Staff Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free PressDec 3, 2010-Calhoun quarterback Landon Curtis hands the ball off to Dustin Christian in the game against Carver at Calhoun High School Friday.
Five Calhoun Yellow Jackets were among seven northwest Georgia area players named first team all-state by The Associated Press Sunday, including senior quarterback Landon Curtis, who was named the Class AA Offensive Player of the Year.
Also representing the state runners-up on the team, which is selected by the Georgia Sports Writers Association, are receiver J.T. Palmer, kicker Adam Griffith, lineman Gus Roberts and linebacker Alex Kirby. Also on the AA team is Dade County offensive lineman Nick Lawson. Dalton offensive lineman Watts Dantzler was named first team on the Class AAA squad.
Calhoun coach Hal Lamb was pleased to hear of the honors, especially for Curtis, a first-year starter who completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,734 yards and 33 touchdowns to only four interceptions for the 14-1 Jackets.
"It's awesome for Landon because he's a special kid who has done things the right way," Lamb said. "He deserves all the awards he can get."
Players making the second teams were, in Class AAA, Ridgeland defensive lineman Mason Harris and Dalton defensive back Chris White, while Calhoun running back Dustin Christian and his teammate, linebacker Alex Kirby, were honored in Class AA. Dade County's John Hampton and Gordon Central's Dre Prather were honorable mentions.
n Lamb will be a part of the North team's coaching staff at the annual GACA North-South All-Star game Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Columbus. He will get to coach a pair of his players, Christian and Palmer, while Ridgeland's Harris and Devin Bowman will also be on the team.