Impressive McCallie Rolls In Jamboree Highlights

Brainerd, CCS, Boyd-Buchanan, Tyner Other Winners At Finley Stadium

  • Saturday, August 13, 2016
  • John Hunt
Michael Mincey of Boyd-Buchanan breaks free for good yardage against Grace Academy during their match-up Friday evening in the first night of the high school football jamboree at Finley stadium. The Buccaneers downed the Golden Eagles by a 14-0 score. More action is on tap Saturday night starting at 6:30 p.m.
Michael Mincey of Boyd-Buchanan breaks free for good yardage against Grace Academy during their match-up Friday evening in the first night of the high school football jamboree at Finley stadium. The Buccaneers downed the Golden Eagles by a 14-0 score. More action is on tap Saturday night starting at 6:30 p.m.
photo by Dennis Norwood

The first day of the annual high school football jamboree is in the book as there were some impressive performances at Finley Stadium Friday night.

A total of 10 teams played five 30-minute “quarters” with a continuous running clock.

Winners included Brainerd, Chattanooga Christian, Boyd-Buchanan, McCallie and Tyner.

Jamboree action will continue Saturday night with five more such contests.

Notre Dame faces Baylor in the first one at 6:30, followed by Walker Valley-Red Bank, East Ridge-Soddy Daisy, Central-Ooltewah and East Hamilton versus McMinn County in the last one.

BRAINERD 8, HOWARD 6: This was certainly the closest contest of the hot, muggy evening as the Panthers came from behind to secure the win.

Howard freshman Eric Johnson gave his team the lead when he scooped up a fumble and raced 20 yards into the end zone with 22:14 remaining. 

Brainerd quarterback Vesta Melvin Jr. had coughed it up following a hard hit and Johnson was in the right place at the right time.

The conversion pass failed and it remained 6-0 until the Panthers put together their best series as they went 80 yards in eight plays to score the go-ahead TD when Melvin hooked up with junior receiver David Cosby for a 17-yard scoring aerial with 7:50 to play.

Melvin’s conversion pass to Jaylon Calloway was good and that turned out to be the difference in the game.

Cosby was Melvin’s main target on that drive as he caught passes covering 28 and 22 yards before outjumping the Howard defender and making an acrobatic catch for the score.

“We were able to try a few different things, but the best thing I saw was that we have a big heart and a will to win,” said Brainerd coach Brian Gwyn afterward.

“I’m pleased with how we fought and we were able to come out happy.  I’ll take the blame for that fumble they returned for the touchdown, but we have to learn how to finish and pay attention to small details,” he added.

Howard first-year coach John Starr wasn’t the least bit happy with his team’s performance.

“I thought we looked nervous as we had that deer in the headlights look out there,” he began.

“We just ran a bunch of basic plays that we had done over and over in practice and I expect us to be able to execute better than we did.  This was an embarrassing performance for us as we’re a lot better than that.  I’m not pleased at all,” he concluded.

Howard’s third possession was its most productive, but Cameron Thomas was stopped at the Brainerd 30 when the action ended.

CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN 21, SALE CREEK 0: The Panthers had the ball first and quickly picked up two first downs as they moved the ball effectively at the start.

The first two Sale Creek drives ended with punts while the third was stopped when Will Sabourin intercepted a Panther pass.

Meanwhile, the Charger offense was 100 percent efficient as they scored on three straight possessions.

Justin Wheeler got the first touchdown on a nine-yard run that followed a 39-yard scamper.  The six-play drive covered 88 yards.

Mondo Ellison had runs of 14, 16 and 3 yards on the next Charger drive, but freshman Rashun Evans got the glory as he zipped the final 27 yards for a 14-0 CCS advantage.

Then with subs in the game, backup quarterback Matthew Neff scored the final TD on a keeper from the one on a drive that needed six plays to cover 49 yards.

The big play in that drive was a 38-yard completion from Neff to Jake Leamon.

“We got to play a lot of kids and I just hope that we get better, but a lot of those guys were seeing live game action for the first time,” said first-year CCS coach Mark Mariakis.

“I liked the effort, but we started off sluggish.  We have a big challenge next week against a tough Brainerd team, so we have to keep improving,” the veteran coach nodded.

Sale Creek coach Ron Cox liked what he saw in the first half, but not so much the second.

“I thought we played pretty well for the first 15 minutes, but we got a little tired after that and I’ll take the blame for that.  Maybe we’re just not in very good shape yet, but we still have at least four starters on the sideline with injuries and we had to do some doubling up tonight,” he added.

