Calhoun stuns Carver in semis

CALHOUN, Ga. - Calhoun dared to tug on Superman's cape Friday night in the Class AA semifinals, and this time the superhero went home a loser.

A swarming Yellow Jackets defense held Carver superstar Isaiah Crowell to 94 yards on 20 carries and rolled to a 27-14 win at Phil Reeve Stadium, setting up another meeting with Buford in next Friday's championship game.

Crowell, rated by many as the nation's top running back, had coaches from all over the South, including members of the University of Georgia and Alabama staffs, in attendance at the standing-room-only game between a pair of 13-0 teams. However, the Calhoun defense led by linebackers Alex Kirby, Hunter Knight and Gabe Freeman and an efficient offense spearheaded by quarterback Landon Curtis stole the show.

Carver, which entered the game averaging more than 40 points per game, was held to 228 total yards. Its rushing game averaging better than 300 yards per game netted a mere 119 on 27 attempts. The key: Hit, hit and then hit some more.

"That was the best defensive effort we've put up all season," Kirby said. "Just keep hitting them in the mouth."

Added winning coach Hal Lamb, who will be taking his fourth Calhoun team to the finals, "We did an unbelievable job on him. We kept hitting him and hitting him. That was our goal and he got frustrated. Our kids never quit and I truly believe in our football team. A lot of people didn't expect us to win tonight. I'm so proud of our football team. We as a football team believed we could win."

That belief only grew after Calhoun's first possession lasted 15 plays, and though it ended with Adam Griffith's 26-yard field goal instead of a touchdown, the tone had been set according to Curtis, who was 6-for-8 passing on the drive.

"That first drive was very important," said Curtis, who shredded the speedy Carver defense for 18-of-22 passing and 185 yards. "Driving down the field like we did was a dagger in their heart. They seemed to let down a bit after that. That's what I live for, to step up against a team like that."

The Tigers would take advantage of a Calhoun turnover at midfield to take a 6-3 lead, with Crowell scoring from 15 yards out on his best run of the night off left tackle. Knight, as he's done several times, blocked the point after.

The Jackets didn't flinch, going 60 yards in nine plays, with the red-hot Curtis hitting all six of his passes for 52 yards, the final 20 to Clay Johnson on a perfectly thrown seam pass and a 10-6 lead. The hyped up Calhoun defense forced a three-and-out and when Carver punter (and quarterback) Kris Carson had to one-hop the snap, he took off and was stopped at the 17.

Griffith added his second field goal of the half for a 13-6 lead heading into the second half.

With momentum on their side, Calhoun stuffed Crowell on two runs and forced a Carson incomplete pass. After J.T. Palmer returned the punt to the Carver 46, three Dustin Christian runs moved the ball to the 24, where on second down Curtis threw a high ball to Palmer in the end zone and the 6-foot-3 senior outfought the defender for the touchdown.

Calhoun added another touchdown on a 63-yard drive before the third quarter ended . The key play was a 40-yard third-and-18 pass to Palmer, who again outjumped the defender. Four plays later Curtis kept the ball on a zone read play and scored from 2 yards out for an insurmountable 27-6 lead.

"Offensively, Landon Curtis played great," Lamb said of his senior first-year starer. "He made some unbelievable throws and we made some great catches. J.T. Palmer has been doing that all year and he did again tonight, and some other kids stepped up also. And Dustin, he was just Dustin again. I can't describe in words how I feel right now."

Christian out-ushed Crowell, gaining 111 yards on 24 carries, while Palmer ended with 81 yards on six catches.