Player: Da'Rick Rogers
Some people were calling the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Calhoun receiver and University of Georgia commitment an underachiever. Blessed with 4.4 speed, a vertical jump measured over 40 inches and flypaper hands, Rogers ended the regular season with just over 1,000 receiving yards. In the postseason, though, Rogers proved worthy of his rare five-star rating with nearly 700 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games, setting a Georgia prep season record with 1,647
Coach: Hal Lamb
In his 13th year as the architect of Calhoun's developing dynasty, Lamb had SEC-bound stars in receiver Da'Rick Rogers and quarterback Nash Nance, but there were several question marks entering the 2009 season. Gone were all five offensive linemen, three defensive linemen and three-fourths of the Yellow Jackets' secondary from the 2008 Class AA state runners-up. Yet they followed an unbeaten regular season with four dominating playoff wins to earn a rematch with Buford. Though Calhoun fell three points short of a GHSA title, the season goes down as one of Lamb's best jobs, and one of the program's most memorable. "It was an unbelievable season," Lamb said. "We accomplished a lot of things. That bad thing is, there still is an empty feeling since we didn't win it all. It hate it for our seniors - they were a great, great class - but I'm very proud of what the team was able to do."
Nash Nance
Calhoun
6-4, 215
Senior Quarterback
The Vandy recruit passed for right at 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns for the state runner-up.
Matt Warren
Calhoun
5-9, 215
Senior Lineman
The first-year starter paced a revamped line in an offense that amassed more than 5,000 yards.
Greg Mulkey
Sonoraville
6-3, 245
Senior Lineman
He graded out at 86 percent, had 15 pancake blocks and led the Phoenix defensive line in tackles.
Shaquon Moore
Dalton
6-0, 185
Senior Running Back
He was Mr. Inside for the Region 7-AAAA runner-up Catamounts, rushing for 1,312 yards and 25TDs.
Synjen Herren
Northwest Whitfield
6-4, 290
Junior Lineman
The rising prospect graded out at 85 percent for the playoff team and made 37 pancake blocks.
Andre Bagley
LaFayette
5-11, 165
Senior Running Back
He had 1,500 yards rushing (9.8 per carry), 12 TDs, 200 yards receiving and nearly 500 return yards.
Watts Dantzler
Dalton
6-8, 315
Junior Lineman
One of the South's top 2011 recruits, he anchored a dominating line with 51 pancake blocks.
Nick Lawson
Dade County
6-3, 320
Junior Lineman
He had 46 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack for a Dade team that rushed for 2,700 yards.
Deonte Marsh
Ridgeland
6-0, 185
Junior Receiver
He averaged better than 26 yards per reception in finishing with 725 yards and eight touchdowns.
Dimitri Miles
LaFayette
6-2, 195
Senior Receiver
The two-time all-star had 46 receptions, 760 yards and five TDs and ran for 260 yards and two scores.
Martez Eastland
Ringgold
6-0, 225
Senior Running Back
The 2008 player of the year ran for 1,561 yards and 16 TDs and had 310 receiving yards and three scores.
Adam Griffith
Calhoun
5-10, 160
Sophomore Kicker
He was 12-of-16 on field goals and 64-of-67 on PATs and put over half his kickoffs into the end zone.
Second team
Tre Beck: Dalton, sophomore, running back
David Berry: Gordon Lee, senior, lineman
LaGreg Burns: Lakeview-F.O., senior, running back
Dustin Christian: Calhoun, junior, running back
Tyshawn Clemmons: Gordon Central, freshman, receiver
Tanner McCutchen: Southeast Whitfield, senior, quarterback
Carlos Ojeda: Southeast Whitfield, senior, kicker
Tyler Scott: Ridgeland, junior, tight end
Tucker Smith: Calhoun, senior, lineman
HensonToland: Dalton, senior, lineman
Greg Weaver: Northwest Whitfield, senior, lineman
Ryan Wilson: Trion, senior, running back
Teams of the year
1. Calhoun (14-1): A dominating offense, aggressive defense and game-changing special teams led the Yellow Jackets to the state Class AA title game for the second consecutive season.
2. Ridgeland (9-2): The Panthers won their second consecutive Region 6-AAA championship despite having to replace more than 90 percent of their offensive production from 2008.
3. Chattooga (9-2): With losses only to state runner-up Calhoun and semifinalist Lovett, the Indians were a dangerous team in Brad Waggoner's first season as head coach.