CALHOUN, Ga. — The Calhoun High School football team enjoyed practicing over the Thanksgiving holiday so much, the Yellow Jackets decided this week to add 12 more days to their 2024 season.
Sixth-seeded Calhoun followed up what was hailed as its best practice week of the season by rolling past No. 7 seed Stephenson 35-13 in a GHSA Class AAA semifinal Friday night at Phil Reeve Stadium.
Calhoun (11-3) scored on five of its first six possessions to overcome an early 7-0 deficit and earn its 10th championship game appearance since 2005 — and first since 2021 after making the quarterfinals in 2022 and missing the playoffs altogether a year ago for, their first absence this century. The Yellow Jackets, who have won 10 consecutive games, will next face Jefferson at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The Dragons (11-3), who withstood a late rally by No. 20 seed LaGrange to win 21-13 in Friday’s other AAA semifinal, are the top-seeded team in the classification. Jefferson defeated Calhoun 31-14 in the Class AA championship game in 2012, the only state title for the Dragons.
Calhoun will be seeking its fifth championship when the programs meet again, having won Class C in 1952, the AA title in 2011 and AAA crowns in 2014 and 2017.