State’s Best: Top Football Programs (Class 1A)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">We are in the midst of a long off-season, so it gives us time to provide some interesting pieces, like who are the current top football programs in the Volunteer state by classification. Well we start that series here by looking at the 1A level where a certain team around the Chattanooga area is the clear cut best of the best by a wide margin. </h2>     1. South Pittsburg Pirates (1A-Reg. 4)   Head Coach: Wes Stone    Location: South Pittsburg, TN (Marion Co.)   State Championships: 8 (‘25, ‘23, ‘21, ‘10, ‘07, ‘99, ‘94, ‘69)   Runner-Up: 8 (‘24, ‘20, ‘13, ‘11, ‘09, ‘86, ‘85, ‘74)   - It's without question who is the top program from the 1A level. The Pirates are by far the best of the best, especially coming off their 8th state football championship. The South Pitt program is as consistent as you will find. Each and every year, the Pirates are competing for region and state titles while producing the most college signees of anyone from the Class 1A level. The fan base is fully behind this program as well while sporting some of the best facilities in the 1A ranks. I don't expect the Pirates to take a big step back in 2026 either, even with losing several key players. They have enough talent coming back along with some youthful guys to make another run after the title. As long as the administration remains 100% behind  the football program, I don't expect South Pitt to relinquish their spot at the top of the classification anytime in the near future.    Key Players Returning: (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1577095' first='Dayon' last='Cooper'], (S) [player_tooltip player_id='1675594' first='Brandon' last='Goldsmith'], (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1205814' first='Kemijah' last='Harris']   - - - - -    2. McKenzie Rebels (1A-Reg. 6)   Head Coach: Keith Hodge   Location: McKenzie, TN (Carroll Co.)   State Championships: 1 (2022)   Runner-Up: 4 (‘25, ‘23, ‘21, ‘07)   - Over the past decade, nobody from the 1A ranks out of the West Tennessee region has been more consistent than the Rebels. Since their championship appearance in 2021, McKenzie has been in the 1A title game 4 times with one of them ending with a “Gold Ball.” The Rebels are coming off another 1A championship appearance last Fall and they return a solid core in 2026 that may have them in the mix for another title shot. This is a well run program that does all the small things right from building up the roster in the weight room to developing their talent. The Rebels fan base is strong as well with their small community fully behind the program. I don't see the McKenzie program falling off anytime soon, especially with Coach Hodge at the helm. Look for the Rebels to sit at the top of the 1A ranks for many years to come and in the mix to compete for championships.    Key Returning Players: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1603459' first='Cole' last='Brown'], (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='2071511' first='Avery' last='Brown'], (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1694860' first='Jacobi' last='Melton'], (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1088079' first='Maddox' last='Shiell']   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/cbrown2-crop-697x458-1769024843.jpg?w=696" alt="" class="wp-image-2110393" style="aspect-ratio:1.5230037017451084;width:301px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    3. Coalfield Yellow Jackets (1A-Reg. 2)   Head Coach: Benson Nappier   Location: Coalfield, TN (Morgan Co.)   State Championships: None   Runner-Up: 1 (2014)   - Even though the Yellow Jackets have yet to bring home a football state championship, they have one of the more consistent programs coming from the 1A ranks that always makes the playoffs. Coalfield has earned a spot in the playoffs 22 years in a row with them last missing out in 2003. They are the perennial leader within their region each year and a team nobody wants to see as the Yellow Jackets play a physical brand of football that tends to put them on the winning side of things. Some of the best facilities out of the 1A level reside at Coalfield. The Yellow Jackets also have a strong fan base and community behind them that provides a good home field advantage. Seeing how things are run at Coalfield, I don't expect this East Tennessee program to go anywhere, anytime soon.    Key Returning Players: (WR/S) Lane Adcock, (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1673682' first='Eli' last='Ritter'], (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1557891' first='Cameron' last='Greer']   - - - - -    4. Dresden Lions (1A-Reg. 7)   Head Coach: Justin Cruse   Location: Dresden, TN (Weakley Co.)   State Championships: 1 (2016)   Runner-Up: 1 (2011)   - Some may not think about Dresden and them being a top 1A program but when you look at the numbers, you see a consistent program that constantly finds themselves competing in the playoffs. Since the 2010 season, the Lions have missed the playoffs only twice (2018/2024) while picking up a state title along the way during the 2016 football year. After missing the playoffs two years ago, Dresden bounced back strong last Fall by going 9-3 overall and winning their region championship. It will be interesting to see if they keep things going next season as they are losing several key pieces but I expect the staff to find the right guys and maintain the program's consistency. The Lions play a certain brand of football that works. It has kept them in the title mix for more than two decades now and I look for that to continue moving forward.    Key Returning Players: (QB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='932883' first='Bruce' last='Willis'], (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='932881' first='Jacoby' last='Sutton'], (LB) Aiden Essary   - - - - -    5. Clay Co. Bulldogs (1A-Reg. 4)   Head Coach: Bruce Lamb   Location: Celina, TN (Clay Co.)   State Championships: None   Runner-Up: 1 (2022)   - The Bulldogs football program is on a nice run over the past decade where they have made the playoffs 9 years in a row and I don't expect them to fall back anytime soon with Coach Lamb and his staff in-place. It will be a new challenge for Clay Co. next year as they must replace multiple key leaders but seeing how this program is run, I expect the Bulldogs to find replacements and keep the train rolling. Physicality in the trenches and consistency on both sides of the ball have kept the Bulldogs relevant for some time now but they have yet to break through with a state championship. If the school can put more resources into the program itself, I could see the Bulldogs being a team to watch over the coming years as a squad that becomes serious contenders to bring home a “Gold Ball.”   