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Calhoun, Dalton face different challenges in tough Georgia football regions

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Calhoun High School football coach Clay Stephenson led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-4 record and the state quarterfinals last season. Although the four-time state champions could again be among Georgia's best programs, their Region 7-AAAAA includes Blessed Trinity and Cartersville, and each won multiple state titles in the past decade.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Calhoun High School football coach Clay Stephenson led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-4 record and the state quarterfinals last season. Although the four-time state champions could again be among Georgia's best programs, their Region 7-AAAAA includes Blessed Trinity and Cartersville, and each won multiple state titles in the past decade. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Calhoun High School football coach Clay Stephenson led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-4 record and the state quarterfinals last season. Although the four-time state champions could again be among Georgia's best programs, their Region 7-AAAAA includes Blessed Trinity and Cartersville, and each won multiple state titles in the past decade.

By Lindsey Young 5 min read

Northwest Georgia’s highest-classified teams enter the 2021 prep football season with vastly different expectations and challenges.

Dalton, the most storied program in the area and a member of Region 5-AAAAAA, is breaking in a new coach after its most unsuccessful season in six decades. Meanwhile, Calhoun has perhaps its most talented offensive lineup in history, but the Yellow Jackets were picked to finish third in top-heavy Region 7-AAAAA.

For Dalton and first-year head coach Kit Carpenter, the road back to the playoffs is steep and full of perils after going 3-6 last year. Carpenter, a longtime assistant and former all-state player for the Catamounts, has a roster lacking the size and depth customary in AAAAAA.

To make it tougher, the Cats are in a region with state powers Carrollton and Rome and a slew of major college recruits. Carrollton enters its first season under Joey King – who coached Cartersville to back-to-back AAAA championships in 2015-16 – powered by quarterback M.J. Morris, an N.C. State recruit. Rome has perhaps one of the state’s best defenses, led by lineman Stepholin Greene, as evidenced by last week’s dominating scrimmage shutout of AAAAAAA power Kell.

Other region teams include last season’s other playoff squads, Alexander and East Paulding, along with Douglas County, Paulding County and South Paulding.