McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (1-0) at CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (1-0)
These two state powers put on quite a show last year in Chattanooga, with McCallie forcing five turnovers and getting 206 rushing yards and three touchdowns from B.J. Harris to overcome three long Calhoun touchdown passes in a 38-22 win at Finley Stadium. The Tornado graduated a good deal from that team, which went on to win the program’s second straight TSSAA Division II-AAA championship, but if last week’s 46-7 rout of Chattanooga Christian is any indication, Ralph Potter’s latest team isn’t lacking for talent. Quarterback William Riddle passed for 401 yards and six touchdowns, two each to Austin Breedlove, Xavier Gaillardetz and Weston Hammond, after the Chargers focused on stopping the run. Calhoun, which won three GHSA state titles in the past decade, showcased a balanced offense in a win over Dalton that was tougher than expected, with backs Gage Leonard and Caden Williams each eclipsing 100 yards and quarterback Christian Lewis running for two scores and throwing for another to senior star Cole Speer. Lewis and Speer hooked up for scores of 99 and 70 yards against McCallie last year, so expect the Jackets to take some deep shots early. Still, with both teams capable of doing damage over the top, the key will be whether either defense can force the other offense to be one-dimensional, something McCallie did a year ago. The atmosphere will also be quite different from last year as a standing-room-only crowd is expected at Phil Reeve Stadium.
DAVIDSON ACADEMY BEARS (1-0) at BOYD BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS (1-0)
The Bears won the past three DII-A state championships but have moved up in classification this season, and they will put a 26-game winning streak on the line as they visit the revitalized Bucs, who are ranked No. 4 in the latest statewide polls. Boyd Buchanan’s defense allowed just 11 yards in last week’s 63-0 win at perennial Class 1A power Greenback, highlighted by Jaylon Sanderfer’s interception return for a touchdown. Besides the stingy defense and balanced offense, the Bucs also flexed some special teams muscle as Brohns Donaldson returned a kickoff for a score. Matt Stone is a big-play threat at running back for the Bucs, whose other weapons include Virginia-committed tight end Karson Gay and athlete Caden Johnson. The Bears, who blasted Columbia Academy by 35 points last week, graduated 15 players from last year’s team, including their top six receivers, starting quarterback and running back, as well as three of four starting linebackers and all four starting defensive backs. However, six linemen with starting experience are back, including all-state offensive tackle Jalen Brockman (6-foot-2, 270 pounds) and defensive end Kendyle Ball (6-1, 230), who led the state last season with 16 sacks.
BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (1-0) at WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (1-0)