The high school football season in Tennessee came to a close last weekend. McCallie was among the victors, beating Montgomery Bell Academy 28-7 in the Division II 3A state title game at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The three touchdown triumph helped propel the Blue Tornado to the No. 1 ranking in the final MaxPreps Tennessee Top 25.
McCallie was led all year by the air assault of senior signal caller
William Riddle and senior receiver
Xavier Gaillardetz. Opposing defenses couldn't solve Riddle as he completed 179-of-261 passes for 2,985 yards and 41 touchdowns to six interceptions. Gaillardetz caught 63 of Riddle's aerials for 1,404 yards and 18 touchdowns.
In order to keep opposing defenses honest, McCallie junior running back
Tario Price carried the ball 143 times for 1,154 yards and another 12 touchdowns.
The Blue Tornado scored 502 points on the year, averaging 38.6 points per outing. Ralph Potter's club scored 40 points or more seven times. On defense, McCallie limited its opponents to 15.1 per points per game over the course of the 13-game season. Blue Tornado foes were held to 14 points or less six times.
Class 6A state champion Oakland, who has won three of the last four state titles, finished second while Division II 2A state champion Lipscomb Academy sits third in the final Top 25. Alcoa, who won its seventh straight Class 3A state title and eight championships over the past decade, finished the season at No. 10.
Powell was led all year by MaxPreps Tennessee Football Player of the Year
Walter Nolen. The defensive lineman helped the Panthers to to the Class 5A state championship and the No. 14 ranking.
Read on for a complete look at the final MaxPreps Tennessee Top 25.
2021 TSSAA State ChampionsClass 1A — South PittsburgClass 2A — Westview (Martin)Class 3A — AlcoaClass 4A — TullahomaClass 5A — PowellClass 6A — Oakland (Murfreesboro)Division II 1A — Donelson Christian Academy (Nashville)Division II 2A — Lipscomb Academy (Nashville)
FINAL TENNESSEE TOP 25
