Nearly two decades of mid-state dominance of the largest Division II football league finally came to an end last season when McCallie laid claim to its first state championship in 18 years.
Now the Blue Tornado and Baylor are poised to continue tipping the balance of power in DII-AAA squarely to the Scenic City.
McCallie returns the nucleus of last season’s state title team – 10 total starters, including all-state performers in running back B.J. Harris, receiver Eric Rivers and offensive lineman Austin Gentle as well as linebacker Aaron Crowder and defensive lineman James Howard – who combined for 4.5 of the team’s record-setting nine sacks in the championship game.
It was the defense, which allowed just 42 yards on 30 rushes, that set the tone in snapping a 14-game losing streak to Montgomery Bell Academy, a string that had covered 13 seasons. The play on that side of the ball will need to be stout once again as the Blue Tornado look to answer their biggest question – who will replace graduated all-state quarterback DeAngelo Hardy, who was not only one of the state’s top dual threats but also had a firm grasp of all the little aspects that go into running the offense and being an overall leader.
The competition for the starting quarterback job is between juniors William Riddle and Austin Breedlove, who have similar skill sets.