McCallie senior defensive lineman James Howard was injured for most of the Blue Tornado's run to a second straight TSSAA Division II-AAA state title last season.
If his performance in Friday's 47-14 victory over Florida's Clearwater Academy International is any indication, McCallie's upcoming playoff opponents won't look forward to him being back in the starting lineup this postseason.
Credited with 10 total tackles and four sacks, Howard spearheaded a defense that held the Knights to 207 total yards and just 11 first downs on the same night his offensive teammates were scoring six touchdowns and amassing 385 total yards.
"This meant everything to me," an emotional Howard said of McCallie's ninth win of the season against zero defeats heading into next Friday's regular-season finale at Pope John Paul II. "This is the culmination of my entire high school career. We were really unified out there tonight. This is as well as we've played all year."
It's certainly close. While both Blue Tornado coach Ralph Potter and senior quarterback Will Riddle also mentioned last month's 44-7 East/Middle Region win over Knoxville Catholic as a complete team effort, Potter also said "maybe" when asked if the Clearwater performance was his team's best win of the season.
"We need to get a little healthier," Potter added. "But it was really pleasing to see this effort tonight."
Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / McCallie football coach Ralph Potter was pleased with the team effort the Blue Tornado put together Friday night in a home win against Florida's Clearwater Academy International.That effort against an opponent that entered the game with a 5-1 record - the Knights' only loss had been 53-50 in overtime to Trinity Christian Academy, which is Florida's reigning Class 3A state champion - included two rushing touchdowns from Damian Scott in an opening half that ended with McCallie ahead 33-8 after a 40-yard field goal from Alex Jacques just before intermission. Scott finished with 105 yards on 19 carries.
Riddle threw a rare interception, but he also tossed two touchdown passes and finished 15-of-26 for 247 yards. Xavier Gaillardetz hauled in seven catches for 111 yards and a score, and Kenzy Paul caught two passes for 35 yards, including a 24-yard score.
Beyond that, Andrei Delinois scored on a 40-yard punt return and the Blue Tornado recorded a safety in the second quarter.
"It was huge to win like this on senior night," Riddle said. "A lot of the boarders' parents came to town to see this one. We're just trying to get better every week, and we did that tonight."
McCallie has already locked up a bye in the first round of the DII-AAA bracket. Its first playoff game will be Nov. 12.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @TFPWeeds.