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Calhoun seniors not worried about letdown following state title

Calhoun's Landon Rice (44) and Kealan Riley (1) celebrate their win over Washington County during the GHSA class AAA championship game at the Georgia Dome in December. The duo lead a strong group of seniors planning for a repeat.
Calhoun's Landon Rice (44) and Kealan Riley (1) celebrate their win over Washington County during the GHSA class AAA championship game at the Georgia Dome in December. The duo lead a strong group of seniors planning for a repeat. Calhoun's Landon Rice (44) and Kealan Riley (1) celebrate their win over Washington County during the GHSA class AAA championship game at the Georgia Dome in December. The duo lead a strong group of seniors planning for a repeat.

By Lindsey Young 4 min read

Region 6-AAA at a glance

* Last year’s champion: Calhoun had a 15-0 season ending in the Class AAA state championship.* Team to beat: Calhoun, the preseason No. 1 Class AAA team in the state, is again the unanimous pick to win the region with a returning nucleus of stars off last season’s squad.* Watch out for: The team just on the outside looking in last year, North Murray, adds transfer quarterback Will Swantic to what should be an explosive offense.* Best game: Adairsville at Ringgold on Sept. 11 again could determine which team gets to challenge Calhoun for the region title.* Dream schedule: North Murray opens play with nonregion games against double-A teams Rockmart and Chattooga and gets to host last year’s top two region teams, Calhoun and Adairsville.* Nightmare schedule: While Calhoun has the toughest two nonregion games against Dalton and Carrollton, the toughest league slate might belong to Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. The Warriors end the season with games at Adairsville and Calhoun sandwiched around a home date with another 2014 playoff team, Sonoraville.* Players to watch: Calhoun has the biggest stars in senior SEC commitments Landon Rice (Auburn) and Jack DeFoor (Ole Miss), but there is star power throughout the region, including Sonoraville DE Kenny Cooper, Ringgold QB Devin Lancaster and Adairsville RB Sidnee Johnson.* Predicted order of finish: Calhoun, Sonoraville, Ringgold, Adairsville, North Murray, Murray County, LFO, Gordon Central, Coahulla Creek.

There are two major facts to face in Georgia Region 6-AAA football this year.

One is that none of the coaches in the league are conceding anything to prohibitive favorite and defending state champion Calhoun.

Two, however, is the sobering fact the Yellow Jackets have not lost a region game since 2001, spanning 95 games and three classifications.

“Yeah, they’re pretty good,” joked Ringgold coach Robert Akins, whose team gave the Jackets their toughest region test last year. “Calhoun is always going to be good, and they could be really special this year.”