But, said Cass High's Albert "Bam Bam" Catron, the Tennessee all-stars -- winners of each classic game since 2008 -- could not help engaging themselves in some pre-game banter.
"We [were] kind of mad," said Catron, who played in the game along with former high school teammate Christian Fairbanks. "[There] was a lot of trash talk. ... The whole time we just kept quiet -- we were gonna do our trash talking on the field, and we went out and just did what the coaches told us to do."
Though the Tennessee all-stars made threats to bust heads, according to Catron, the team from the Peach State dominated the game inside of the trenches, outrushing Tennessee, 265-58, and came out on top with a 31-21 victory at Baylor School.
"It was a pretty exciting game the whole way through, a lot of scoring, a lot fun," said Cass assistant coach Danny Fairbanks, who took the trip to support the two Colonels. "The two boys from Cass represented [the school] well. ... Both of 'em played defense very well."
Coach Fairbanks said the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Catron registered three tackles and also played some tailback, while his son narrowly missed out on a couple of sacks.
"Boy, they all put pressure on the quarterback from Tennessee, and he was a quarterback that could run very well," he said. "He was running out of the pocket all nightlong and was running all over the place.
"Christian had him twice and let loose of him twice," Fairbanks laughed, "but a lot of 'em let loose of him because he could run."
Catron, who played defensive end and linebacker, enjoyed lining up on defense with Christian Fairbanks, who also played defensive end.
"It was real fun 'cause we were kind of playing beside each other so I knew he had my back and I had his back -- we trusted each other," he added.
Catron acknowledged that the feeling of playing in his final prep game felt bad but not completely, since he knows his football playing days will continue at Chattahoochee Technical College.
Fairbanks' football days also are far from over. The 6-foot, 180-pound player signed on with Rome-based Shorter University in March.
"It was a real good experience [for them], getting the opportunity to see where they stack up against the other boys from north Georgia," Danny Fairbanks said. "I think they both found out they were as good as the rest of the guys from north Georgia."
Fairbanks said the players that comprised the Georgia team were very talented, a group that included former Ridgeland and Hiram players Paul Walton and Trey Wesley, respectively. Both runners tallied 90 yards and Walton was named game MVP, setting a football classic record with his 47-yard score.
The Georgia all-stars exhibited great teamwork, Fairbanks said.
"They held their composure really well," he said.
With their prep careers ending on a high note, Catron and Christian Fairbanks now ready themselves for the collegiate level.
At the conclusion of Saturday's game, the two all-stars headed their separate ways, embracing before wishing the other player well in the future.
"They were both hugging each other and wishing each other luck at the schools that they're going to go to," Danny Fairbanks said.
-- Information from The Chattanooga Times Free Press was used in this article.