McCallie’s Javaughn Craig (3) evades Cleveland’s Darius Pillow (33).CLEVELAND, Tenn. – McCallie’s roster is so young that by the time Thursday night’s season opener ended, it was likely past bedtime for many of the players.
In what quickly turned into a track meet on grass as McCallie and Cleveland combined for 35 first-quarter points, the Blue Tornado’s kiddie corps proved that while they still have a ways to go to become a solid defensive unit, there is talent galore to build on. And the offense is going to cause opposing defensive coaches to develop facial tics as they try to figure ways to slow the Tornado.
Seven of the 18 players who got in the game on defense for the Blue Tornado are sophomores, while the offense is led by a sophomore with a world of promise.
Three weeks ago JaVaughn Craig was playing receiver for the Blue Tornado and was listed only as the team’s “emergency” quarterback. After an injury to the team’s senior starter, Craig went from backup plan to trigger man, and Thursday night he accounted for 381 total yards and four touchdowns to lead a 55-35 victory.
Craig, whose only previous start had been one quarter of action in last week’s jamboree, completed 15 of 19 passes for 293 yards and two TDs and ran for 88 yards and two scores. His escapability helped prolong several plays, and the kid who looks like he doesn’t shave yet sliced up a veteran defensive opponent.