South-Doyle Cherokees Football – 2026 Season

Team History and Awards

South-Doyle High School, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, fields athletic teams known as the Cherokees, sporting Columbia blue and red colors.

The Cherokees football program was established in 1967 through the consolidation of South and Doyle High Schools. The team has made multiple playoff appearances, highlighted by a deep Class 5A semifinal run in 2014. South-Doyle also won the Region 2-5A championship in 2019, marking one of the strongest seasons in school history.

Team Highlights and Star Players

• Elijah Young (RB, Class of 2020): Standout running back who rushed for more than 5,000 career yards in high school. Played at the University of Missouri and signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2025.
• Shawn Summers (DB, Class of 1990): Former University of Tennessee defensive back who went on to play in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears.
• Tee Martin (WR, Class of 1996): Quarterbacked the Tennessee Volunteers to the 1998 BCS National Championship after transferring from South-Doyle’s program roots at Doyle High School. Later became a college and NFL coach.
• Notable Alumni: The program has produced multiple Division I athletes and remains a consistent contributor of talent to both in-state and SEC schools.

Meet the Team – 2026 Roster Snapshot

Head Coach: Zack Gibson

Assistant Coaches: Terry Clark, Sir David Pettus, Josh Rollins, Michael Serafine, Pierre Watkins, Josh Wilson

2026 Season Schedule

(District games marked with *)

• Aug 21 – at Austin-East HS (Away), 7:00 PM
• Aug 28 – vs Karns HS (Home), 7:00 PM
• Sep 4 – vs Heritage HS* (Home), 7:00 PM
• Sep 11 – at Carter HS* (Away), 7:00 PM
• Sep 18 – vs Gibbs HS* (Home), 7:00 PM
• Sep 25 – at Union Co. HS* (Away), 7:00 PM
• Oct 2 – vs Alcoa HS* (Home), 7:00 PM
• Oct 16 – at Clinton HS (Away), 7:00 PM
• Oct 23 – at Anderson Co. HS* (Away), 7:30 PM
• Oct 30 – vs Fulton HS* (Home), 7:00 PM