Prelude to a Championship: Full‑Length Scrimmages Take Center Stage
The upcoming jamboree, scheduled for the last week before the 2026 regular season, will transform Finley Stadium into a hub of activity as twelve local teams line up for six complete scrimmages, two per night, a format that replaces the earlier two‑quarter approach.
Organizers say the change is meant to give coaches a more realistic preview of game conditions, allowing players to work extended drives and defensive series that mimic regular‑season intensity.
Among the teams making headlines is East Hamilton, where Patrick Liner steps in as head coach after a three‑year tenure by Aaron Nance that kept the Hurricanes in the playoffs for eight straight years.
Liner inherits a program that has become a staple of the TSSAA playoffs, and his appointment marks one of four local schools entering the season with a new head coach.
Notre Dame, under Brent Hill in his third year, returns 17 starters from a squad that reached the Division II‑AA playoffs for the first time since 2018, giving the Fighting Irish a strong foundation for the upcoming campaign.
Marion County, led by senior standout Zaiden Humphrey and a core of returning starters, is being viewed as a favorite to contend for the BlueCross Bowl, the state championship that will be held at Finley Stadium from December 3‑5 for the sixth straight year.
The regular season is slated to begin on August 20, kicking off with a rematch of last year’s Division II‑AAA title game between Baylor and Brentwood Academy at Heywood Stadium, a match that will be streamed live on ESPN2.
Additional rivalry games will pepper the schedule, including a Catoosa Cup showdown featuring Cleveland versus Walker Valley, Dade County versus Pepperell, and Ringgold versus Lakeview‑Fort Oglethorpe, underscoring the deep‑rooted competition in the region.
With new coaches, promising talent and high‑stakes matchups on the horizon, the jamboree promises to be a decisive preview of a season that fans in Tennessee and Georgia are eager to follow.