ALCOA, Tenn. — Alcoa football has made a habit out of playing in the 3A state championship game, and Friday's matchup against East Nashville will be the Tornadoes' 11th-straight finals appearance.
The team will also be looking for its ninth state championship in a row, and tenth in the last 11 years. Each year, the Alcoa senior class wants to go out on top.
"That's always the goal, I mean you don't want to go out like a loser," Alcoa senior offensive lineman Bryce Hayes said. "It really motivates you through the season, it's something in the back of your mind as you go into the playoffs."
Head coach Brian Nix has often said his goal every year is to help the seniors finish their high school careers as state champions, and it's special for him to have helped this class make it to the title game.
"It means everything," Nix said. "It's also how you avoid complacency because every year you have a renewed focus on wanting this group of guys to leave Alcoa and be as good as they can be."
The Tornadoes did not miss a beat in 2022 in Nix's first year at the helm of the program. The longtime Alcoa assistant led his team to a 45-26 win against East Nashville in the state final.
On Friday, Alcoa will be up against East Nashville in the championship game for the third year in a row. The 3A title game will be played at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga and is set for an 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT kickoff.