Calhoun used a little old-school football to remain undefeated in GHSA Region 7-AAAAA.
The Yellow Jackets leaned heavily on their ground game to escape upset-minded Cass and win 35-14 Friday night at Phil Reeve Stadium in Calhoun.
Caden Williams led the way for the Jackets (8-1, 4-0) with 206 yards and touchdown runs of 29 and 56 yards, with receiver Cole Speer adding 59 yards on two carries, including a 47-yard touchdown on an end-around run that gave Calhoun a 28-14 lead midway through the third quarter. Gage Leonard finished with 57 yards on nine carries.
"We were trying to move the football any way we could, and the offensive line did a great job," said Calhoun coach Clay Stephenson, whose team travels to Cartersville next week with the region championship on the line. "With Caden and Gage running like that and the line blocking the way they did, we are going to be able to move it."
Calhoun quarterback Christian Lewis was efficient again, completing nine of 14 passes for 154 yards with touchdowns to Quin Smith and Brendan Gray to give Calhoun a quick 14-0 lead before the Colonels (5-4, 2-2) rallied on a Fredi Ghabdi 5-yard touchdown run. The Jackets answered with a 93-yard drive, with Williams scoring on a 29-yard run, but Cass again made it a seven-point game as Devin Henderson connected with Kymani Pullum on a 1-yard touchdown pass just before halftime.
Ringgold 42, Coahulla Creek 7: In a Region 6-AAA matchup, the usually run-oriented Tigers (8-0, 6-0) clinched a state playoff berth, their first in four seasons, as quarterback Mason Parker crossed up the Colts (4-5, 2-5) with five touchdown passes. Parker found Malachi Hill to start the scoring on a 24-yard pass, and after Kace Kinnamon hit Justin Baker for a tying pass, Parker connected with Ty Gilbert for a 53-yarder to give the Tigers the lead for good.
Parker, who was 11-for-19 for 174 yards, later had touchdown passes to Peyton Williams, Kori Dumas and Marcus Fortson, with Gilbert adding an interception return for a score, his third pick-six of the season.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Ringgold football fans cheer on their team during a home game against LaFayette on Oct. 8. The Tigers went on the road Friday to beat Coahulla Creek and remain undefeated."Mason was in sync with his receivers and made good reads," Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. "Our line protected him well, and he also made good reads running the ball as far as when to give and when to pull the ball and keep it."
Fannin County 42, Chattooga 7: In a battle of Region 7-AA unbeatens, the Rebels (7-1, 4-0) won in dominating fashion as Austin Garland and Seth Reece had two touchdown runs each. Zayden Cook had a 52-yard touchdown run for Chattooga (5-3, 4-1).
Douglas County 55, Dalton 42: The Catamounts dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in Regioin 5-AAAAAA despite a huge game from quarterback Brady Pendley and receiver Karim Page. Pendley was 15-of-27 for 285 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Page (86 and 25 yards), who ended with 203 yards on 11 catches. Tyson Greenwade added 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Dalton, which hurt itself with four turnovers.
For Douglas County (7-1, 4-1), Latrele Murrell had 185 rushing yards and five touchdowns, with Jirah Douglas adding 87 yards and three scores.
North Murray 55, Murray County 20: North Murray quarterback Seth Griffin had another prolific night with seven touchdown passes to lead the Mountaineers (6-2, 4-2 Region 6-AAA) to the win. Griffin connected twice with Jadyn Rice (57, 60 yards) and Judson Petty (14, 22 yards) for touchdowns. Murray County's Justice Knotts threw for two scores and ran for one.
Gordon Lee 28, B.E.S.T Academy 6: The Trojans (5-3, 2-1 Region 6-A public) won with a strong defensive showing that included Robert Henson's 70-yard interception return for a touchdown. Nate Dunfee rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown, with Tyler Forester and Conner Whitman also scoring on the ground.
Dade County 35, Coosa 6: Cody Williams ran for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Brody Cooper passed for 260 yards for the winning Wolverines (6-2, 3-1 Region 7-AA), whose defense held the Eagles to 109 total yards.
Mount Paran Christian 20, Christian Heritage 17 (OT): Sam Griffith-Tesch scored from a yard out in overtime to send visiting Mount Paran (4-4, 1-1 Region 7-A private) home with the win. Christian Heritage (3-6, 1-2) took a 14-0 lead on a Christian Thomas to Solomon Locke 47-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and Locke's 30-yard run early in the second. Carson Russell put the Lions ahead in overtime with a 27-yard field goal, but the Eagles needed just three plays to win it.
Northwest Whitfield 52, Southeast Whitfield 6: Owen Brooker passed for 380 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the first half, as the Bruins (5-3) rolled to the nonregion win. Braxton Floyd had 140 receiving yards and a score, with Ray Morrison, Brayden Morrison and Cameron Collins adding touchdown receptions.
Sonoraville 24, LaFayette 21: The Ramblers (4-4, 3-3 Region 6-AAA) lost despite 107 yards and two touchdowns - one receiving - for senior running back Jaylon Ramsey. LaFayette led 13-0 at halftime before the Phoenix (5-3, 3-3) rallied for the win.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.