Step forward Houston High. The Mustangs will take on Murfreesboro Oakland on Saturday in the BlueCross Bowl Class 6A state championship game and we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know.
BlueCross Bowl Class 6A championship
Match-up: Houston (12-2) vs. Murfreesboro Oakland (12-2)
Where, when: Saturday at 6 p.m. CST; Finley Stadium in Chattanooga
Local TV: Xfinity Channel 907
Coaches: Houston, James Thomas; Oakland, Kevin Creasy
BlueCross Bowl history: This is Houston’s first appearance in the championship game after losing in the semifinals three previous times. Oakland is one of the state’s premier brands, with seven championships in its history, including the last three.
Road to the final: Houston defeated Dickson County, 47-0; defeated Collierville, 40-7; defeated Germantown, 30-10; and defeated Brentwood, 28-0. Oakland defeated Gallatin, 38-3; defeated Mt. Juliet, 24-2; defeated Murfreesboro Riverdale, 56-0; and defeated Bradley Central, 38-17.
Common opponents: None.
Streaks: The Mustangs have won 11 in a row since a 14-13 loss to Germantown on Sept. 1. The last defeat for the Patriots came in the final week of the regular season, falling to Murfreesboro Riverdale, 25-24. They avenged that with authority in the quarterfinals two weeks ago.
Houston players to watch: Damon Sisa, RB, senior (1,266 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns); Chandler Day, QB, junior (143 of 236, 2,454 yards, 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions); Shawne Jones, WR, senior (32 catches, 474 yards, seven touchdowns); Andre Allen, WR-DB, junior (22 catches, 384 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions); Chyco Williams, DB, senior (team-high five interceptions); Donnell Yarbrough, DB, junior (46 tackles); Ben Killebrew, LB, junior (39 tackles); Owen Waggener, LB, junior (team-high 51 tackles); Travis Shaw, DL, senior; Rod Conklin, OL, senior; Raymond Harwell, DL, senior; Jose Joiner, LB, senior; Ladeadrick James, DB-WR, junior; Garrett Hagan, DL, junior.
Oakland players to watch: Duane Morris, RB, junior (1,894 yards, 32 touchdowns, 46 catches, three receiving touchdowns); Ashton Jones, RB, senior (1,235 yards, 20 touchdowns); Patrick Freeman, QB, sophomore (894 yards, six touchdowns); Korey Smith, LB, senior (98 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss); Caleb Ellison, LB, sophomore (95 tackles, 11 tackles for loss); Tre Johnson, LB, senior (65 tackles); Quentin Norfolk, DE, junior; Gus Ramsey, DB, junior; Craig Tutt, DB, sophomore; Carlos Swader, DL, senior.
X-factor: Trotter Jones is a Houston soccer standout and he was recruited into the team late in the year after an injury to regular kicker George Vezina. His strong leg could come into play in a late-game field goal situation as well as on kickoffs.
Key match-up: Oakland’s run game vs. Houston’s defense
As evidenced by the eye-popping totals of Morris and Jones, Oakland hasn’t had too much trouble this season racking up yards on the ground. Led by its squatty bodies up front — the 6-0, 275-pound Raymond Harwell and the 6-0, 300-pound Travis Shaw — and a very good linebacker corps, Houston’s defense against the run has ratcheted up several notches in the postseason. Last week was its masterpiece as it held Brentwood to just 67 total yards.
Did you know?: Chandler Day’s 33 passing touchdowns are a Houston single-season record. The old mark of 31 was set by Ethan Burns, who quarterbacked the Mustangs to their last semifinal appearance in 2019.
And did you know this?: Houston is the first team from Shelby County to play in the BlueCross Bowl since 2020, when MUS lost in the Division 2-AAA final. The last local team to win state was ECS in D2-AA in 2019. No public school from Shelby County has won state since 2016, when Whitehaven (6A), East (4A) and Trezevant (2A) all brought home trophies.
And this?: The Mustangs’ shutout victory over Brentwood in the semifinals last week was the first time the Bruins had been blanked since a 37-0 loss to Oakland on Oct. 2, 2020, a 47-game span.
And how about this?: At least four players have strong family ties to the University of Memphis.
Receiver Shawne Jones is the son of former Tigers receiver Maurice Jones while Andre Allen’s dad and namesake was a highly regarded prep basketball standout at Booker T. Washington before signing with Memphis. Chandler Day’s dad, Collins, is in the Memphis Hall of Fame f... Click here to read full article
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