By JESSE SMITHEY Before you know it, the 2022 calendar will already be flipping its pages. So take a moment to pause and appreciate some of the top moments and storylines that happened in the 5Star Preps coverage area during 2021. Here is … [Read more...]
Elizabethton’s three-peat bid falls short in emotional double-overtime loss to Tullahoma
By JESSE SMITHEY CHATTANOOGA — Nobody wanted the trophy Saturday afternoon, and it was totally understandable as to why. Gold is the accepted currency for the Elizabethton football team. Not silver. After suffering a heartbreaking, … [Read more...]
2021 TSSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLUECROSS BOWL PREDICTIONS
Thanks, first and foremost, for Matt Daniels of Century 21 for making ALL our state championship coverage this week FREE to the public. Last week, we went 9-3 in our 12 statewide semifinal picks, bringing our season total to 370-97 … [Read more...]
2021 BLUECROSS BOWL CHAMPIONSHIPS PRIMER – Classes 3A, 4A, 5A
By JESSE SMITHEY Just three teams from the 5Star Preps coverage area reached Championship Week this year. Alcoa in Class 3A. Elizabethton in Class 4A. Powell in Class 5A. More in-depth previews on those three BlueCross Bowls will be … [Read more...]
BIG ROUNDUP – Elizabethton heads to third 4A BlueCross Bowl in a row; Maryville falls to Oakland in 6A semis
By JESSE SMITHEY In this week's BIG ROUNDUP, we take you to two semifinals: Class 4A: Elizabethton vs. Upperman Class 6A: Maryville vs. Oakland … [Read more...]
STATE SEMIFINAL PREDICTIONS – Friday, Nov. 26, 2021
By JESSE SMITHEY The finish line to the 2021 high school football season is nearing. Fewer than 10 days remain. And in the 5Star Preps coverage area, only five teams still have a chance to reach next week's state championships in … [Read more...]
SEMIFINAL PRIMER: What Maryville, Alcoa, Powell, West & Elizabethton face on Friday
We began the season back in August with our 75 teams from the 5Star Preps coverage area full of championship dreams. Yet only five remain in contention. The TSSAA Division I state semifinals will be played Friday, Nov. 26, and here's what … [Read more...]
Two-time defending champ Elizabethton stuns Greeneville, 13-7, to reach 4A semifinals
By MIKE BLACKERBY GREENEVILLE – If recent history against an old rival means anything, Elizabethton is on the fast track for a third-consecutive Class 4A state championship. Few gave the Cyclones much of a chance to even get back to the BlueCross … [Read more...]
5STAR PREPS FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS – State Quarterfinals (2021)
By JESSE SMITHEY After a struggle through an unpredictable regular season, the 5Star Preps prediction model has rebounded so far in the playoffs. We're winning 85.5 percent of our postseason predictions through two rounds, and have eight … [Read more...]
Elizabethton vs. Greeneville, Loudon vs. Giles County, Oneida vs. Hampton
By MIKE BLACKERBY This is when things really start to get interesting. Here’s a look at this week’s high school football quarterfinal matchups in Class 2A, 3A and 4A in the 5Star Preps coverage area: 4A—Elizabethton at Greeneville 3A—Giles County … [Read more...]