McCallie Stuns Rival Baylor 27-21 For D II-3A Crown

McCallie quarterback Elliott Drapeau admitted to having flashbacks to the October night eight weeks ago when he -- and his fellow Blue Tornado teammates -- made the wrong side of history in Chattanooga's most storied rivalry.

"Yeah, it got to a point in the first half tonight when there were some looks around the sideline that said 'uh oh, it's happening again,' but I think it was a determination among all of us to make sure it didn't happen again. After we finally scored at the end of the half, that changed to 'we are not going to let it happen again,'" said the junior signal caller.

First-year head coach Joel Bradford wasn't content with relying on emotion, though, and urged execution to find a way to win.

"Everything was stacked against us. That first game, that first half, the turnovers, but yet we continued to find ways. We fought back the second half of the season after that loss to Baylor, and we fought back the second half tonight. I'm just so proud of what we just accomplished," Bradford beamed.

In perhaps the most improbable game among the 92 times Baylor and McCallie have waged battle against one another, McCallie overcame all the past ghosts of allowing the most points ever in a 32-point rout earlier this year at the hands of Big Red, overcame a 21-point first-half deficit, and drove 98 yards for a winning score with 15 seconds left to claim a 27-21 DII-3A state crown over a stunned Baylor team in Thursday night's BlueCross Bowl at Finley Stadium.

"This is the greatest feeling ever," screamed receiver Hunter Glasgow to all who would listen.

Yet for all the celebrating and joy in the end, it was a much different look for the game's first 24 minutes when the Red Raiders appeared insurmountable and ready to put a final exclamation point on one of the greatest seasons in Baylor folklore. Unbeaten at 12-0 and riding the most successful three-year span in program history under head coach Erik Kimery, Baylor had its way in sprinting to a 21-0 lead.

After being stopped on downs in their first possession, Baylor ran off scoring drives of 79, 96 and 83 yards with each mirroring the previous in impressiveness. Given that Baylor had riddled McCallie for 44 points in the regular season win, the most ever allowed by the Blue Tornado in the fierce rivalry, it didn't seem out of the question another historic beat down was blooming.

But the Blue Tornado finally got a stop and the ball back with 1:22 left in the half and 51 yards of turf to cover, and it took every second of it, but the TD pass from Drapeau to Keeyshawn Tabuteau of seven yards was a buoy to cling to heading to the locker room.

McCallie had gotten to the 24 facing a fourth down, but eschewed a field goal and game MVP Keylan Syam converted with 15 seconds left. Drapeau hit Tabuteau for a 14-yard gain to the 7 and McCallie got time out with one second left.

"At that point, being down 21-0, we were not going to settle for a field goal," said Bradford. "Elliott made a heck of a pass with the blitz in his face and Keeyshawn made a fantastic grab. It definitely gave us life."

Still, Baylor had rolled up 289 first half yards and when McCallie fumbled its first possession of the second half, things were less lively. But McCallie defensive coordinator Ralph Potter, the former head coach and architect of four state title runs before stepping down after last year's hardware run which also ended with a triumph over Baylor in the finale, still had plenty of life in the unit.

McCallie (11-2) forced three punts in a row of second half possessions in shutting down the lethal Baylor attack. The Red Raiders managed just 66 total yards after the break and were shutout.

"The key was to get one stop and we got that at the end of the half, we felt better. And that drive that Joel called to end the half was masterful, and I don't use that word often. The two things really played off each other, and we had hope. That's all these guys needed," Potter said.

With Syam getting 20 second half carries and Drapeau completing nine passes for 149 of his 237 yard total, the offense scored twice, going 60 yards in four plays and then 87 yards in seven plays to make it 21-19. Drapeau connected with Carson Lawrence on a 46-yard pass to the 1 before Syam cashed in for the score.

Drapeau, who had three interceptions in the first loss and one in the first half last night, was nearly perfect in the final half. He was 10-of-14 and completed his first six passes in the two scoring drives. A 58-yarder to Loia Valade set up the second score with Syam banging it home from the 1 to pull the Blue Tornado within a two-point conversion of tying it with 10:19 left in the game.

Baylor's Bradley Ilunga Bisselele stopped the conversion run to leave it at 21-19. Baylor's fortunes took a turn for the worse, though, on its first play from scrimmage following the TD when sophomore phenom David Gabriel Georges, who came into the game doubtful with a hip injury, went down on a hard tackle and never returned. Georges had been the one thing McCallie didn't have an answer for as the speedster had ran for 119 yards to that point on just 10 carries.

