The air in East Tennessee hits differently when November rolls around. It's not just the crispness of the Great Smoky Mountains; it's the weight of expectations. In this part of the world, football isn't a pastime. It's the rhythm of the week. Honestly, if you grew up between Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, you know that Friday nights are the only clock that matters. But looking back at the 2025 season, specifically those East Tennessee football scores that trickled in through the BlueCross Bowl, something felt shifted.
We’ve spent decades watching Alcoa and Maryville dominate. While some things stayed the same—looking at you, Brian Nix—the 2025 landscape gave us a lot of "wait, what?" moments.
The Alcoa Dynasty and the Power of 24
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Alcoa.
They did it again. By the time the final whistle blew in Chattanooga this past December, Alcoa had secured its 11th straight state title. That’s not a typo. Eleven. They beat Pearl-Cohn 47-27 in a game that felt like a masterclass in efficiency. Coach Brian Nix basically has a permanent reservation at the winner’s podium at this point. With a 54-4 record over four years, he’s not just winning; he’s maintaining a machine.
But it wasn't just about the blowout. Pearl-Cohn is a powerhouse, and for Alcoa to drop nearly 50 points on them shows the gap that still exists in Class 4A. If you were looking for East Tennessee football scores to be close, this wasn't the one. Alcoa jumped out early and never let the fire go out. It brings their total to 24 state titles—the most in Tennessee history.
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Heartland Heartbreak and Redemption in Sevierville
The most talked-about story of the year, though, might be Sevier County. They had a hell of a run. Heading into the Class 5A championship, the Smoky Bears were 14-0. They had this "team of destiny" vibe that you only see once every decade or so.
Then they hit Page.
The East Tennessee football scores from that weekend show a 21-14 loss for Sevier County. It was a "teeth-gnashing" defensive battle, as some locals called it. Page had lost the title game four years in a row. They were desperate. They held a Sevier County offense—one that had been averaging points like they were going out of style—to just two scores. Seeing the Smoky Bears fall just short was a gut-punch for the region, but it cemented Page as the new giant in 5A.
A Quick Look at the 2025 Championship Tally
- Class 1A: South Pittsburg 42, McKenzie 14 (Jamychal Buckner was a human highlight reel with 204 yards).
- Class 3A: Westview 62, Gatlinburg-Pittman 21 (Sophomore QB Graham Simpson threw for 566 yards. 566! In a high school game!).
- Division II-AAA: Baylor 28, Brentwood Academy 24 (The Red Raiders finished 12-0 and officially took the crown as the best team in the state).
The "Mini-Majors" and College Scores
While high school ball gets the most ink, the college scene in East Tennessee had a weirdly consistent year in 2025. Take East Tennessee State University (ETSU). They finished 7-5. It’s that classic "good but not great" zone. They averaged about 32 points a game, which is fun to watch, but they struggled against the top tier of the SoCon.
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Then you’ve got Maryville College. The Scots went 7-3. They were a force at Honaker Field, but they ended the season on a two-game skid, losing to Berry and Trinity. It’s interesting to see how the offensive styles are bleeding down from the higher levels; Maryville was throwing for over 320 yards a game. That’s a lot of air yards for Division III.
Why These Scores Matter for 2026
So, what now? If you're a fan of the game, you're already looking at next season. There’s a massive shift happening in Knoxville high school ball right now. George Quarles, a legend who basically built the Maryville High program into a national name before heading to the college ranks, is back. He’s taking over at Webb.
That’s huge.
People in East Tennessee have been waiting to see Quarles back on a high school sideline. His return to the Knoxville area is going to change the math for Division II-AA. You can bet those East Tennessee football scores involving Webb are going to look very different by October 2026.
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Actionable Insights for the Offseason
If you’re trying to keep up with the local scene without losing your mind, here’s how to handle the next few months:
- Watch the Reclassifications: The TSSAA is constantly shifting teams based on enrollment. Check the 2025-2026 classification maps to see if your local rival has moved up or down a class. It changes the playoff path entirely.
- Monitor the Coaching Carousel: Aside from Quarles at Webb, several mid-sized programs in the Tri-Cities are looking at staff changes. Coaching in East Tennessee is a high-pressure gig; the turnover usually happens in January.
- Spring Practice Schedules: Most East Tennessee schools host "Spring Games" in late April or early May. It’s the best way to see which sophomores have spent the winter in the weight room.
- Follow the Multi-Sport Athletes: In our region, the best defensive backs are usually on the basketball court or the track right now. Watch the Hardin Valley or Bearden track results—it’ll tell you who’s going to have the closing speed on the gridiron this fall.
The scores tell the story of what happened, but the work being done in freezing weight rooms in Morristown and Greeneville right now is what’s going to determine the 2026 highlights. Football never really stops here; it just changes shape for a few months.
To stay ahead of the next season, you should start tracking the TSSAA transfer portal updates and spring scrimmage dates for the top-ranked teams like Alcoa and Maryville. Keeping an eye on junior varsity standouts during spring ball is the best way to predict which underdogs will break out when the lights come back on in August.