Two unbeaten Tennessee powers meet Friday night in Chattanooga, with No. 1 Baylor putting its perfect start on the line against Montgomery Bell Academy in a TSSAA Division II-AAA matchup that brings plenty of offense to the table.
Baylor enters at 5-0 and has been especially tough at home, where it is 3-0 this season. The Red Raiders are coming off a 42-0 win over Christ Presbyterian Academy and have now stacked up 17 straight victories since falling to crosstown rival McCallie, 27-21, in the 2024 state championship game.
MBA arrives with the same record, but the Big Red have gotten there in a different way. Their unbeaten run includes a pair of narrow wins, 40-36 over Franklin Road Academy and 22-21 against Christian Brothers. If this one turns into a late-game battle, that experience in close finishes could matter.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Friday at E.B. "Red" Etter Field at Heywood Stadium in Chattanooga.
Baylor’s offense has been led by senior quarterback Keegan Croucher and senior running back David Gabriel-Georges, with the team averaging more than 40 points per game. Gabriel-Georges has been piling up 187.5 rushing yards per game, while the roster also includes freshman quarterback Marshall Manning, the son of Peyton Manning.
Manning appeared for two snaps in the season opener against Brentwood Academy, completing a 6-yard pass for a first down before Croucher returned. He has not played since, reportedly dealing with a foot injury, and his status for Friday night remains unclear.
MBA has been productive too, scoring more than 37 points per game while allowing fewer than 17. Junior Bennett Conyers is the highest-rated prospect listed on recruiting sites, a three-star tight end, but the Big Red will need production across the roster to match Baylor’s star power.
Check in closer to game time, and we'll update the weather in the Chattanooga area.
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