MaxPreps Game of the Week: One of the nation's top rivalries rekindled as David Gabriel Georges, No. 11 Baylor meet McCallie

Reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year David Gabriel Georges headlines two star-studded rosters.

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Sep 30, 2026, 10:00am
The MaxPreps Game of the Week is checking in with arguably the top rivalry in Tennessee as No. 11 Baylor (Chattanooga) welcomes McCallie (Chattanooga).

After back-to-back state championship losses to McCallie, Baylor flipped the script with two victories over its Chattanooga rival last season and now puts an 18-game winning streak on the line in the latest chapter of the rivalry.

The Red Raiders beat McCallie 38-35 during the 2025 regular season before rolling to a 56-35 victory in the Division II Class AAA semifinals en route to their first state championship since 2022. The programs have met in the playoffs three consecutive seasons.

MaxPreps Game of the Week
McCallie at No. 11 Baylor
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Streaming: NFHS Network
Location: Baylor High School
David Gabriel Georges of Baylor finds the end zone against McCallie in last year's semifinal matchup. Gabriel Georges ran for 435 yards and seven touchdowns in that game en route to MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors. (PHOTO: Andy Mitchell)
David Gabriel Georges of Baylor finds the end zone against McCallie in last year's semifinal matchup. Gabriel Georges ran for 435 yards and seven touchdowns in that game en route to MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors. (PHOTO: Andy Mitchell)
Baylor (6-0) has scored 35 points or more in every game this season. Reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year David Gabriel Georges headlines a loaded roster. The five-star Tennessee commit has rushed for 852 yards and 15 touchdowns through his first six games, including a 305-yard outburst Sept. 11 vs. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.).

Four-star Ole Miss quarterback commit Keegan Croucher directs an offense that also features four-star junior tight end Braxton Rein. Waiting in the wings behind Croucher is freshman Marshall Manning, son of NFL legend Peyton Manning.

Junior four-star defensive backs Antwaun Adams and Xavier Bowman are among the nation's top prospects with 45 FBS offers between them.

McCallie (3-3) has lost three in a row but second-year head coach Joel Bradford has the offensive firepower to turn things around. Junior quarterback Louis Fortier has thrown for 1,753 yards and 15 touchdowns though six games. Sophomores Levi Scott Ill and Patrick Meyers and junior Mikey Bartlett are Fortier's top targets.

Senior Ben Ironi and junior Fisher Kyriakidis anchor McCallie's defensive front.

Baylor holds the recent edge in the series but McCallie has won 15 of 26 meetings since 2004 with the rivals splitting their past eight contests.

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