Calhoun can’t overcome big early hole in GHSA football quarterfinal loss

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Calhoun High School's football season ended with a loss to top-ranked Ware County in the GHSA Class AAAAA quarterfinals Friday night in Waycross.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Calhoun High School's football season ended with a loss to top-ranked Ware County in the GHSA Class AAAAA quarterfinals Friday night in Waycross.

Faced with the challenge of trying to defeat the top-ranked team in the state on the road without a full complement of weapons, the Calhoun Yellow Jackets went for broke early in Friday night's GHSA Class AAAAA quarterfinal at Ware County.

Unfortunately for Calhoun, the Gators — already amped up to avenge last year's 49-42 postseason loss to the Jackets — were more than up to the task.

Ware County (12-0) forced four turnovers and Dae'Jeaun Dennis ran for five touchdowns in a 35-0 win that was essentially over in the first 12 minutes.

"Credit Ware County on coming out and playing a great game," Calhoun coach Clay Stephenson said. "I'm very proud of this team and especially the 15 seniors we have. We had some good wins this year, but it's always tough losing the last one."

(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area high school football games)

Calhoun (9-4), playing without two of its leading offensive weapons in Emaree Winston and Dustin Kerns, and with leading rusher Caden Williams limited by injury, received the opening kickoff and moved the ball to the Ware 43.

Knowing his team needed to be aggressive, Stephenson called for a fake punt on fourth-and-5 from the Jackets' 43. Punter Andrew Purdy, the team's backup quarterback, just missed connecting with an open receiver down the left sideline, turning the ball over.

The Gators wasted little time taking advantage, with quarterback Nikao Smith hitting three short passes and Dennis covering the final 22 yards, including 18 on the game's first touchdown run.

On Calhoun's next play, Trey Townsend's pass was tipped and intercepted by Najeh Smith at the 22. Six plays later, Dennis lined up in the wildcat formation and bulled in from the 1 for a 14-0 lead.

After that the Ware County defense, which yielded more than 500 yards to Calhoun in last year's loss, forced a three-and-out series by the Jackets. RJ Boyd and Dennis then alternated big runs, with Smith getting perhaps the game's biggest offensive play for Ware with an 18-yard scramble to the 9. Three plays later, Dennis did his thing again from a yard out for a 21-0 lead that stood at halftime.

The Gators limited Calhoun to 64 yards of total offense in the first half while putting up 187 yards of offense, 139 on the ground.

Any chance of a comeback was erased with three consecutive turnovers in the third quarter deep in Calhoun territory that resulted in the final two Ware County touchdowns, runs of 11 and 13 yards by Dennis.

Calhoun's Townsend was 12-of-30 for 129 yards with two interceptions. He completed passes to 10 receivers, with Cam Curtis leading the way with two catches for 29 yards.

Dennis had 88 yards on 14 carries, with Boyd adding 71 on 11. Ware's Smith, who entered with more than 2,000 passing yards, was limited to 48.

The Gators will face Dutchtown, a 40-34 overtime winner over Mays, in next week's semifinal round.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.


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