Region 6-AAA South // Phil Reeve Stadium, 315 South River St., Calhoun, GA 30701
At the helm
Hal Lamb
(206-35 in 18 years here; 211-50 overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Yellow Jackets return 7 off., 7 def. starters.
Super powers
What the Yellow Jackets lack in star power they more than make up for in depth, especially at the skill positions. Junior QB Gavin Gray emerged midseason last year as the starter and has at least six WRs he can count on, led by a pair of 6-foot-2 athletes in Brannon Spector and Luke Moseley.
Possible kryptonite
There are two areas of concern for the Jackets. The first is the OL, where a pair of starters must emerge. Head coach Hal Lamb is also hoping someone will step forward in camp to secure the placekicking duties. The program has graduated several kickers into the college ranks over the past decade and assistant Matt Rice, the school's head soccer coach, has made this a priority.
Spidey sense tingling
Few things in sports are as steady - and predictable - as Calhoun winning its region and making a nice playoff run. The Jackets will go for their 17th consecutive region title this year and will seek to extend a region winning streak that began in 2001. They have won at least two playoff games in nine consecutive seasons, so anything less would be considered a failure.
Here I come to save the day!
While most programs now put their best athletes on offense, Lamb is a defense-first coach and this year's team should be no different. Three guys will be defensive difference-makers: DL C.J. Fuller, FS Spector and LB Davis Allen, a 6-foot-5 disrupter who will be turned loose in passing situations.
Up, up and away!
Expectations.
They are one of the few downsides to being a dynasty, and by now there's no denying the Yellow Jackets have achieved that status in football-crazy Georgia. However, most associated with the program believe last year's 10-3 season, which ended in a nasty quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Cedar Grove, was a disappointment.
Count Spector among those. The junior FS/WR, whose brother Baylon is now at Clemson after leading the Jackets in rushing and tackles last year, said the offseason was spent with one thing in mind.
"Every day we work harder to make sure that doesn't happen again," he said of the 47-21 loss to Cedar Grove. "We had a good season, but we just never seemed to be as good as could have been. We plan to change that this year."
A closer look, though, shows a season that may have been better than expected. Lamb had to replace 13 starters, lost star RB Olico Dennis to an ACL tear in the opener and changed quarterbacks halfway through the season.
"I don't believe it was a bad season," Lamb said. "It just didn't end well, but we accomplished some great things and we saw a lot of young kids get playing time. Those kids are now juniors, and most are better players because of it.
"Our attendance in offseason work has been unbelievable, and you can tell the kids are motivated to have a special season."
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Douglass won, 28-0
Aug. 26 Dalton lost, 28-13
Sep. 2 Cartersville lost, 56-0
Sep. 16 Coahulla Creek won, 57-12
Sep. 23 North Murray won, 31-7
Sep. 30 Haralson County won, 44-7
Oct. 7 Adairsville won, 29-3
Oct. 21 Sonoraville won, 34-0
Oct. 28 Bremen won, 46-21
Nov. 4 Lakeview-F.O. won, 48-0
Nov. 11 Monroe won, 42-0
(first round)
Nov. 18 Jackson won, 41-20
(second round)
Nov. 25 Cedar Grove lost, 47-21 (quarterfinals)
10-3, 4-0 Region 6-AAA South
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 Douglass
Aug. 25 Dalton
Sep. 1 at Cartersville
Sep. 15 at Coahulla Creek
Sep. 22 North Murray
Sep. 29 Haralson County
Oct. 6 at Adairsville
Oct. 20 Sonoraville
Oct. 27 at Bremen
Nov. 3 region play-in game
Region 6-AAA South games in bold