Calhoun wears down Cedar Grove for another trip to Elite Eight

Calhoun 38, Cedar Grove 18Star: Thomas Lester caught six passes for 163 yards and a TD for Calhoun.Up next: Calhoun (12-0) hosts Elbert County in a GHSA quarterfinal next Friday.

CALHOUN, Ga. - When Hal Lamb looked at the challenge facing his Calhoun High School football team Friday night in the GHSA Class AAA second-round playoff game against Cedar Grove, he knew his team had one major advantage.

The Yellow Jackets exploited a serious edge in fitness to wear down a physically superior Saints team for a 38-18 win at Phil Reeve Stadium. The win puts the 12-0 Jackets into the quarterfinals, where they will host Elbert County next Friday.

Calhoun held its ground early against a Cedar Grove team that came out believing it could use its size advantage to control the trenches. The Jackets, though, answered with a game plan that featured inside runs and quick passes. After building a 10-0 halftime lead, Calhoun scored on its first three second-half possessions and clearly had physically worn down the visitors from Ellenwood.

photo Calhoun High School's Kaelan Riley (1) attempts to punch through the Cedar Grove High School defensive line during the first half of the GHSA Class AAA 2nd round playoff game at the Yellowjacket's home field on Friday.

"I was really nervous about this game," Coach Lamb said. "Our defense kept us in it early and that was the key, because it's hard to simulate the speed and size Cedar Grove has. We wore them down in the second half, and we thought there was a good chance we could do that."

The Saints (9-3), held to 64 yards in the first half, scored two late touchdowns against Calhoun reserves to make the final score respectable. Early on, though, momentum was on their side after forcing a three-and-out on Calhoun's first possession and getting a big punt return to the Jackets' 29. After Labron Morris moved the ball to the 13, two penalties and two incomplete passes stalled the drive.

Calhoun took over from its 24 and moved methodically down the field, converting on four third downs as quarterback Kaelen Riley was 5-for-5 on the drive for 53 yards. Senior Cole Jackson scored from 3 yards out late in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

A field goal by Alex Flores -- his first of the season -- gave Calhoun a 10-0 lead just before halftime, setting up the big second half that started with a 60-yard drive keyed by Riley's 27-yard third-down pass to Landon Rice and ending with Riley's 1-yard sneak on fourth-and-goal.

The Saints made it 17-7 when Morris, held in check to that point, broke off a 46-yard run to set up Antwuan Jackson's 1-yard run, but the Jackets needed just one play after Bryson Bushong's 30-yard kickoff return to answer. Calhoun caught Cedar Grove in a blitz and Riley hit Thomas Lester with a bubble screen pass that went 45 yards for the score and a 24-6 lead late in the third quarter.

The visitors never really threatened from that point as Calhoun clinched its seventh consecutive trip to the GHSA Elite Eight, but now in Class AAA instead of AA.

"I am really pleased with the way we played tonight," said Lamb, who had high praise for his quarterback Riley and receiver Lester. "Kaelen ran the offense well and Thomas made some big plays for us. College recruiters are really missing the boat on that kid, because he's something special."

Lester had 163 yards on six catches, while Riley was 17-for-22 passing for 268 yards.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.

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