It is rare air the McCallie football program is currently soaring through.
Last year the Blue Tornado became just the seventh team in TSSAA history to win three consecutive state championships, and they'll begin this season looking to join Brentwood Academy (2015-18) and Ensworth (2010-13) as the only Division II-AAA teams to reel off four straight titles.
McCallie also enters the season on a 16-game winning streak and has beaten its past 12 DII-AAA opponents.
In an era when offenses typically put up video game numbers, the Blue Tornado have held 17 of their past 36 opponents to 10 or fewer points, and they return six starters from last year's unit that gave up a combined 14 points in the semifinals and BlueCross Bowl title game.
That group of returners includes defensive end Carson Gentle - a 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior who recently committed to Tennessee - linebackers Etienne Delisle (6-2, 215) and Jetty Miller (6-2, 235) and safety Andre Delinois (6-2, 205).
"The best thing about the guys we have coming back is that they're all really good," said McCallie coach Ralph Potter, whose team is 31-5 over the past three seasons. "We're pretty big and physical up front, but we'll need to develop some depth to go with them."
An adjustment Potter and his staff have made should also help in that regard.
"I've looked back on the last few years to sort of self analyze what we've done that works and what we might want to do differently," he said. "One thing that has been beneficial, and is different than how I ran things in the past, is that we don't work them quite as hard early on. We want the guys to still be fresh and excited to play when November rolls around."
Although the offense doesn't return as much experience, three starting linemen are back along with all-state running back Tario Price, who ran for 114 yards in the title game. Jay St. Hilaire (6-4, 210), a junior transfer, takes over at quarterback and has shown plenty of potential in practices, as well as a recent scrimmage against perennial powerhouse Alcoa in which he threw four touchdown passes.
"We'll look a little different offensively because there are new guys in most of the skill positions, but I think the potential is there, too," Potter said.
The biggest threat to McCallie's state reign might come from across town as East/Middle Region rival Baylor has added an impressive array of talent during the offseason to go with what was already a solid group of returners, plus a highly accomplished new head coach in Erik Kimrey.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Baylor defensive back Evan Haynie, left, is one of the seniors who could play a big role for Erik Kimrey, right, in his first season as head coach of the Red Raiders.He won 91% of the games he coached at South Carolina's Hammond School, leading that program to 12 state titles in 17 seasons. Seven Red Raiders already have college scholarship offers, and that list will almost certainly grow once the season begins.
Among the key returners are offensive lineman Brycen Sanders (6-6, 280), an Ole Miss commitment, defensive lineman Tony Boggs (6-4, 275), a Duke commitment, and junior receiver Amari Jefferson (6-1, 200), who has committed to Tennessee's baseball program and also has football offers from the Volunteers, Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia Tech.
The entire Baylor receiver corps is 6 foot or taller.
Running back Caleb Hampton (5-10, 205) has committed to South Carolina for baseball and is drawing recruiting interest in football as well.
"This was already a healthy program when I got here," Kimrey said. "Coach (Phil) Massey did a great job in his time, and no question there are some really talented kids here. We will work to build the culture the way we did at Hammond. There are no shortcuts. We want to build a program that's going to remain at the highest level each season."
One of two juniors will take over at quarterback: Whit Muschamp (6-2, 180) - the son of Georgia assistant Will Muschamp - or Canadian transfer Hugues Picard (5-11, 205). Muschamp played for Kimrey as a freshman at Hammond, taking over as the starter late in the season and helping the team to seven straight wins and a state title.
"We'll let the quarterback competition settle itself on the field," Kimrey said. "The good news is we have confidence in both of those kids. There's reason to be excited about the potential for this group."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.