There are some football games where a coach has to throw caution to the wind and take chances he might not usually take. Friday night’s Region 7-AAAAA showdown between Calhoun and Blessed Trinity was one of those.
Calhoun coach Clay Stephenson knew the best way to defeat the host Titans was to limit the amount of touches for star tailback Justice Haynes. Leading 20-14 to start the second half, Stephenson called for an onside kick. The gamble worked, leading to a quick touchdown and a two-score lead, points the team needed late in the 32-27 win.
“That was the biggest play of the game,” Stephenson said after his team improved to 5-1 and 2-0 in league play after the battle of top-10 state-ranked teams. “We had to steal a possession after they scored right before the half, and it’s something we had worked on all week and it paid off tonight. I’m so proud of the players. They stepped up to the challenge.”
Calhoun never trailed and limited Haynes to only one big play, an 86-yard touchdown run in the second half. Haynes, who rushed for over 300 yards in last year’s Blessed Trinity win, still managed more than 200 yards and four touchdowns Friday, but the Jackets had an offensive answer each time.
Calhoun led 20-7 after scoring on three consecutive first-half drives – quarterback Christian Lewis with a 1-yard sneak, and Gage Leonard runs of 20 and 7 yards – but the Titans (4-3, 1-1) scored just before halftime on Haynes’ 6-yard run.