Skip to main content
Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

McCallie Blue Tornado

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/10/14. McCallie School's JaVaughn Craig (3) runs the ball as Brentwood Academy defenders chase during the first half of play at the Blue Tornado's home field (Spears Stadium) on October 10, 2014.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/10/14. McCallie School's JaVaughn Craig (3) runs the ball as Brentwood Academy defenders chase during the first half of play at the Blue Tornado's home field (Spears Stadium) on October 10, 2014. Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/10/14. McCallie School's JaVaughn Craig (3) runs the ball as Brentwood Academy defenders chase during the first half of play at the Blue Tornado's home field (Spears Stadium) on October 10, 2014.

By Stephen Hargis 4 min read

photo Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/3/14. McCallie’s JaVaughn Craig (3) runs the ball as Baylor defenders Will Jumper (46) and Ulysses Strawter (21) close in during the rival game at the Blue Tornado’s home field (Spears Stadium) on October 3, 2014.

Pedal to the metal

There may be no team in the state facing a tougher schedule than McCallie.

With all 10 opponents coming off playoff seasons – including a state champion, a runner-up, another semifinalist and two other quarterfinalists – if players are healthy by the start of the postseason, the Blue Tornado will be accustomed to hostile environments and how to handle late-game pressure.

“It won’t take long to find out exactly what kind of make-up we have as a team,” McCallie coach Ralph Potter said. “The teams we play will find any weakness and expose it, so we will know a lot about ourselves real fast.”

Potter hopes the disappointment of last year’s late-season nosedive will serve as inspiration this year. After a 7-0 start, the Blue Tornado lost two of their final three regular-season games, allowing at least 58 points in each, then lost in the second round of the playoffs.