DALTON, Ga. – A lightning delay nearly ended the Calhoun-Dalton game early. In reality, it was over well before Mother Nature came calling.
Dalton’s Catamounts, losers of seven consecutive games in this matchup of northwest Georgia’s most successful high school football programs, came out swinging at Harmon Field/Bill Chappell Stadium and didn’t let up in earning a 28-13 win Friday night.
Senior receiver Zeke Cobb, who missed all but the first series of last season after tearing an ACL, returned with a vengeance in his team’s season opener. The 6-foot-4 Cobb caught a pair of touchdown passes, including one to end an innovative opening drive, and had a long run to set up another as the Cats backed up their preseason hupe.
The game’s opening drive highlighted the explosive potential of the Dalton offense, which was boosted in the offseason when transfers Ahmaad Tanner, Nassir Love-Porter and John Henry Whiteside joined an already-strong team.
Starting at Dalton’s own 35, Tanner took a handoff from J.P. Tighe and rolled right. Instead of turning upfield, however, he fired a pass downfield where Kyric McGowan hauled it in and raced to the Calhoun 10. Two plays later Tighe hit Cobb over the middle in the end zone for a quick 6-0 lead.