Calhoun’s 13-game winning streak is over, but as the clock neared 1 a.m. Saturday morning, the Yellow Jackets exited the field at Cartersville’s Weinman Stadium knowing they can play with most prep football teams in Georgia.
After falling behind by 21 points after three quarters in a game that kicked off Friday night, Calhoun rallied to tie the weather-delayed matchup on Hudson Chadwick’s 27-yard run with 3:48 remaining. Cartersville, though, responded with a drive that was aided by a personal foul penalty and resulted in Ramsey Rowell’s 26-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining for a 38-35 win and a 4-0 start to the season.
The Yellow Jackets (2-1), who are the reigning GHSA Class AAA state champions, seemed to be outclassed after Class AAAA’s No. 2-ranked Purple Hurricanes scored 21 consecutive points to go up 35-14 late in the third quarter. The three touchdowns came in a span of 12 plays, with five covering 10 or more yards, including a 66-yard score on a screen pass to Georgia commitment Brady Marchese, who burned Calhoun for 191 yards and two scores on nine catches in the game.
When quarterback Nate Russell hit three consecutive passes for 70 yards, including a one-handed grab by Tyan Coe that went for 28 yards, to set up Braylon Hill’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, the Jackets’ fate seemed sealed.
Coach Clay Stephenson’s team, though, drove for a quick score — aided by a pair of personal fouls on the hosts — capped by Isiah Nalls’ 10-yard run, then withstood a Cartersville drive that reached the 13 but ended on a missed field-goal attempt.