McCallie
Christ Presbyterian Academy
10/31/2026 10:09:00 AM | Football, General
NASHVILLE -- It was roughly 10:30 pm EDT Friday night, October 30, when McCallie junior quarterback Louis Fortier took a knee near the Christ Presbyterian end zone, signaling an official end to the Blue Tornado's 31-26 victory over the host Lions.
At that moment, the McCallie sideline emptied onto the field, jumping up and down, hugging, high-fiveing, screaming for joy over the first Big Blue win since Labor Day weekend. Then, as is McCallie tradition, the team ran and stood before the pep band, singing the Alma Mater, but with far greater energy and volume than in the six games prior, which were all losses.
For at least a moment or two, it seemed like old times for the Blue Tornado, which, thanks to this win, will host a TSSAA Division II Class AAA first-round playoff game against Father Ryan on Friday at Spears Stadium.
"It feels great," said third-year head coach Joel Bradford with a smile as his young, injury-riddled team celebrated around him following its fourth win of the season against six defeats. "Our kids have worked so hard for this. They've never quit trying to get better."
It showed throughout against a CPA team celebrating Senior Night during its final game in Class AAA before dropping back to Class AA next season. McCallie dominated first downs 31-16 and total yardage 493 (254 on the ground) to 267. A season-long bugaboo, penalties, probably kept it closer than it might have been, the Blue Tornado being flagged 11 times for 73 yards on the night.
But the team also converted 5 of 11 third downs and both its fourth down opportunities, as well as senior Asher Kelley making good on his only field goal attempt from 31 yards out and al four extra points.
But the stars of the mid-autumn night were a couple of defensive players playing running back -- senior linebacker Sam Ironi and junior lineman Kervens Hilger, who as McCallie faculty member and former Wake Forest Demon Deacon football player Ryan Alston said later, "Kervens looked like (former NFL running back) Ironhead Heyward out there."
Ironi rushed for a career-high 141 yards on 23 carries and Hilger collected 73 rushing yards, including one 34-yard jaunt around left end in the fourth quarter that put McCallie on top 31-20 with 8:57 to play.
CPA answered with a little over six minutes left, but a try for two following that score failed, and the McCallie offense ran out the clock from there with an efficient, methodical drive that began at its own 35.
"Those guys (Hilger and Ironi) are trucks out there," said Bradford. "We've known how good they are, but we've needed them on defense all season. Now it's running back by committee from here on out."
Former Tennessee coach Johnny Majors was fond of saying, "They always remember what you did in November." Thanks to strength and conditioning coach Richard Henderson's season-long workout program and the entire coaching staff's patient problem solving and passionate preparation for the postseason, Novembers have most often been memorable ones for the Blue Tornado.
So another playoff opportunity begins Friday night in Spears Stadium against Father Ryan, which McCallie defeated 23-16 on the road in September.
"We've still got a lot to improve on," said Bradford after the CPA win. "But the guys are getting better and better."
Another November to remember suddenly seems far less improbable than a month ago.
