Maryville, Alcoa have 30 state high school football titles, five miles between them

Only one team has as many state football championships as Maryville. That would be next-door neighbor Alcoa. And both are competing for another one this weekend.

Two schools five miles apart have more state titles than anyone else in the state, tied at 15 apiece. Alcoa coach Gary Rankin isn't sure you can find a similar situation anywhere else in the country.

No one is really sure what makes the 32 square miles that make up Alcoa and Maryville special. Is it just a coincidence that these two high school football powerhouses grew right next to each other?

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Rankin, whose Tornadoes take on Covington in the 3A championship 3 p.m. Thursday at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, thinks the teams have made each other better.

There's a strong rivalry there, and even if they aren't competing with the other for state titles, they each want more than the other. There were some differing opinions on whether they can root for each other. Both are constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses when they watch their neighbor raise another banner.

"Every time we've been here (state championship) since I've played and coached at Maryville, Alcoa's always playing before us," said first-year Maryville coach Derek Hunt, whose Rebels will take on Cane Ridge at 7 p.m. Friday in the 6A championship.

One common element is consistency. Both coaching staffs have been pretty steady. Rankin has been with Alcoa for 11 years. George Quarles coached Maryville for 18 years before Hunt took over this year. Hunt had been on the staff for seven years,  and most of the assistants remained with the Rebels.

"We have good players, but a lot of other people have good players, too," Rankin said. "I hope we have good coaches. We’ve had very little turnover."

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Rankin mentioned the Tornadoes made it to the state championship without a Mr. Football nominee or any FBS prospects. Maryville quarterback Dylan Hopkins pointed out the Rebels don't have a lot of the big-time players you might expect to find on a 6A championship team, though he was a Mr. Football finalist and has committed to UAB. 

Rankin thinks you need community support to build a successful program, and both Alcoa and Maryville have that.

"Any time you see programs that have success over years and years, it’s important in the community," he said. "Our community really got involved. It’s not that way in all places."

Both communities are a little spoiled when it comes to their football titles. Alcoa is looking for its third straight. Maryville hasn't won since 2014 and didn't even make it to the title game last year.

And they'd both like to have one more than the other.