CALHOUN, Ga. – While the challenge is a daunting one for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets in 2020, it is one the proud football program is meeting at full speed.
After failing to affect the program during the previous reclassification cycle with its out-of-district student multiplier, the Georgia High School Association’s latest realignment handed Calhoun the rare distinction of being forced to move up two classes beginning this year.
The state’s largest ruling body for high school sports also created a three-headed, championship-heavy Region 7-AAAAA that includes former Class AAAA schools Blessed Trinity and Cartersville. The three programs have combined to win eight state titles in the past nine seasons.
No other program currently in Class AAAAA has won a championship during that time.
“It’s a challenge, but everybody here in the program is excited about it, from the players to the coaches to the fans,” said Clay Stephenson, who is in his second year as head coach of the Yellow Jackets. “It’s a unique opportunity to play some teams we haven’t been able to play a lot. It’s tough, but this is a year we have to make sure we’re focusing on ourselves each week. We can’t get into comparing or looking at our region schedule yet.”