Calhoun fifth best high school football program in Georgia in last decade

Thursday, August 7, 2014

photo Coach Hal Lamb watches as Clay Johnson is handed the 2011 Class AA state championship trophy for Calhoun High School at the Georgia Dome. Calhoun played in five state finals in a row.

COMING THIS WEEKENDThe annual Dynamite Dozen, the Times Free Press' list of top college football senior prospects in our area, will start. We will reveal each of the top 12 at timesfreepress.com at 4 p.m. each day starting Saturday with No. 12 on the list and have a Q-and-A in the next day's paper. Check out our web site every day at 4 to see the next name on the list.GET YOUR TICKETSThe inaugural Madaris Best of Preps Kickoff Classic between state powers McCallie and Cleveland will be Thursday, Aug. 21 and tickets are on sale now at timesfreepress.com/kickoff. Price is $8 in advance and $10 on the day of the game.

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Something most of the Chattanooga area already knew has been confirmed by MaxPreps, the national high school sports statistics website. Using a points system to reward programs with the most overall wins, playoff wins, state championships or title-game appearances, MaxPreps ranked Calhoun as the fifth-best football program in Georgia, for all classifications, over the past decade.

During the 10-year period used by MaxPreps, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 127-16 overall record with five consecutive trips to the Class AA state championship game, including one title. Buford, which went 135-11 with six state titles, including three over Calhoun, and one runner-up finish, tops the Peach State rankings.

"When I came to this place, I felt it could be special," Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. "Now, did I think it would be this special? I don't know, but it's been an awesome ride, and I hope to keep it going."

In the MaxPreps Tennessee rankings, South Pittsburg is the highest-rated area program, coming in at No. 16 after claiming two Class 1A championships and finishing runner-up three times in the last decade. Baylor, which finished state runner-up in Division II-AA twice, ranks 20th.

"It's a compliment first to the players in our program who made the necessary commitment to be that successful," Baylor coach Phil Massey said. "I always talk to the kids about leaving a legacy, and this just shows we've had a lot of guys who worked to do that."

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.