BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Blue, red, and gold: three colors that go hand in hand in the month of December involving Baylor and McCallie chasing the gold ball trophy that is given to state champions in the state of Tennessee. The temperature dipped into the mid 20’s at the end of the game but that is when the Blue Tornado heated up. Baylor would get out to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, only to see McCallie score 27 unanswered points to knock off the Red Raiders 27-21 at Finley Stadium on a bitterly cold Thursday evening for the Division II-AAA state championship in the 94^th meeting all-time between these rivals.

Baylor would get the ball first to start this rematch of last year’s DII-AAA championship game, driving inside McCallie territory. The Red Raiders would go for it on 4^th down from the Blue Tornado 34-yard line, but an incomplete pass would stop the drive. McCallie would go 3 and out on their first possession and Baylor would get to work on their next 2 possession of the first quarter. David Gabriel-Georges would get the Red Raiders on the board first on a 31-yard touchdown run to give Baylor a 7-0 lead with 5:19 left in the opening quarter.

David Gabriel-Georges races into the end zone for Baylor

Tennessee signee Joakim Dodson would be on the receiving end of a 43-yard Briggs Cherry pass to extend the Red Raider advantage to 14-0 with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

The Red Raiders would continue their hot streak offensively early in the second quarter when Cherry would connect with Jamyan Theodore 69-yard touchdown pass for another score on the third consecutive possession for Baylor, giving the red and gray a 21-0 lead with 9:44 left in the first half. Theodore would end the ensuing McCallie drive, intercepting a Elliott Drapeau pass and gibing the Red Raiders the ball at their 2 yard line. Drapeau would answer on the next McCallie possession, finding Keeyshawn Tabuteau from 7 yards out on the final play of the second quarter. The extra point was blocked, giving Baylor a 21-6 lead at halftime.

Baylor would recover a McCallie fumble on the Blue Tornado’s first possession of the third quarter near midfield, but the Red Raiders were unable to take advantage of the early turnover and punted the ball back after going three and out. After a 15-yard run by Keyland Syam down to the Baylor 45 and a Drapeau 44 completion to Carson Lawrence, Syam would finish the 3 play, 60 yard drive with a 1 yard score to cut the Baylor lead to 21-13 with 7:25 left in the third quarter.

Keylan Syam scores for McCallie

After another Baylor punt, McCallie was on the move after a 46-yard Drapeau dart to Loia Valade to get the Blue Tornado inside the Red Raider 30-yard line. 2 Syam runs of 14 and 8 yards would give McCallie a first down at Baylor 12-yard line going into the 4^th quarter.

Syam would score on another 1-yard run with 10:59 left in the game to cut the Baylor lead to 21-19 after a failed 2 point attempt. The Blue Tornado would get the ball back and drive inside the red zone again after forcing Baylor’s 4^th consecutive punt, but Elliott Arnold’s 27-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. After forcing the 5^th consecutive punt for the Red Raiders, which saw Theordore lay out and keep the ball from sailing into the end zone and forcing the Blue Tornado the begin at their 2-yard line with 5:40 left in the game. Runs by Syam and Drapeau completions to Lawrence, Tabuteau, and Hunter Glasgow got McCallie into Baylor territory and eventually down to the Red Raider 29-yard line. Drapeau’s pass to Lawrence on 3^rd and 7 fell incomplete, but a pass interference was called and the Blue Tornado’s drive, and season, were still alive. Number 26 in white would tote the rock the rest of the 15 play, 98 drive that ended when Syam punched it in from 2 yards out to give McCallie their first lead of the game, 27-21, with 15 seconds remaining. Cherry would connect with Cam Sparks, whose attempted pitch back was recovered by the Blue Tornado defense to put a end to the comeback and 2024 season.

Drapeau would end his game 18 of 31 for 237 yards passing with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Syam, who was named the game’s MVP, rushed 34 times for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cherry would end his night going 15 of 24 for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns for Baylor through the air while Gabriel-Georges would lead the Red Raiders on the ground with 119 yards on 10 carries and 1 score.

Keylan Syam after his MVP performance for McCallie against Baylor

McCallie finishes the 2024 season 11-2 overall and secured the 6^th state championship in school history while handing the Red Raiders their first loss of the year. Baylor ended the 2024 season with a record of 12-1.

Follow Jeff on “X” at @TheJeffCate