Baylor star Shekai Mills-Knight and the Red Raiders had the last word Friday night.
While the bruising running back and Baylor's offense were stopped short while trying to convert on fourth down to begin the fourth quarter in a tie game, Mills-Knight kept going to help push the Red Raiders into the TSSAA Division II-AAA BlueCross Bowl state final.
Mills-Knight produced 221 total yards, and two of the junior's three touchdowns came in Baylor's 21-point fourth quarter to help the Red Raiders surge past Knoxville Catholic for a 49-35 home win.
Baylor, which improved to 10-2 with the semifinal victory, won last year's DII-AAA crown for the program's second state title — 49 years after its first. To repeat, the Red Raiders will have to beat Chattanooga rival McCallie (11-1), which edged Baylor 34-31 on Sept. 29 in their first meeting this year and won three straight titles from 2019-21 before falling in the 2022 semifinals to Montgomery Bell Academy.
The Blue Tornado secured their spot with Friday's 33-15 home win against MBA.
The Baylor-McCallie rematch is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, the first of three days of BlueCross Bowl action — there will be nine title games in all — at Finley Stadium, which is hosting the TSSAA championship extravaganza for the third season in a row.
Baylor senior quarterback Whit Muschamp threw his season-high fifth touchdown pass of the game when he hit Mills-Knight in the left flat. After picking up a block down the sideline by Zane Restelli, Mills-Knight broke free for a backbreaking 61-yard touchdown to build a two-score lead midway through the fourth quarter.
"This means a lot for us to get back to the state championship game," said Mills-Knight, who rushed for 160 yards on 18 carries behind a dominant line that made a well-balanced attack possible. "We won it all last year and are ready to win it all again. My O-line and receivers blocked great, and I just executed some great play calls.
"I had some big shoes to fill replacing Caleb Hampton this year. I just play my hardest and try my best. Hard work pays off, and we have been working hard all year."
Muschamp, who is committed to Vanderbilt, torched the Fighting Irish for 331 passing yards. His 39-yard dime down the left sideline to Amari Jefferson, who is committed to Alabama, gave Baylor a 35-28 lead with 7:50 to play.
On the second play of the game, Jefferson gained 50 yards as he shook defenders left and right on the way to his first of three touchdowns. Jefferson finished with seven catches for 144 yards, while Ohio State-committed tight end Max LeBlanc added eight for 114 and a score.
"Our offensive line did a hell of a job tonight," Muschamp said. "My favorite touchdown throw was to Shekai and seeing him take off for that score to help us really pull away. To be back in the state championship is a dream spot for us. We want to get our get-back on McCallie. We are going to celebrate tonight and focus on them tomorrow."
Baylor allowed 14 points during a second half in which Tyler Rice provided a huge spark of momentum with an interception in his own end zone to slow down the surging Irish (7-6), who got five touchdown passes from junior Jayden Neal and a huge performance by running back Braylon Harmon.
Josh Hampton sealed the victory with an interception. Baylor beat the Irish for the second time this season, with the first win 42-0 on Oct. 27.
"We knew going into this game it would be a four-quarter game against a really good football team," Baylor coach Eric Kimrey said. "The first time we played them, they held out a lot of starters. They beat MUS and took McCallie to the wire. I was proud our guys didn't panic.
"We will enjoy this one tonight. I am sure the hype will be there (for the BlueCross Bowl against McCallie). We are excited and honored for the privilege to play in what will be a very historic game."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.
Baylor Red Raiders earn chance to repeat as DII-AAA state champs | Chattanooga Times Free Press
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