BOYD-BUCHANAN 14, GRACE ACADEMY 0: After an exchange of punts on the first two possessions, the Buccaneers struck quick when Jeremy Borders raced 72 yards with the first TD just past the midway point.  Eli Terrell booted the extra point and the difference was 7-0 with 14:38 showing on the scoreboard.

Borders almost did it again on his next carry, but was knocked out of bounds following a 41-yard scamper from the Buccaneer 24 down to the Golden Eagle 35.

Regan Pettway gained 11 on the next play before Michael Mincey raced untouched for the final 27 yards.  Riley Barnes, another sophomore kicker, booted the second PAT as that turned out to be the final scoring play with just over eight minutes remaining.

“Expectations are always high at Boyd-Buchanan, but this is a different team from last year,” said first-year head coach Carter Cardwell, who had been the team’s offensive coordinator the past six seasons.

“Both sides are contributing and nobody got hurt.  We have a few kids who can run it, but we had some meaningful snaps and I liked what I saw.  It’s always nice to face a classy group like coach Bob Ateca and that group from Grace.  This is the fun part,” Cardwell nodded.

Ateca liked what he saw in places, but he also saw plenty of room where his team needs to improve.

“I liked our first series when we started at our own 1 and were able to flip the field, but then we turned around and gave up a few big plays.  We just have to keep getting better,” he concluded with a smile.

McCALLIE 28, GILES COUNTY 0: By far the most lopsided contest of the evening, the Blue Tornado looked like they were in mid-season form as they just totally dominated the visiting Bobcats from Pulaski.

The McCallie offense was really impressive while the defensive unit under new coordinator Ricky Ross wasn’t too shabby as it was a total mismatch.

Senior quarterback Robert Riddle was quite impressive as he scored McCallie’s second TD on a 66-yard keeper before hooking up with Jorden Starling for a five-yard scoring pass that made it 21-0 with still over 12 minutes to play.

Shawn McColley had give the Blue Tornado an early lead on a one-yard rush that capped a four-play, 73-yard drive that was highlighted by a 56-yard scoring play from Riddle to Walker Fannon.

And then to be sure the defense had a big play or two, Kendall Watson intercepted a Giles County pass and raced 58 yards with the final TD for McCallie.

Tony Jackson, Dalton Collins and Jaylan Nowell all had tackles for losses as the Bobcats were limited to minus one yard on 10 rushing attempts while gaining just 43 yards on nine pass completions.

“This was good for the kids as we did some good things as this was something to build on,” said McCallie coach Ralph Potter afterward.

“Coach Ross has a great system for our defense and we’re still learning it, but I thought we executed pretty well.

“We still have a long way to go, but Robert Riddle threw some nice balls and we were flying around on defense.  That’s what I like to see,” Potter added.

TYNER 7, HIXSON 0: As you might imagine from watching the Rams in years past, they’re going to run the football with a host of different running backs.

That’s exactly what they did against the Wildcats, although they only had one TD to show for their effort that netted 82 yards on the ground.

Tyner’s first drive was a nice one as they easily moved from their own 30 down to the Hixson 3 before Ke’un Webb was stuffed for a four-yard loss by Hunter Ali to keep the Rams out of the end zone.

A short Hixson punt put the Rams back in business on the Wildcat 26 and it took just four plays for Keiontae Halfacre to score from the one with 14:46 left.

Nobody else threatened as the action ended with Tyner ahead by the lone touchdown.

Tyner coach Wayne Turner can always find ways for his team to improve.

“We had a great drive where we ran it pretty good, but a couple of missed blocks at the end cost us a chance to score, so we have to learn how to finish drives without silly missed assignments,” he told his team afterward.

“We were finally able to get the lead and then we relaxed on defense, but overall it was a decent performance.  We still have a lot of room to improve and we’ll get back to work on Monday, but we can’t expect to be good teams making silly mistakes,” he added.

Hixson coach Dan Duff was somewhat upbeat with his team’s performance.

“We’re growing up as I saw some good things out here tonight.  We’re young and just need more experience, but this is one of our best performances so far this fall,” he added.

Webb was the leading rusher for Tyner with 49 yards on eight trips while Halfacre added 25 yards on five attempts.

Ali was the leader for Hixson offensively as he gained 23 yards on three carries.

Jerome Stoudemire also had an interception for the Tyner defense.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

McCallie's Walker Fannon (10) is tackled by a Giles County defender after a catch and long run. Teammate Tynelius Hall (7) celebrates as he chases the play. The Blue Tornado defeated the Bobcats by a 28-0 thrashing.
McCallie's Walker Fannon (10) is tackled by a Giles County defender after a catch and long run. Teammate Tynelius Hall (7) celebrates as he chases the play. The Blue Tornado defeated the Bobcats by a 28-0 thrashing.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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