Written by Jonathan Grant (JG) — December 4, 2025

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — All week, the story around Finley Stadium was simple: could anybody slow down five-star Vanderbilt commit Jared Curtis and Nashville Christian’s high-powered offense in the Division II-A BlueCross Bowl?

On Thursday afternoon, the answer was loud and clear.

Curtis and the Eagles dominated University School of Jackson from the opening whistle, rolling to a 59-7 win in the Division II-A state championship and locking down back-to-back titles along with the first unbeaten season in program history.

Nashville Christian closed the year 13-0 and outscored USJ by 52 points on the state’s biggest stage, turning what was billed as a heavyweight showdown into a statement win for a program that’s very much on the rise.

Curtis Sets the Tone Early

The game followed a familiar script for anyone who has watched Nashville Christian the last two seasons. Curtis controlled everything — tempo, field position and USJ’s confidence.

In the first half, the Eagles’ offense hit its rhythm early behind efficient throws, designed quarterback runs and a steady dose of play-action. Curtis carved up the Bruins’ secondary with quick decisions and layered throws, then punished them when they bailed out in coverage by tucking it and moving the chains with his legs.

By the time Nashville Christian went up 28-0, Curtis had already tossed his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, including a strike to receiver Zane Crampton that turned into a highlight-reel score and broke the game wide open.

From there, the five-star did what elite quarterbacks do in championship moments — managed the game, protected the football and kept the offense in attack mode without forcing anything reckless. Nashville Christian kept the pressure on, piling up points while burning clock and keeping USJ completely out of rhythm.

Offense Looks Every Bit Like a Champion

This wasn’t just about one player, even if the headliner wears No. 2.

The Eagles’ offense all season has been about balance and physicality, and that identity showed up again in Chattanooga. The run game kept USJ honest, with Nashville Christian’s backs pounding out tough yards between the tackles and stretching plays to the perimeter when the Bruins started to squeeze inside. That balance opened up the vertical passing game and allowed Curtis to work from clean pockets and favorable matchups on the outside.

In the red zone, Nashville Christian stayed aggressive, dialing up play-action, bootlegs and shot plays instead of settling for conservative calls. That mindset is how you hang 59 in a state title game — and it’s exactly what they did.

Defense Turns a Hyped Matchup Into a Mismatch

On paper, this was supposed to be a clash of two explosive offenses. USJ came in averaging more than 30 points per game and had been rolling through the playoffs.

On the field, Nashville Christian’s defense flipped that narrative quickly.

The Eagles’ front controlled the line of scrimmage, winning first down over and over again and forcing the Bruins into long-yardage situations. The pass rush squeezed the pocket, while the back end took away easy throws and forced USJ’s quarterback to hold the ball longer than he wanted.

That combination led to stalled drives, fourth-down stops and short fields for Curtis and the offense. When you hand a five-star quarterback extra possessions and short fields in a championship setting, it snowballs in a hurry — and that’s exactly what happened.

Outside of a lone scoring drive from USJ, Nashville Christian’s defense played like a unit that wanted to leave zero doubt about who runs Division II-A right now.

Back-to-Back Titles, First Perfect Season and a Vanderbilt Headliner

Thursday’s win checks off a lot of boxes for Nashville Christian:

• Second straight Division II-A state championship
• First unbeaten season in program history
• A blowout win over an 11-1 USJ team on the biggest stage

But the bigger storyline — especially for fans in Middle Tennessee — is what it means for Curtis and Vanderbilt.

Earlier this week, the nation watched as Curtis flipped his commitment and chose to stay home, giving Clark Lea and Vanderbilt the No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2026 and one of the most talked-about prospects in the country. Now, just days later, he walks off the field with another gold ball and another reminder of why that decision mattered so much to Nashville and to the Commodores’ future.

Curtis already had the résumé: Mr. Football honors, state-title credentials and monster production as the engine of Nashville Christian’s offense. Coming into this week, he had thrown for well over 1,500 yards with more than two dozen touchdown passes and added real damage on the ground as a runner. Tonight, he added something even bigger — another dominant championship performance that backs up all the hype surrounding his Vanderbilt commitment.

What This Win Says About Nashville Christian’s Program

When you win one championship, people might call it a special year.

When you win two in a row and the second one is a 59-7 blowout with an undefeated record, it starts to look like a blueprint.

Nashville Christian is no longer just the fun small-school story with a five-star quarterback. This is a complete program with a clear identity:

• Elite quarterback play from Curtis
• A physical, reliable run game
• Playmakers on the perimeter who finish drives
• A defense that flies around and takes games over
• A coaching staff that isn’t afraid to be aggressive in big moments

Add in the fact that Curtis is now the face of Vanderbilt’s future and you’ve got a championship win that echoes way beyond one afternoon in Chattanooga. This result sends a message to the rest of Tennessee — and the SEC — that homegrown talent can stay home, win big and still play on a national stage.

Legacy Night for No. 2

However you slice it, this game will always be part of Jared Curtis’ legacy.

He came into the 2025 season with pressure, cameras and expectations that follow the No. 1 quarterback in the country. He responded by flipping his commitment to Vanderbilt, leading his team to another title and capping it with a 59-7 beatdown in the state championship to finish a perfect season.

For Nashville Christian, it’s another gold ball. For Vanderbilt, it’s another reason to be excited about the future. For Curtis, it’s proof that all the talk about him being that guy wasn’t just recruiting hype — it was real.

And on this championship Thursday in Chattanooga, everybody in Tennessee got a fresh reminder.

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