Chattooga High School’s Zayden Cook has been named the Scrappy Moore Male Athlete of the Year by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, cementing his place as a legend in Georgia high school sports. The award, named after legendary University of Chattanooga football coach Andrew “Scrappy” Moore, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement and Cook’s performance this past year was undeniably exceptional.

The senior running back exploded onto the scene with a record-breaking season, amassing a staggering 2,939 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns while leading the Chattooga Indians to the playoffs. Cook’s regular season total of 2,735 rushing yards topped the state of Georgia and ranks as the second-highest in state history. His dominance included a jaw-dropping 464-yard, six-touchdown performance against Dade County, alongside multiple 300+ yard games. Beyond his offensive prowess, Cook also starred on defense, racking up nearly 100 tackles and securing two interceptions. He was a two-time Times Free Press Player of the Week honoree for his stellar play throughout the season.

The Murray State signee also found success in track and field, successfully defending his GHSA Class A 110-meter hurdles title this spring. “It means the world to me to be named both football player of the year and male athlete of the year,” Cook said upon receiving the award. “Being the first from Chattooga to receive either of these honors makes it even more special. It proves that hard work, commitment and believing in yourself really does pay off. I hope this recognition opens doors and inspires younger athletes at Chattooga to dream big and chase their goals with everything they’ve got.”

The Scrappy Moore Award is a prestigious honor named for Andrew Cecil “Scrappy” Moore Sr., who coached the University of Chattanooga (now UTC) for 37 years (1931-1967) and compiled a record of 170-148-14. Moore, a former quarterback for the University of Georgia, is a College Football Hall of Fame inductee and his nickname “Scrappy” serves as the university’s mascot.

Cook joins a distinguished list of athletes to receive this accolade, solidifying his legacy as one of the best to ever come out of Chattooga County.