#BlueCrossBowl Summary From TeamFYNSports Analyst Jeff Cate

BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR) – See other finals from the 2023 BlueCross Bowl at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30

DII-A: MTCS 28, Friendship Christian 13. Middle Tennessee Christian secured their first state championship in school history with the win. Eli Wilson (MTCS) was the MVP (17 carries, 197 yards, 1 TD along with a 28-yard fumble recovery for a score and an interception).

FRIDAY DECEMBER 1

3A: Alcoa 42, East Nashville 20. The Tornadoes captured their 9^th straight state championship with the victory. The game included the longest rushing touchdown in BlueCross Bowl history, 99 yards, from East Nashville’s Kelan Anderson.

MVP was Alcoa’s Eli Graf (10/17, 151 yards, 3 touchdowns passing along with 6 carries for 24 yards and 1 touchdown rushing).

5A: Knox West 24, Page 19: West won their second straight 5A championship by holding off Page when the Patriots’ pass on the last play of the game was incomplete. Page outgained West 369 yards to 183. Syxx Hoard (West) was the MVP with 3 interceptions.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2

4A: Pearl-Cohn 36, Upperman 27: The Firebirds won their 3^rd state title in school history and the first since 1997. Zeion Simpson (PC) was the game’s MVP with 15 carries for 181 yards and 2 TD’s along with 7 total tackles on defense.

2A: Riverside 13, East Robertson 7: Riverside made history Saturday afternoon by winning the first state championship in school history (made the championship game in 2022 but lost to Tyner). Desmond Thomas (Riverside) won the MVP award with his performance that included 23 carries for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns in addition to 5 total tackles.

6A: Houston 24, Oakland 9: The Mustangs’ inaugural showing in the BlueCross Bowl went about as well as you could script by knocking off the defending 6A champions. Game MVP Damon Sisa (Houston) was the workhorse for the Mustangs with 30 carries for 183 yards and 1 touchdown.

Follow Jeff on “X” at @TheJeffCate