Back before the TSSAA realized more teams meant more money, only the top 2 teams from each conference made the playoffs (and there were only 3 classes, with less conferences...). In 1991, my Tennessee High Vikings finished 3rd in the Big 10, so played in the Endowment Bowl in the ETSU dome, against the 3rd place team from the next conference, Cocke County. Vikings won by 7 if memory serves.