The team was on the field, but the community shares their victory.
Alcoa High School’s football team brought home their 11th straight state championship. The Tornadoes are only the third high school team in U.S. history to achieve a championship streak that long, and the first in Tennessee.
“Our strength is in our culture,” said Alcoa Head Coach Brian Nix. He credits the team’s hard and consistent work, and their dedication to excellence. He also appreciates the support of the community.
“It’s been great, how much the community has supported us,” he said. With the team’s new 4A classification, they had to travel more than usual. That didn’t daunt Tornado fans, Nix said, “They’d drive two hours to, say, Baxter, Tennessee, and then turn right around and drive two hours again the next week. The support has just been incredible. It means the world.”
The players feel that support, as well. “The fans, the community, they’ve been great,” said senior Jacolby Cooper. The soft-spoken wide receiver also credits Nix and the rest of the coaching team, too.
“The culture here, you can’t beat it,” he said. “The coaches support us. It’s a great program.”
Fellow senior Jacob Crow seconded that. “The coaches here really make the difference,” he said. “They challenge us, support us.” The offensive lineman smiled as he reflected on the win: “This has been a great experience.”
Although Alcoa has a long tradition of football excellence, Nix said it’s important to take each season as it comes. Fall 2025 posed particular challenges, as the shift to a new TSSAA division required extensive travel and new opponents. “It was a tough season,” Nix said. “When we lost Game 10 (in the playoffs), we knew we had to turn it around.”
The team nabbed the title on Dec. 6 at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, defeating Pearl Cohn High School, 47-27. While this win makes for an 11-year championship streak, it is Alcoa’s 24th state title overall.
“Alcoa’s been good at football for a long time,” Nix said with a grin. “But we focus up every year. Every season.”
One important approach, he said, is focusing on the seniors. “That’s their special year. Down the line, people aren’t going to ask them how their sophomore year went, how their junior went. ‘How’d the team do your senior year?’ That’s what’s going to count for them in the long run. That’s what they’re going to remember.”
The class of 2026 agree with him. Does this championship hit differently than the previous three? “Definitely,” Cooper said. “Your senior year, it just feels special.”
Ton’Reon Brazelton, a senior offensive lineman, was the first Alcoa player to touch the championship trophy, which now stands in a place of honor in the high school office before moving into the trophy case. He transferred this year from Bearden High School. “The culture here is just more demanding,” he said, “more focused.” The victory was especially sweet for him, because the championship game took place on his birthday.
What’s next for the Tornadoes? They’re already working out, continuing their training, and the seniors are looking ahead to college careers. Cooper, who also plays basketball and runs track, hasn’t announced his plans yet, but he’s mulling several offers. Crow is graduating a semester early and joining Texas Tech next month.
“I’m really excited,” he said with a smile.
As for the underclassmen and coaches, they’re already looking ahead to the 2026 season. “As coaches and leaders, we have to continue to improve and learn, too,” Nix said. He pointed at a wall calendar with upcoming seminars, meetings and opportunities to learn and teach.
“We have to ask ourselves, ‘What can I do better? How can I become a better coach, to continue to improve?’”
Alcoa, and Tornado fans everwhere, can’t wait to find out.
