Looks can be deceiving. Loudoun Sports Academy of Virginia arrived at McCallie’s Spears Stadium with an 0-5 record, those defeats coming by an average of 26 points a game.
But against a bruised and battered Blue Tornado squad, the Timberwolves’ past didn’t matter. Blocking a McCallie punt on the fourth play of the game and repeatedly escaping the Blues’ pass rush for offensive chunk plays, Loudoun got its first victory of the year 35-25.
It was McCallie’s third straight home loss following a 3-0 start heading into what’s known as “Rivalry Week” against longtime crosstown archrival Baylor next week at Baylor.
After falling behind 7-0 early following the blocked punt, the Blue Tornado tied the game at 7-7 on a touchdown pass from Louis Fortier to Antonio Burton. But by halftime McCallie trailed 21-10, then 28-10 early in the third quarter against a Timberwolves team reported to have 24 players with at least one FCS or FBS scholarship offer. It should be noted that the first of its five opening defeats came against Baylor, 37-12, and also included losses to powerful Rabun Gap and DeMatha.
A touchdown pass from Fortier to Levi Scott pulled the hosts within 28-17 following an Asher Kelley PAT, but the Timberwolves again marched down the field to lead 35-17 .
The Blue Tornado scored with 7:21 to play when Fortier found Kelby Barnett from 13 yards out, then completed a two-point conversion pass to Pat Meyers to make the score 35-25, then drove to a first down at the one-yard line in the final four minutes but failed to score.
In a game that rarely seemed close, the statistics were surprisingly even. McCallie actually led in first downs 17-16, trailing in total yardage 312 to 265. The big difference: The Blues were just 2 for 11 on third down conversions, which more than offset Loudoun’s 189 yards in penalties.
Fortier finished with 224 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Levi Scott had 108 receiving yards and one TD catch. Xavier Fillion led McCallie rushers with 51 yards.