Key Returning Players: (Ath) Fletcher Strong ‘28, (OL/DT) Rolan Holoway    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/clayco.jpg?w=777" alt="" class="wp-image-2003016" style="aspect-ratio:1.7780704642739547;width:337px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Dale Hollow Horizon</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    6. Cloudland Highlanders (1A-Reg. 1)   Head Coach: Zachary Benfield   Location: Roan Mountain, TN (Carter Co.)   State Championships: None   Runner-Up: 1 (2001)   - You wouldn't know it until you look but Cloudland is one of the more consistent programs from the 1A level that has missed the playoffs only three times over the past 38 years. Whenever football season comes around, you can bet on the Highlanders being a formidable opponent that plays for region titles each year and tends to find themselves making the playoffs. One thing missing is that elusive state title though. Cloudland has reached the 1A championship once in their history, so you can bet they are itching to get back in contention. The Highlanders have good facilities along with solid support from their community. I see Cloudland as a sleeping title contender, if their school and staff can find the recipes to push this East Tennessee program to new levels.    Key Returning Players: Not Available    - - - - -    7. Humboldt Vikings (1A-Reg. 7)   Head Coach: Hayden Williams    Location: Humboldt, TN (Gibson Co.)   State Championships: 1 (1979)   Runner-Up: 2 (1995, 1969)   - It hasn't been the best of times lately for the Vikings as they have only made the playoffs three times over the past ten years but historically, Humboldt is an older school and program that has won a lot of ball games throughout its history. The Vikings have a 32-28 all-time record in the playoffs along with three championship game appearances and one state title that took place back in 1979. Their last title appearance came in 1995, so it's probably time for Humboldt to get off the map and establish themselves as one of the best 1A programs coming out of the West Tennessee region. Potential is there for it to happen and maybe under this current coaching staff, the Vikings can get back to relevance to begin competing for state titles again.    Key Returning Players: (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='933041' first='Darion' last='Taylor'], (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1694865' first='Tyreke' last='Boykin'], (WR) Tyon Campbell, (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1732422' first='Tyland' last='Richmond']   - - - - -    8. Moore Co. Raiders (1A-Reg. 5)   Head Coach: Kris White   Location: Lynchburg, TN (Moore Co.)   State Championships: None   Runner-Up: 2 (1999, 1998)   - Not too many people talk about Moore Co. when it comes to the best programs from the 1A level but the numbers speak towards their consistency. The Raiders have made the playoffs 33 times in their history and reached the title game twice but have yet to break through with a state championship. What has been done is a lot of winning, including several region titles while placing multiple guys into the college ranks. Moore Co. is a beautiful area in Tennessee that could see an in-flux of people in the coming years, which could eventually boost the football program. The Raiders are in a bit of a down turn after missing the playoffs the past two years but the culture is strong within this program, so I expect them to get right soon, possibly the coming 2026 season.    Key Players Returning: (Ath) Luke Stephens, (Ath) Westin Byrom   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/mooreco.webp?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2110403" style="aspect-ratio:1.501511939105349;width:328px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    9. Hampton Bulldogs (1A-Reg. 1)   Head Coach: Michael Lunsford   Location: Hampton, TN (Carter Co.)   State Championships: None   Runner-Up: 1 (2021)   - Sitting quietly in the East Tennessee mountains is this 1A program that has been one of the more consistent winners from this classification that has started to take its program to new levels over the past decade. The Bulldogs haven't missed the playoffs since 2003, meaning they are on a 23 year run of reaching postseason play. They have won a bunch of region titles along the way but the one thing missing from their trophy case is that elusive state championship. The Bulldogs have been in the mix for it a few times, including back in 2021 where they finished in second place. Being where they are located and in the region they are, Hampton should remain in the picture for postseason play going forward, as long as the school and program continues wanting to build. This program has a strong winning culture about them, so I expect to continue their winning ways over the coming years.    Key Returning Players: (RB/DB) Brody Lambert, (OL) Dylan Campbell, (Ath) Kaden Jones   - - - - -    10. Oliver Springs Bobcats    Head Coach: Tyler Harper    Location: Oliver Springs, TN (Roane Co.)   State Championships: None   Runner-Up: None    - Could the Bobcats be a program on the rise that develops into a sleeper candidate for future state titles? It's possible, especially after all the winning they have done over the last two decades. The Bobcats have quietly been one of the more consistent programs from the 1A level that has won a lot of ball games and region titles but have yet to compete for a state championship. They have certainly been chasing it with 16 playoff appearances over the past twenty five years. Oliver Springs has good facilities along with a loyal fan base, so ingredients are in place for the Bobcats to push their program to new heights and continue their march after that elusive “Gold Ball.” This is a program to watch over the next decade as a team that could get off the snide and bring a state title back home to campus.    Key Returning Players: (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1268164' first='Ian' last='Hammock'], (DT/OL) Wesley Cambron, (Ath) Eli Richardson    - - - - -    #PRZTN Program Power Poll (Top 15) - As of 1/21/2026    1. South Pittsburg   2. McKenzie   3. Coalfield   4. Dresden   5. Clay Co.   6. Cloudland   7. Humboldt   8. Moore Co.   9. Hampton   10. Oliver Springs   11. Richland   12. Fayetteville   13. South Fulton   14. Middle College   15. Huntland   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/osprings-crop-2255x1481-1769025515.webp?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2110407" style="width:310px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: The Oak Ridger</figcaption></figure>