For the third year in a row, the Yellow Jackets and Wolves will face off for state supremacy in the AA final. It is the first of the five state finals games which are being played at the Georgia Dome Friday and Saturday
Despite being one of the most consistent teams in the state in recent years, Calhoun has one state championship in their history which came in 1952. They have made the playoffs in every year since 2001 and have at least 10 wins in each one of those seasons. They have lost the state championship game to Buford the past two seasons and to Charlton County in 2005.
The key to the Yellow Jackets’ success this year is a balanced attack. The defense allows just over 10 points per game, while the offense is one of the highest scoring in the state at over 40 points per game.
Calhoun is led by senior running back Dustin Christian. He’s a compact back at 5’9 and 170 lbs. Christian can run around or through defenders. In the semifinals, he ran all over Carver for 111 yards on 24 carries.
The defense was able to hold Carver’s all-state running back Isaiah Crowell to just 94 yards. That’s something that has been difficult to do, but it helped the Yellow Jackets to a 27-14 win.
Quarterback Landon Curtis has accounted for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) in the past two games. It will be important for Curtis to contribute today against a tough Buford rush defense.
Calhoun comes into the championship game with a 14-0 record. They won Region 7B-2A with a 6-0 mark. They were never seriously challenged in any game this season. The closest margin of victory in any game was 13 points against Dalton and Carver. During the playoffs they defeated Manchester 44-8, Westminster 36-19, Fitzgerald 31-13 and Carver 27-14. The trip to the Georgia Dome is nothing new to this team, as today’s game marks their third straight appearance. The Yellow Jackets have lost only four games in the past three years, but two of them have been to Buford in the state championship.
Buford
The Wolves are looking to gain their fourth straight state championship today.
Buford is historically one of the most successful teams in the state of Georgia. The Wolves have seven state championships. Amazingly, six of those championships have come since 2001. They won the title in 1978, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Buford has made the state playoffs every year since 1999. Since 1995, the team has missed the playoffs just once, that coming in a 4-6 1998 season.
They have been the most dominant team in the 2A playoffs this year by scoring over 50 points in three of the four games.
Defensive end Rick LeGrant anchors a tough unit that gave up just 179 yards and 10 points per game this season. The junior led the team with 17 tackles for loss, including seven sacks, and was third on the team with 62 total tackles.
The offense is led by running back Seon Jones. He gained 177 yards on 11 carries in the 53-13 semifinal win over Lovett. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season in that game, as well.
The Wolves have a 13-1 record this season, only losing to Carver-Columbus, the team that Calhoun beat to get here. They earned a No. 1 seed with a 4-0 2A region record. During the playoffs they defeated Hart County 52-22, Callaway 52-14, Cook 21-14 and Lovett 53-13. Much like Calhoun, the Wolves games were not close this year. The average margin of victory was 29 points. The 26 seniors have a chance to go out as nothing but state champions for their entire high school football career. In the previous three state championship games, the Wolves have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 108-31. However, last year’s game was a close 13-10 win over Calhoun and that will weigh heavy on Buford’s mind today.
Loading ...
