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Alcoa and Maryville, consistently two of the best teams in Tennessee, will meet for the 89^th time this Friday night at Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium. The two schools have a long tradition of greatness, with Alcoa and Maryville winning the state championship last season in their respective divisions. That puts both schools at 31 state titles, a stat no other school can match in Tennessee.

And the craziest thing is, these schools are only about five miles apart. Alcoa and Maryville will compete again for the ultimate bragging rights in the state of Tennessee this Friday.

MVP

Walker Russell

Alcoa

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Spencer Shore and Jack Cone

Maryville

Spencer has a 4.53 GPA and has taken 14 honors courses and 8 AP courses throughout his high school career. He received an Academic Letter in AP Chemistry his junior year. Jack has a 4.57 GPA and has taken 8 honors courses and 12 AP courses throughout his high school career. He is a member of the “Maryville Scholars” and “The National Honor society”

Andrew Coulter

Alcoa

Andrew received honorable mention for the 2017 All-Region team last season and was named to the 2018 3A Preseason All-State team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was a member of the 2016-17 Youth Leadership Blount class. He is a member of Sevier Heights Baptist Church and the “Here for Knoxville” mission teams.

HALL OF FAME

Coach Lynn Brown

Maryville

Coach Brown has served in the Maryville school system since 1965 as a teacher and coach. From 1965-83 he coached football, basketball and Track at Maryville Jr. High with championships in both basketball and football. From 1973-83 he coached in t he Maryville vs. Alcoa rivalry game, as an offensive coordinator. Coach Brown helped Maryville to four TSSAA State Championship games, winning two Championships in their four appearances while he was on staff. Starting in 1984, Coach Brown has served as Assistant Principal at Maryville for 22 ½ years and although not a coach, has been a game administrator for this great rivalry since.

Chad Smith

Alcoa

Graduating in 1990 Chad was a multi-sport standout athlete in not only football but also basketball and track at Alcoa. In his senior year Chad was named East TN player of the year in football as well as receiving All-State Honors in both football and basketball after being named Football Clinic Bowl MVP after helping lead his team to a State Championship in 1989. Following high school Chad attended MTSU on a football scholarship before serving in the U.S. Army for 11 years. Chad now resides in Louisville, TN and still contributes to the area’s youth sports programs as a baseball and football coach.

GAME SUMMARY

Experts didn't expect Alcoa to break their seven game losing streak to the Rebels from Maryville on Friday night, but rivalries always produce unexpected results. Alcoa players, surrounded by family and friends on the field, soaked in the historic victory over Maryville on the field after the game. Alcoa QB Walker Russell had a huge night, throwing for three touchdown passes and leading the Alcoa offense to 34 points. But the Alcoa defense certainly played its part, coming up big at the end of the game, sealing this one with a late fumble recovery.