Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition
2025-04-11 – 2025-04-12 · Gadsden, AL · 📍 1600 Noccalula Rd · State championship
Reps: CAROL BIGLER, JANET APPLETON, RANDY G BIGLER, SAM APPLETON · Prize money: $11,220.00
Grand Champion: Blue Smoke Q (706.2284) · 31 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 ZIPS BBQ
Entries
35
6 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
706.2284
Winning margin
1.1428
GC over RC
Field average
679.02
median 690.77
Tightest race
Pork
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
694.7884
10th place overall
Field spread
195.4628
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,220.00
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 19%
beats 81% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
39%
of the 66 teams with a home region came from outside AL
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.62 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1577
avg power rating going in · stronger than 78% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1428 points — closer than 80% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Blue Smoke Q took the Grand Championship home to GA.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: BAD ROOSTER BBQ and MUDVILLE BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: The BBQ Asylum and ZIPS BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: Poppa Pig and LC BBQ tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🃏 An upset on the books
Blue Smoke Q came in rated below the field's top team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 15-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 179.4400 | 177.7028 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 177.1544 | 174.8572 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180.0000 | 178.8572 | 176.5600 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.1084 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 176.5600 | 173.1084 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 706.2284 · median 690.7656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 2 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 3 | Poppa Pig | |
| 4 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 5 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 6 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 7 | Organizer Portal | |
| 8 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 9 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 10 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 11 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 12 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 13 | LC BBQ | |
| 14 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 16 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 17 | Bee's Knees | |
| 18 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 19 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 21 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 22 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 23 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 24 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 25 | Fat Bear | |
| 26 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 28 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 29 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 30 | Blair Brothers | |
| 31 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ |
Chicken
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 173.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organizer Portal | |
| 2 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 3 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 4 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 5 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 7 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 8 | Poppa Pig | |
| 9 | LC BBQ | |
| 10 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 11 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 12 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 13 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 14 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 15 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 16 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 17 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 18 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 19 | Bee's Knees | |
| 20 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 22 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 23 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 24 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 25 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 26 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 27 | Fat Bear | |
| 28 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 29 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 30 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 31 | Blair Brothers |
Pork Ribs
30 entries · top 180.0000 · median 173.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 4 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 5 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 6 | Poppa Pig | |
| 7 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 8 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 9 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 10 | LC BBQ | |
| 11 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 12 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 13 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 14 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 15 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 16 | Organizer Portal | |
| 17 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 18 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 19 | Bee's Knees | |
| 20 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 21 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 22 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 23 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 24 | Fat Bear | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 26 | Blair Brothers | |
| 27 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 28 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 29 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 30 | Big Stanky's BBQ |
Pork
31 entries · top 180.0000 · median 173.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 3 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 4 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 5 | Poppa Pig | |
| 6 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 8 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 9 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 10 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 11 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 12 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 13 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 14 | Fat Bear | |
| 15 | Organizer Portal | |
| 16 | LC BBQ | |
| 17 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 18 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 19 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 20 | Bee's Knees | |
| 21 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 22 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 23 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 24 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 25 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 26 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 28 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 29 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 30 | Blair Brothers | |
| 31 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me |
Brisket
31 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 2 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 3 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 4 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 6 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 8 | Poppa Pig | |
| 9 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 10 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 11 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 12 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 13 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 14 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 15 | RANCH HOUSE KITCHEN | |
| 16 | Organizer Portal | |
| 17 | Bee's Knees | |
| 18 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 19 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 20 | LC BBQ | |
| 21 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 22 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 23 | Off the Chain BBQ | |
| 24 | Jurassic Bark | |
| 25 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 26 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | Blair Brothers | |
| 28 | Fat Bear | |
| 29 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 30 | Big Stanky's BBQ | |
| 31 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me |
Backyard Series
Overall
35 entries · top 354.2744 · median 338.2172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fire Pig | |
| 2 | Cook Shak BBQ MS | |
| 3 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 4 | Electro-Que-ted | |
| 5 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | |
| 6 | Bentley Que | |
| 7 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 8 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 9 | 931 BBQ | |
| 10 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 11 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 12 | LEE LA Q | |
| 13 | RIBLIFE | |
| 14 | Pork Life | |
| 15 | Circle W Meats | |
| 16 | Say My Name BBQ | |
| 17 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 18 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 19 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 20 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 21 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 22 | Modest Meats | |
| 23 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 24 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 25 | Swine & Brine | |
| 26 | Foster BBQ | |
| 27 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 28 | Que N Cue | |
| 29 | OsBorntoBBQ | |
| 30 | Our Meat Your Treat | |
| 31 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 32 | M&H BBQ | |
| 33 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 34 | Jacket-Que | |
| 35 | Smoke-a-Billy's |
Chicken
35 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bentley Que | |
| 2 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 3 | 931 BBQ | |
| 4 | Fire Pig | |
| 5 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 6 | Cook Shak BBQ MS | |
| 7 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | |
| 8 | LEE LA Q | |
| 9 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 10 | Electro-Que-ted | |
| 11 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 12 | Foster BBQ | |
| 13 | Circle W Meats | |
| 14 | Pork Life | |
| 15 | Say My Name BBQ | |
| 16 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 17 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 18 | Modest Meats | |
| 19 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 20 | Swine & Brine | |
| 21 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 22 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 23 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 24 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 25 | RIBLIFE | |
| 26 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 27 | Que N Cue | |
| 28 | OsBorntoBBQ | |
| 29 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 30 | M&H BBQ | |
| 31 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 32 | Our Meat Your Treat | |
| 33 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 34 | Jacket-Que | |
| 35 | Smoke-a-Billy's |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electro-Que-ted | |
| 2 | Cook Shak BBQ MS | |
| 3 | RIBLIFE | |
| 4 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 5 | Fire Pig | |
| 6 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 7 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 8 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | |
| 9 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 10 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 11 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 12 | Bentley Que | |
| 13 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 14 | Pork Life | |
| 15 | 931 BBQ | |
| 16 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 17 | LEE LA Q | |
| 18 | Circle W Meats | |
| 19 | Say My Name BBQ | |
| 20 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 21 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 22 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Modest Meats | |
| 24 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 25 | Swine & Brine | |
| 26 | Our Meat Your Treat | |
| 27 | Que N Cue | |
| 28 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 29 | OsBorntoBBQ | |
| 30 | Foster BBQ | |
| 31 | M&H BBQ | |
| 32 | Jacket-Que | |
| 33 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 34 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Ancillary — Dessert
10 entries · top 180.0000 · median 175.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 2 | Swine & Brine | |
| 3 | RIBLIFE | |
| 4 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 5 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 6 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 7 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 8 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 9 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 10 | LC BBQ |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 10+
7 entries · top 172.5484 · median 168.0228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grills Just Want To Have Fun | |
| 2 | Rollin Smoke Jr | |
| 3 | Tastebud Tango | |
| 4 | Battles BBQ | |
| 5 | Griffin Grillz | |
| 6 | Shake your Ashes | |
| 7 | The Charcoal Farmer |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 5-9
6 entries · top 178.3200 · median 172.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pop And Squeeze | |
| 2 | The Gummy Bears | |
| 3 | RyleePurdoms | |
| 4 | COOK SHAK BBQ 1 | |
| 5 | The Real Little Squeal | |
| 6 | COOK SHAK BBQ A |