGA DL [player_tooltip player_id='902956' first='Justice' last='Pittman']. Photo by BGA Athletics.</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    How Can BGA Win    This may sound like coach speak, but it's true. BGA can win this game if they continue to do what they've been doing all season long.   They're the much more talented team in this game, coming off eight consecutive victories of 28 points or more, including a 49-3 shellacking of Boyd-Buchanan two weeks ago.   BGA's offense is arguably the best in the state with a Mr. Football-level quarterback, multiple 1,500-yard receivers and a steady running game.   If they show up and continue to play the way that they have been, they will win the school's first state championship since 2003.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Photo-Sep-30-2025-8-52-44-PM-1-crop-1639x1076-1759284059.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1923608" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: FRA DB [player_tooltip player_id='1167514' first='Jayden' last='Rush']. Taken by Shayne Pickering Prep Redzone.</figcaption></figure>   - - -    How Can FRA Win   This is where it gets tricky, and I mean no disrespect to FRA. They are an outstanding team, but BGA is just a buzzsaw. However, the Panthers have beaten them once this season, so it's clearly not impossible.   Their secondary will be a significant factor in this contest. If the FRA defensive backs can eliminate chunk plays and force BGA to drive the length of the field, it will slow the game down.   On the other hand, the Panthers must run the ball effectively and manage the clock to limit possessions.   Essentially, they need to play this game like the Vanderbilt Commodores do. That's how they won this matchup earlier in the season.   If they take away the big plays through the air, then establish a strong run game and play keep-away, they absolutely could win the game.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/mporter.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1971836" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: BGA WR [player_tooltip player_id='1537396' first='Maddox' last='Porter']. Taken by Drew Toennies, Prep Redzone.</figcaption></figure>   - - -    Game Prediction    While I have just laid out an exact game plan for how FRA wins, I don't think it will play out that way whatsoever. The majority of last year's BGA team is back for 2025, and they haven't forgotten the heartbreak of losing the state championship in 2024.   That team is going to come out swinging and looking to deliver the knockout shot early. The Panthers won the game nearly two months ago, but that was without [player_tooltip player_id='1537396' first='Maddox' last='Porter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1405419' first='Ethan' last='Kellum'].   Porter is 100% and Kellum will likely get action this go around. FRA's defense did a great job locking down this BGA offense earlier, but that won't happen again.   I see the Wildcats winning convincingly, but the game will always be competitive and never get out of reach.   Score: BGA 31 FRA 17

After nearly three and a half months, the 2025 TSSAA football season is down to the final round: state championships in Chattanooga.