CALHOUN, Ga. – Although they stand only 6-foot tall and weigh 225 and 250 pounds, seniors Gus Roberts and Caden Parker are big parts of the first line of defense for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets, who are 14-0 and playing Friday for a Georgia football state championship.
Roberts and Parker have heard all season how the best way to attack the Jackets is to challenge them up front. After all, there have been very few games in the past two years when the line, which also includes junior Reed Allen, hasn’t been outsized by a considerable margin.
Roberts and Parker, two high-energy players, like it that way, and they have combined for nearly 140 tackles.
They had even more fun than usual in last Friday’s Class AA semifinal upset of top-ranked Carver, when their continual penetration into the Columbus school’s backfield threw the running game and superstar back Isaiah Crowell off balance.
Carver’s game plan was to single-block the Calhoun linemen and go after talented linebackers Alex Kirby, Hunter Knight and Gabe Freeman. However, the Jackets’ line foiled that plan and played a huge part in the rousing 27-14 win.
Coach Hal Lamb has seen teams try that before, and he hopes Friday’s championship opponent, three-time consecutive titlist Buford, follows suit.
“Caden and Gus are the heart and soul of the defense,” Lamb said. “Caden’s been a three-year starter and Gus has played most of his sophomore year and started the past two. They both played in the last two title games, so they know what it’s all about.”
Parker and Roberts get a little tense on the subject of Buford, which beat the Yellow Jackets 45-21 in the 2008 state final – Parker broke his leg in that game – and 13-10 in last year’s title game.
“Revenge, that’s the first thing that comes to mind for me,” Roberts said with a sneer at the mention of the Wolves.
Added Parker: “Personally, I don’t like to hear ‘Buford’ at all, but you have to give them respect because they’ve beaten us the last two years and taken the title. We hope to make this year different.”
Strong line play helped Buford prevail in last year’s game, and though three starters from that unit now are playing at the Division I collegiate level, the offense hasn’t weakened. The Wolves have scored at least 50 points in three of their four playoff wins.
They again will have a size advantage in the line, starting with 6-5, 300-pound Vadal Alexander, but Lamb has full confidence his group will be up for the challenge.
“Buford is Buford and you know they are going to be physical, fast and well coached,” Lamb said. “Up front, with our defensive guys, It’s about heart speed, not size or physical speed. There are no better examples than Gus and Caden. They play well with their hands, and they stay low with good quickness and strength.”
The duo don’t plan to change a thing from the formula that brought them such success against Carver: Be physical and don’t let up.
“They’re a good football team. We’ve got to come out ready and hit them in the mouth,” Parker said. “We’ve got to stay low and move our feet. They’re a lot bigger than us, but they can’t be a lot stronger than us.”
Added Roberts: “They’re going to be tough, fast and smart. Their coaches coach them up, so we’re going to have to be at the top of our game. I’m sure we’ll be up for it.”