McCallie sophomore quarterback JaVaughn Craig threw for almost 300 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in the Blue Tornado’s 55-35 win over Cleveland.13 for ’13 Week 1* Jim Cardwell, Boyd-Buchanan: 142 rushing yards, three TDs; 175 passing yards, two TDs.* JaVaughn Craig, McCallie: 15-of-19 passing, 293 yards, two TDs; 88 yards, two TDs rushing.* Slade Dale, Ringgold: Three TDs, 222 rushing yards.* Austin Herink, Cleveland: 29-of-44 passing, 478 yards, four TDs.* Tre Herndon, East Hamilton: 90-yard kickoff return; blocked field goal to preserve win.* Hunter Maynor, Soddy-Daisy: 16-of-20 passing, 227 yards, one TD.* Jajuan Lankford, South Pittsburg: Four TDs, 145 rushing yards.* James McClellan, Signal Mountain: 158 rushing yards.* Zach Miller, Polk County: Three touchdowns, 177 rushing yards.* Dre Sanders, McMinn County: 80-yard kickoff return, 113 rushing yards, TD.* Brett Standifer, Bradley Central: 201 passing yards, four TDs.* Justin Wheeler, Chattanooga Christian: Game-winning 42-yard interception return with 0:49 left.* Blake Zeman, Marion County: Four touchdowns, 157 rushing yards.- Ward Gossett
For one of the few times in his coaching career, McCallie coach Ralph Potter was surprised.
His rookie quarterback, all but a find-by-mistake, performed with flying colors in his first varsity test.
“He played pretty well. It’s amazing,” Potter said of JaVaughn Craig. “He’s a great athlete and he has the ability to run and throw some, but his decision-making is so good and comes so naturally to him.”
The sophomore, a converted wide receiver, ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns and completed 15 of 19 passes for 293 yards and two more scores in the Blue Tornado’s 55-35 victory over Cleveland. The performance earned him the Times Free Press’ initial Player of the Week honors for 2013.