Why McKenzie's Cole Brown is 'ready' for 2026 after TSSAA football championship loss

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CHATTANOOGA — McKenzie’s championship hopes fell short as the team was defeated 42-14 by South Pittsburg in the TSSAA Division I Class 1A championship game.

However, head coach Keith Hodge was proud as ever of the way his team battled until the end. 

“I love these kids and their resilience,” Hodge said. “ I’m so proud of them. At the end of the day, we didn’t win this football game, but these kids are a bunch of winners.”

McKenzie’s storied program has played in 59 of a potential 60 games over the past four seasons, but 2022 remains its lone time hoisting the gold ball. 

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Still, the program has seen tremendous success, especially among its seniors. 

Senior running back Timmy Arline fought through injuries in his final season, but had a strong final game, rushing for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the loss that left McKenzie 13-2. South Pitt (14-1) captured its first state title since 2023 and eighth overall as a program.

“Even though we lost, it meant everything to push through this season and play in this game,” Arline said. “This program has done so much to help me grow up after coming in as a knucklehead freshman.”

Although Arline recognized that finishing as the runner-up isn’t what he and the team hoped for, his perspective as a senior already reflected nostalgia. 

“I’m gonna remember every play,” Arline said. “The good and the bad, I’m gonna miss them all…it’s been awesome.”

Despite losing 14 seniors, McKenzie expects to remain a contender. A key cog in its championship hopes will be the return of Mr. Football finalist Cole Brown, who came into his own as a do-it-all quarterback this season. 

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“Cole was an all-state wide receiver last year who really stepped up at quarterback this year and knows what it will take to get here next season,” Hodge said. “He’s a hard-nosed kid, and I couldn’t be more proud to coach him again next year. We’re gonna do everything we can to get him another opportunity to win.”

Brown was complimentary of the way the Pirates were able to frustrate McKenzie’s pass game and credited them for being a great team. 

Now, he’s ready to continue refining his poise as a passer and prove doubters wrong next season.

“We have a lot of great guys stepping back up, and some great kids coming up,” Brown said. “I’m ready for it.”

Reach The Jackson Sun high school sports writer, Isaiah De Anda Delgado, by email at IDelgado@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: McKenzie football ‘proud’ after runner-up finish in TSSAA Championship

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