A three-minute span of the third quarter in which McCallie showed flashes of just how dominant it can be was enough to overshadow a frustrating first half.
It was also the tipping point for turning what had been a competitive game Friday night into a one-sided Blue Tornado win, 53-13, at Chattanooga Christian School.
After trailing for much of the first half, McCallie scored twice in the final four minutes to pull ahead 17-6. Then came the big blue avalanche of points as the visitors reeled off 21 unanswered to open the second half and take command in the season opener for both teams.
“The drive before halftime helped settle us down, and everybody stopped freaking out,” McCallie coach Ralph Potter said. “Honestly, we didn’t have to say much to them at halftime. They knew where we needed to pick it up, and really the main thing was just being consistent.”
The teams combined for four turnovers and nine penalties in a sloppy first half. With 4:21 left in the opening quarter, one play after CCS converted on fourth-and-5 with a 29-yard completion from Gavin Berger to Jermaine Stinson, senior running back Da’Rell Brown put the Chargers ahead 6-3 with a 1-yard touchdown run.