D2-Class AAA Championship Preview: McCallie vs. Baylor

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Title week is here and we kick off our championship previews with possibly the best game of all this weekend with two teams that know each other very well! </h2>     Baylor Red Raiders (10-2) vs. McCallie Blue Tornado (11-1)   Where: Chattanooga, TN (Finley Stadium)   When: November 30th, 7 pm Central   - - - - -   Head Coaches   Red Raiders: Erik Kimrey   Blue Tornado: Ralph Potter    - - - - - - - - - -    Top Players   (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='323145' first='Whit' last='Muschamp'] - Baylor: Muschamp is a difference maker at quarterback due to high football intelligence and accurate passing but is also tough as nails. His play against McCallie will be critical towards the Red Raiders chance at repeating as D2-Class AAA champs.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/wmuschamp2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-955245" style="width:436px;height:auto" /></figure>   (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='148873' first='Amari' last='Jefferson'] - Baylor: Committed to Alabama, Jefferson is one of the top receiver prospects in the country and a definite game changer that the Blue Tornado defense have to key on and not allow to go off in a big way.    (TE) [player_tooltip player_id='305883' first='Max' last='LeBlanc'] - Baylor: If Jefferson is held in check, this guy can step forward as the #1 target and he may already be in the contest as LeBlanc is a mismatch problem that can work deep down the field or the intermediate areas.    (QB) Jeremy St. Hilaire - McCallie: Consistent and steady, St. Hilaire has been a calm presence behind center this year that has helped steer the ship on offense on an efficient basis and he must continue that play against Baylor, who he had success against during the regular season.    (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='959429' first='Javon' last='McMahan'] - McCallie: A physical back with great vision and balance, McMahan burst onto the scene this year as one of the top senior running backs in the state and is the kind of talent that can be a difference maker towards winning against Baylor on Friday.    (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='149842' first='Carson' last='Gentle'] - McCallie: Gentle will be key in this matchup as someone that can put pressure on Muschamp, moving him off his spot or putting him down with a sack. The future Tennessee Volunteer will definitely need to be in the backfield Thursday evening on a consistent basis to help push his McCallie over the hump.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/cgentle.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-433581" /></figure>   Game Preview   - As we moved throughout the 2023 season, it became clear that Baylor and McCallie were the two best teams on the D2-Class AAA level and that they would probably meet up in the title game. Well here we are with two of the best teams in the state going head to head for a state title but only one Chattanooga area super power can walk home with that “Gold Ball.”   Both the Red Raiders and the Blue Tornado come into this contest with well balanced teams, both with high scoring offenses and athletic, physical defense's. It's honestly an even matchup as it showed in their first meet up back in late September when McCallie defeated Baylor, 34-31. It was a back and forth affair the entire way until McCallie pulled away late and I don't expect things to be any different when things kickoff Thursday evening.    Baylor is the defending D2-Class AAA state champs with a lot of players back from that team, including a trio on offense in [player_tooltip player_id='323145' first='Whit' last='Muschamp'], [player_tooltip player_id='148873' first='Amari' last='Jefferson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='305883' first='Max' last='LeBlanc'] that have only gotten better this year. They have a solid O-line in front, led by [player_tooltip player_id='417869' first='Dominic' last='Clifford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='219445' first='Jimmy' last='Bryson'] that have done a good job of keeping Muschamp clean while providing a push in the run game for junior [player_tooltip player_id='1058887' first='Shekai' last='Mills-Knight'].   It's a very good offense for the Red Raiders that can put up big points and they might need a big score to get past a strong McCallie football team. The Baylor defense has a challenge on their hands but they have some players on that side of the ball that can show up big in this contest and make a difference. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1089089' first='Nelson' last='McKnight'] has been playing big time football of late and so has defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='207309' first='Joshua' last='Hampton'], who is tough to throw against due to his height and length.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/jhampton-crop-400x263-1701106388.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1097344" /></figure>   The Red Raiders will need to make some adjustments this time around against a McCallie offense that put up 34 points in their first matchup. The Blue Tornado have a quarterback in Jeremy St. Hilaire that plays with poise and a calm demeanor while also having the arm power to make throws all over the field. He is complimented by stud running back [player_tooltip player_id='959429' first='Javon' last='McMahan'], who has become the team's go-to guy.    McCallie has a solid O-line in front as well with [player_tooltip player_id='345971' first='Carson' last='Coffman'] being the lead guy. The offense is good for the Blue Tornado but their defense is elite. That side of the ball has multiple future college prospects over there, including defensive end/linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='149842' first='Carson' last='Gentle'], who has tons of experience with postseason play.    Where an advantage could be found for McCallie is with their secondary where they have three guys destined for the college ranks in [player_tooltip player_id='332310' first='Marcellus' last='Barnes, Jr'], [player_tooltip player_id='285355' first='Choosen' last='Lokombe'] and current Vanderbilt commit, junior [player_tooltip player_id='219372' first='Carson' last='Lawrence']. That's a talented trio that have game changing abilities that could make a difference in this matchup.    This game has everything from a local feel (both teams from Chattanooga) to college talent being everywhere on the field as well as teams that know each other very well, which could make this the best championship game of all taking place this week in the Scenic City.    Game Prediction   - It's very hard to pick a winner in this game but it must be done! These are two evenly matched teams with game changing players that can turn the direction of this game at the drop of a dime and remain that way until the very end. Both teams do things a little differently, so it will be interesting to see which game plan succeeds the most as Baylor likes to throw the ball more while McCallie leans on McMahan and their run game.    The team with the least turnovers and the defense that can make the most plays, I feel will come out on top and go home as D2-Class AAA state champs. I think both teams can do this but my gut has to roll with McCallie as I feel they have just a little more firepower on both sides of the ball compared to Baylor and the juice to take back that “Gold Ball” from the Red Raiders.    Score: McCallie 38 Baylor 34   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/mccallie4-crop-919x604-1694875626.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-997722" style="width:476px;height:auto" /></figure>