CALHOUN VS. JEFFERSON
Records: Yellow Jackets (11-3, No. 6 seed); Dragons (11-3, No. 1 seed)
Last week: Calhoun defeated Stephenson 35-13; Jefferson defeated LaGrange 21-13
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Radio: WDUN AM 550/FM 102.9
Time: 4 p.m
The statistics: The series is tied 1-1. Ironically, the last time the two teams met was in the 2012 Class 2A title game, which the Dragons won 31-14 at the old Georgia Dome. It was Jefferson’s first ever state championship. The Yellow Jackets went 39-6 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs in 2011 to capture their second state championship. They won Class 3A state titles in 2014 and 2017.
What to watch for: The Calhoun offense vs. the Dragons defense. The Jackets’ offense has also picked up the pace, averaging 36.7 ppg during a 10-game winning streak, including 31 or more in 6 straight games. Calhoun Fr. QB Trace Hawkins (1,893 yards, 23 TD, 1 INT) had a near-perfect game last week, completing 14 of 16 passes for 231 yards with 4 TD passes. TE Emaree Winston (17 rec., 74 yards, 4 TD, Texas commit), who missed more than half the season with injury, had six receptions for 93 yards and scored on two short runs against Douglass. He had six balls for 128 yards against Stephenson. Justin Beasley is their leading receiver with 18 TD catches. Hudson Chadwick, who replaced injured starter Isiah Nalls, rushed for 126 yards. The Dragons are scoring just 13.25 points per game in the playoffs behind one of the most talented LB groups in the state. As a team, the Dragons have 85 TFL, including 19 sacks, and forced 23 turnovers (15 INT, 8 fumbles). They had three LaGrange turnovers last week. LBs Max Brown (140 TKL, 13 TFL), Rett Hemphill (131 TKL, 11 TFL, 4 sacks, 7 INT) and JD Lang (88 TKL, 4 TFL) as well as DL Kelan Butler (85 TKL, 12 TFL). , 5 sacks) have been a matchup nightmare for most teams this season.