Player: Derrick Laney
The numbers say the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe senior lineman ended the season with 111 total tackles, 40 for loss, 6 1 /2 sacks and three caused fumbles. However, two special-teams plays stand out the most for the 6-foot-3, 220-pound reigning North Georgia wrestler of the year. Against LaFayette he sealed a win by blocking a field-goal try. Laney topped that during a week 10 do-or-die game at Cartersville, blocking a would-be-tying extra point n a 14-13 LFO win that clinced a playoff berth. It’s the memory he will always reall in the coming years. “With everything on the line, I kept thinking I didn’t come this far to lose like that,” he said. “I just wanted to do anything to get us to the playoffs. That was all I was thinking about.”
Coach: Hal Lamb
In his 13th year as the architect of Calhoun’s developing dynasty, Lamb had SEC-bound stars in receiver Da’Rick Rogers and quarterback Nash Nance, but there were several question marks entering the 2009 season. Gone were all five offensive linemen, three defensive linemen and three-fourths of the Yellow Jackets’ secondary from the 2008 Class AA state runners-up. Yet they followed an unbeaten regular season with four dominating playoff wins to earn a rematch with Buford. Though Calhoun fell three points short of a GHSA title, the season goes down as one of Lamb’s best jobs, and one of the program’s most memorable. “It was an unbelievable season,” Lamb said. “We accomplished a lot of things. That bad thing is, there still is an empty feeling since we didn’t win it all. It hate it for our seniors – they were a great, great class – but I’m very proud of what the team was able to do.”
Kedron Aker
Calhoun
6-0, 205
Senior Back
He’s headed to UAB after anchoring the Yellow Jackets secondary with a team-high 107 tackles.
DeVaughn Buchanan
Ridgeland
6-1, 200
Senior Linebacker
The three-time allstar had 131 tackles, including 11 for loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Matthew Chattin
Heritage
5-11, 180
Senior Back
Also the team’s leading receiver with over 500 yards, he led the Generals with seven interceptions.
Nathaniel Cook
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
6-0, 200
Senior Linebacker
He made 150 total tackles, 29 for lost yardage, and caused five fumbles for the playoff team.
Nermin Delic
Northwest Whitfield
6-5, 250
Senior Lineman
The Kentucky recruit and two-sport star had eight sacks among his 80 tackles for the Bruins.
Jalen Fields
Dalton 6-6, 250
Senior Lineman
The end is headed to Georgia after recording 72 tackles, four sacks and a fumble return for a TD.
Austin Goodlet
Gordon Lee 6-0, 180
Senior Linebacker
The two-time all-star had 177 tackles, seven sacks and a team-high 553 yards rushing.
Thomas Guinn
Ringgold
5-9, 198
Senior Lineman
Though undersized by noseguard standards, he had 100 tackles, including 20 for loss, for the Tigers.
Mason Harris
Ridgeland
6-3, 205
Junior Lineman
The disruptive end had 68 tackles, including 12 sacks, for the Region 6-AAA back-to-back champs.
Dewaun Harrison
Ridgeland
6-3, 205
Senior Back
The hard-hitting twotime all-star had 64 tackles for a Panthers defense that posted five shutouts.
Senorise Perry
Chattooga
6-1, 195
Senior Back/Punter
He rushed for 1,000 yards, intercepted three passes and returned four kicks for touchdowns.
Collins Womack
Ringgold
5-9, 192
Senior Linebacker
He was a force in the middle of a stout Tigers defense with 77 solo tackles and 39 assists.
Second team
Devin Bowman: Ridgeland, junior, back
Floyd Coffey: Dalton, junior, lineman
Hunter Knight: Calhoun, sophomore, linebacker
Luke Mealer: Murray County, senior, back
Jay Motley: Northwest Whitfield, senior, linebacker
Toombs Norman: Dalton, senior, back/punter
Caden Parker: Calhoun, junior, lineman
Cristian Perez: Southeast Whitfield, senior, lineman
Tanner Phipps: Southeast Whitfield, senior, linebacker
Gus Roberts: Calhoun, senior, lineman
Josh Robertson: Ridgeland, junior, linebacker
Brett Walraven: Calhoun, senior, back
Teams of the year
1. Calhoun (14-1): A dominating offense, aggressive defense and game-changing special teams led the Yellow Jackets to the state Class AA title game for the second consecutive season.
2. Ridgeland (9-2): The Panthers won their second consecutive Region 6-AAA championship despite having to replace more than 90 percent of their offensive production from 2008.
3. Chattooga (9-2): With losses only to state runner-up Calhoun and semifinalist Lovett, the Indians were a dangerous team in Brad Waggoner’s first season as head coach.