With Georges done, though, Baylor's drive fizzled and after a punt McCallie drove to the 10 but a field goal to gain the lead sailed wide left with 7:46 remaining. The defense rose up one more time, though, and forced a punt which Sam Shutters delivered beautifully with Jamyan Theodore downing it at the 2.

With 98 yards of real estate between them and a state title, McCallie was unwavering.

"We got in the huddle and I told everyone to calm down and just take it one play at a time. We got to that point and it was time to lay everything on the line. We won that together," said Syam, who gained 36 of his game-high 175 rushing yards on the drive.

 Drapeau completed four of five passes as McCallie converted a fourth down and a big third down in the drive. His completions covered 9, 10, 13 and 14 yards to get down to the Baylor 32. A pass interference call converted a third down play and took it to the 13 and Syam ran it four straight times with his final carry putting McCallie ahead with 15 seconds left.

Drapeau converted the conversion run and Baylor's final play ended in a fumble on a hook and lateral play to send the Blue contingent into celebration.

"To be down 21-0 on this stage and the fact we were even in it at the break gave us confidence. We overcame so many things. It's just an unbelievable feeling to win in such an improbable way. Credit to the kids and the coaching staff. What a night," an elated Bradford said.

What a night indeed.  

Aside from Georges big game which included a 31-yard TD run, Briggs Cherry threw for 221 yards on 15-of-24 and Joakim Dodson had six catches for 80 yards and a 43-yard score. Theodore also caught a 69-yard TD and had an interception. Tyler Rice recovered a fumble and Peyton Yother blocked a PAT for Baylor.

Tabuteau caught seven passes for 67 yards and Lawrence had three for 63 as eight different players latched on to Drapeau completions.

It was the 92 meeting that both schools agree on with Baylor now holding a 46-45-4 lead in the series with the total difference in scoring being just 19 points in Baylor's favor over the 92 games. It was McCallie's 719th win all-time in its 121st season of playing and its fifth state title.

MCCALLIE	0	6	7	14	--27
BAYLOR	14	7	0	0	-- 21

SCORING SUMMARY:

First Quarter
BAY 05:19 David Gabriel Georges 31 run (Philippe Laforge kick) 7-0

BAY 01:09 Joakim Dodson 43 pass from Briggs Cherry (Philippe Laforge kick) 14-0

Second Quarter

BAY 09:44 Jamyan Theodore 69 pass from Briggs Cherry (Philippe Laforge kick) 21-0

MCC 00:00 Keyshawn Tabuteau 7 pass from Elliott Drapeau (kick blocked) 21-6

Third Quarter

MCC 07:25 Keylan Syam 1 run (Elliott Arnold kick) 21-13

Fourth Quarter

MCC 10:59 Keylan Syam 1 run (run failed) 21-19

MCC 00:15 Keylan Syam 2 run (Elliott Drapeau run) 27

TEAM STATS	McCallie	Baylor
First Downs	26	18
Rushes-Yards	39-192	27-133
Passing Yards	237	221
Total yards	429	354
Passing (Comp-Att-Int)	18-32-0	15-24-1
Penalties-Yards	6-45	6-53
Punts-Average	3-42.7	5-30.8
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	2-1
Third Down Conversions	5-11	3-9
Time of Possession	25:11	22:49

Individual Stats

Rushing: Keylan Syam 34-175; Elliott Drapeau 4-19; TEAM 1-(-2) (MCC); David Gabriel Georges 10-119; Shekai Mills-Knight 14-43; Briggs Cherry 2-(-13); TEAM 1-(-16) (BAY)

Passing: Elliott Drapeau 18 of 31 with 1 interception for 237 yards and 1 touchdown; TEAM 0 of 1 (MCC); Briggs Cherry 15 of 24 for 221 yards and 1 touchdown (BAY).

Receiving Keeyshawn Tabuteau 7-67; Carson Lawrence 3-63; Loia Valade 2-51; Hunter Glasgow 2-32; Jacob Lamontagne 2-20; Ryan Larrabee 2-4 (MCC); Joakim Dodson 6-80; Cameron Sparks 3-8; Kaiden Dewey 2-45; Bradley Ilunga Bisselele2-12; Jamyan Theodore 1-69; David Gabriel Georges 1-7 (BAY).

Most Valuable Player: Keylan Syam (McCallie).

Notable: McCallie wins its fifth state championship in the past six years and second in a row.

Records: McCallie 11-2; Baylor 12-1.

(Contact James Beach at 1134james@gmail.com)