McCallie Beats Ensworth in a Shootout, 42-35

Javaughn Craig has 3 TDs for McCallie

  • Saturday, October 10, 2015
  • B.B. Branton

Oh wouldn't the late McCallie football coach Pete Potter liked to have had a Javaughn Craig and a Rico Dozier on one of his Blue Tornado teams.

On a night when McCallie named the home turf at Spears Stadium, Pete Potter Field, McCallie's Craig and Dozier combined for five touchdowns as the Blue Tornado came from behind twice to post a 42-35 win against visiting Ensworth on a rainy night in a D-II AA Middle/East region high school football game.

After Ensworth's Darius Moreland - who rushed for 266 yards on the night and three touchdowns - scampered 61 yards for the game's first score at 10:11 of the opening quarter, McCallie found the visitors end zone three times to lead 20-7 with 6:55 before halftime.

Dozier, who had two long punt returns for scores, electrified the home crowd as he slipped through the defense, followed good blocking and sprinted 84 yards to pay dirt and a 7-7 tie after Alex Earp connected on the first of his three extra points.'

Alternating with Robert Riddle at quarterback for the hosts, senior Craig eluded Ensworth tacklers for 10 and 5 yard scoring runs and the 20-7 advantage. Bad weather brought more than an hour rain delay in between his touchdowns.

But Ensworth (3-5, 1-3) put 13 points on the scoreboard in the final 5:31 for a 20-20 score heading to a short intermission. 

First, Moreland out ran the McCallie defense 59 yards to the end zone, followed by a pair of field goals (29 and 47) by Colby Green for the tie.

In the third, Dozier found the end zone again, this time on a 66-yard punt return, followed by Maxim Yeoh's 1 yard run early in the fourth for a 34-20 lead.

But back came Ensworth again as Moreland who was moved to quarterback from running back, ran 25 yards for his final touchdown, but a low snap on the point after try was fumbled.

The Tigers then blocked a Robert Riddle punt on McCallie's next offensive series which went out of the back of the McCallie end zone and the visitors were within six at 34-28.

A short punt followed the safety and the visitors marched 45 yards in seven plays for a 35-34 lead with 1:13 to go and an apparent victory was in the Tigers grasp.

But a little Pete Potter magic was evident as Riddle hit Craig on a post pattern near the Ensworth 40 and then the senior who also played safety tonight outran two defenders for his final score, followed by a 2-point conversion pass by Riddle and McCallie led 42-35.

"I did under throw the pass to Javaughn who was wide open, and he did a great job of getting away from the safety and outrunning everyone to the end zone," said a smiling Riddle. 

"Javaughn is such an unselfish player who played three positions (QB, receiver, safety) tonight," said McCallie coach Pete Potter. "What a great kid."

Ensworth had two more possessions in the final seconds, but the game ended with the visitors having the ball near midfield  

"We had a lot of great effort out there tonight, but we also had 'what the heck are you doing' type plays we well," said Potter after the game who saw his team improve to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in region play.

"If we can get rid of some of those 'what the heck was that' type play' we could be pretty good."

Stats

Big Plays: Six touchdowns were 25 yards or more by both teams combined ...

Moreland had TD runs of 61, 59 and 25

Dozier had scoring punt returns for 84 and 66 ... Craig had a TD catch for 83 yards

 Rushing- Ensworth (359 on 53 carries) McCallie (254 on 45 carries)

Passing - Ensworth (4-10-1 for 22 yards)  McCallie (8-14-1 for 124 yards and one score)

Fumbles lost: Ensworth (1), McCallie (3)

Interceptions: 1 Each

Safety: Ensworth (1)

Third Down Conversions: Ensworth (7 of 15)  McCallie (5 of 9)

Possession Time: Ensworth (30:14)  McCallie (17:46) 

Rushing: Ensworth - Darius Moreland (266 yards, 3 TDs)

McC - Rico Dozier (92 yards) Javaughn Craig (78 yards, 2 TDs)

Punt Returns McC - Rico Dozier, 2 punts, 150 yatds, 2 TDs

McCallie 42, Ensworth 35

Ensworth 7 - 13 - 0 - 15 --  35

McCallie 7 - 13 - 7 - 15 -- 42

 

Latest Headlines
Sports
Chattanooga Women Third At Spring Break Shootout
  • 3/18/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs got off to a solid start at the Spring Break Shootout. The ladies are 4 under on Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club’s South Course carding 280 over the opening 18 and 284 ... more

Sweetwater's Keke Norfolk Signs With Cleveland State
Sweetwater's Keke Norfolk Signs With Cleveland State
  • 3/18/2024

Keke Norfolk of Sweetwater High School signed a National Letter of Intent with the Cleveland State women’s basketball team this past week. Norfolk a 5’9” guard/forward, becomes the first signee ... more

Vol Baseball Win Streak Ends At 17 At Alabama
  • 3/18/2024

No. 5/5 Tennessee's 17-game winning streak came to an end with a 6-3 loss to No. 12/14 Alabama on Saturday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide (16-3, 1-1 SEC) ... more