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Prep football roundup: McCallie holds off Woodward Academy for 18th straight win

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / McCallie’s Xavier Gagne, right, makes a tackle during the Best of Preps jamboree earlier this month at Finley Stadium. McCallie was back there Friday night and beat Atlanta’s Woodward Academy 17-13 for a 2-0 start to the season that extended the Blue Tornado’s winning streak to 18 games.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / McCallie’s Xavier Gagne, right, makes a tackle during the Best of Preps jamboree earlier this month at Finley Stadium. McCallie was back there Friday night and beat Atlanta’s Woodward Academy 17-13 for a 2-0 start to the season that extended the Blue Tornado’s winning streak to 18 games. Staff photo by Robin Rudd / McCallie’s Xavier Gagne, right, makes a tackle during the Best of Preps jamboree earlier this month at Finley Stadium. McCallie was back there Friday night and beat Atlanta’s Woodward Academy 17-13 for a 2-0 start to the season that extended the Blue Tornado’s winning streak to 18 games.

By Lindsey Young, Stephen Hargis 7 min read

An 18-play possession, which chewed up more than seven minutes of the fourth-quarter clock, did not produce points but did put the game away for McCallie.

Nursing a four-point lead Friday night at Finley Stadium, the Blue Tornado set out on the clinching series — they converted a fourth down and two third downs — before turning the ball over on downs at the Woodward Academy 10-yard line with just 0.9 second remaining.

One final heave fell incomplete, giving McCallie a 17-13 decision and its 18th consecutive win.

“That last drive was pretty gutsy,” coach Ralph Potter said. “At that point you’re just trying to eat the clock, and I really should’ve kicked the field goal down there, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

Atlanta’s Woodward Academy is a GHSA Class AAAAAA school with four players committed to Power Five college programs, including four-star running back Myles Graham, a Florida commitment and the son of former Gators back Earnest Graham.