Written by Jonathan Grant (JG) — December 5, 2025, 5:34 a.m. CT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In a cold, relentless rain at Finley Stadium, Baylor School closed out a statement season with a 28-24 win over Brentwood Academy in the TSSAA Division II-AAA state championship. The Red Raiders finished 12-0, added another gold ball to the case, and claimed their first state title since 2022 while denying one of Middle Tennessee’s traditional powers another crown.

This one was physical, messy at times, and completely worthy of a championship stage. Both teams leaned on their stars. Baylor’s junior running back David Gabriel Georges (DGG) set the tone from snap one, hammering out tough yards between the tackles and controlling the tempo. Brentwood Academy countered with a massive performance from junior running back Larry Sanders II, who turned the second half into his personal showcase.

Setting The Stage

Baylor came in looking to finish the job after last year’s heartbreak in the BlueCross Bowl. This time, the Red Raiders did not blink. They weathered the conditions, absorbed Brentwood Academy’s counterpunch, and delivered the final answer in the fourth quarter.

The win caps an undefeated season for Baylor, and it adds another chapter to a run that has firmly planted the program in the middle of the Division II-AAA conversation statewide. Brentwood Academy, making yet another championship appearance, showed why it is still one of the measuring sticks in Tennessee high school football, but came up just short on the final possessions.

For more Triple Threat Sportscast coverage of Middle Tennessee title games, visit our News Recaps page.

First Quarter: Baylor Strikes, BA Answers

Baylor landed the first shot. The Red Raiders marched down the field on their opening drive, leaning on Georges to soften the Brentwood front. Quarterback Briggs Cherry eventually found Georges out of the backfield for the game’s first touchdown, giving Baylor a 7-0 lead and immediately forcing Brentwood Academy to chase.

BA responded the way veteran programs do. Behind a physical offensive line and the downhill running of Sanders, the Eagles put together a grinding drive of their own. Sanders finished it off with a short touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first and set the tone for what would become his monster night.

Second Quarter: Momentum Swings, Baylor Takes Halftime Edge

The second quarter turned into a field position and composure test. Cherry threw his first interception of the season, but Baylor’s defense tightened just enough to avoid a major momentum swing.

Later in the quarter, Cherry responded like a veteran. Working the perimeter and taking what the defense gave him, he eventually found wide receiver Jamyan Theodore for a strike that pushed Baylor back in front. That touchdown helped the Red Raiders carry a 14-7 lead into the late stages of the half.

Brentwood Academy’s special teams unit gave the Eagles a boost just before the break with a big return that set up a field goal, trimming the Baylor lead to 14-10 at halftime. The Red Raiders had the advantage, but the gap was razor thin, and it was clear neither team had played its best football yet.

Third Quarter: Special Teams Miscue, Sanders Takes Over

The game threatened to tilt completely toward Baylor early in the third. A high snap on a Brentwood Academy punt attempt turned into a disaster for the Eagles, as Baylor fell on the ball deep in BA territory. Georges punched in a short touchdown on the next play, and the Red Raiders stretched the lead to 21-10.

That could have been the moment Brentwood folded. Instead, it turned into the beginning of the Larry Sanders takeover. The junior back ripped off a long touchdown run to slice the deficit to 21-17 and shifted the energy back to the BA sideline.

After another defensive stand, Brentwood Academy went right back to Sanders. He powered through arm tackles, bounced runs outside, and kept the chains moving. A second touchdown run in the quarter gave the Eagles their first lead of the night at 24-21, and for a stretch, it felt like Baylor had no answer for him.

Fourth Quarter: The Championship Drive

Down 24-21 midway through the fourth quarter, Baylor took over at its own 20 knowing the season might come down to one possession. What followed was a true championship drive.

Georges became the engine. He stacked carry after carry, turning small seams into positive gains and keeping Baylor ahead of the sticks. On second and medium and third and short, the ball kept finding his hands, and he rarely went down on first contact.

Cherry mixed in timely throws to keep Brentwood’s defense honest, including quick game concepts and checkdowns that punished the Eagles whenever they overcommitted to the run. The drive methodically chewed clock and yardage, wearing down a Brentwood front that had been on the field a lot in the second half.

Inside the red zone, Baylor dialed up play action. Cherry rolled and found Braxton Rein for a short touchdown grab that pushed the Red Raiders back on top 28-24 with just over three minutes left. It was Cherry’s third touchdown pass of the night and the biggest throw of Baylor’s season.

Closing The Door

Brentwood Academy still had a chance, but Baylor’s defense delivered one last stand. On the Eagles’ final drive, the Red Raiders’ pass rush finally got home. Rein, who had just scored the go ahead touchdown, made another impact play on defense by recording a crucial sack that forced Brentwood into a long fourth down. The Eagles could not convert, and Baylor was able to run out the clock and seal the championship.

Stat Leaders And Impact Players

Baylor

• RB David Gabriel Georges: Workhorse performance with heavy volume carries, consistent positive yardage, and two total scores. His physical running style and ability to finish runs turned long down and distance situations into manageable ones and earned him game MVP honors.
• QB Briggs Cherry: Three passing touchdowns, including the game winner to Rein. Even with a couple of turnovers, he delivered in the highest leverage moments, especially on the final drive.
• WR Jamyan Theodore: Reliable target who provided a key touchdown in the first half and steady chain moving production throughout the night.
• WR/LB Braxton Rein: Caught the deciding touchdown and then made a critical defensive play with a late sack. Classic two way championship performance.

Brentwood Academy

• RB Larry Sanders II: Put on a state title game performance with well over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His ability to bounce runs outside, break tackles, and hit explosive plays nearly flipped the game completely in BA’s favor.
• Special teams unit: Several big returns helped set up a field goal and short fields, keeping Brentwood in striking distance all night.

Legacy And What It Means

For Baylor, this championship is bigger than one night. It completes an undefeated season, adds another title to a growing resume, and answers the questions left behind by last year’s loss in Chattanooga. The Red Raiders proved they could finish, even when the momentum swung against them in the second half.

For Brentwood Academy, the result stings, but the performance from Sanders and the way the Eagles battled back from an early deficit reinforce what the program has been for decades: a standard in Division II-AAA that always expects to be playing on the final weekend.

If you want to dive deeper into team stats and season numbers, you can find full season data on MaxPreps, and additional BlueCross Bowl coverage through The Tennessean’s high school sports page.

---

© 2025 Triple Threat Sportscast | All Rights Reserved

Contact: triplethreatsportscast@gmail.com

Visit Triple Threat Sportscast (https://triplethreatsportscast.com) for more Momentum Monday Takeaways, Thursday Threat Checks, and Friday Night Threats.