McCallie scores late to knock off Brentwood Academy

Football centered and near the fifty yardline football tile / Getty Images
Football centered and near the fifty yardline football tile / Getty Images

In a matchup of the state's top-ranked Division II-AAA teams, it was McCallie that once again found a way to get it done late.

After having a lead it had held most of the game taken away in the fourth quarter, McCallie answered with an impressive drive and late score to register a 28-23 win Friday night at top-ranked Brentwood Academy.

Gavin Cagle scored on a 15-yard run with just 46 seconds remaining to give the second-ranked Blue Tornado their second dramatic DII-AAA East Region win at BA in as many seasons.

"We were only up 7-3 at the half, but we really felt like we had dominated the game," McCallie coach Ralph Potter said in a phone interview. "After we went up 14-3 it looked like we were taking control, but they took the kickoff back on us and that was a big momentum swing."

After McCallie pushed its lead to 22-10, the Eagles countered with two touchdowns to take their first lead.

The Blue Tornado then took possession with 5:42 remaining and drove 80 yards before Cagle scored the game-winner.

McCallie (3-0, 1-0) pounded the Eagles with 59 rushing attempts for 349 yards, led by junior B.J. Harris' 29 carries for 148 yards and quarterback DeAngelo Hardy's 24 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Hardy also completed 10 of 15 passes for 114 yards and a score. Cagle finished with six carries for 72 yards.

"I like how we played on defense for most of the night," Potter added. "We gave up too many big plays, but I think some of that was we were wearing down a little. The best thing about us is that we won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball."

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.

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