While nine wins might be considered a successful year for most high school football programs, that mark is below the standard at Calhoun.
The Yellow Jackets have been Northwest Georgia’s model of successful consistency for decades, reaching double-digit wins overall in 21 seasons this century and setting the GHSA record for consecutive region victories with 119 from 2001-19.
And after going just 13-7 in region matchups during a four-year run in Class AAAAA from 2020-23, their return to AAA was accompanied by a revival of region excellence the past two seasons. Back-to-back 6-0 showings in Region 7-AAA returned them to the top of the league standings, but last year’s 9-3 season was capped by a humbling 12-0 home loss to the Douglass in the second round of the state playoffs.
The GHSA’s latest round of reclassification moved Calhoun up to AAAA, and while the competition will be familiar — Adairsville, Heritage, Northwest Whitfield, Ridgeland and Southeast Whitfield are the other teams — the Yellow Jackets will face a significant challenge from within as they attempt to replace all-state receiver Justin Beasley and defensive stalwarts Sager Quinn and Alec Upshaw.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press is previewing area regions each day as the start of a new prep football season arrives in two weeks. Having wrapped up our look at Tennessee leagues with TSSAA Region 3-1A, we continue the series and jump into the Peach State with GHSA Region 7-AAAA. (Dalton is the lone local team in both Region 7-AAAAA and that classification.)