2018 Record: 13-1, overall (8-0, REGION 6 AAA)
Head Coach: Clay Stephenson, First season as Calhoun Head Coach
All Time Record: 880 games 493 – 360 – 27 (58%)
Total Seasons: 85 First Season: 1925 All State Players: 112
Region Championships: 23 (Last in 2018, 18th consecutive region championship)
State Championships: 4 (Last in 2017)
Schedule
8.22 vs Ridgeland
9.6 vs Therrell
9.13 at Sonoraville
9.20 vs North Murray
9.27 vs Ringgold
10.11 vs Adairsville
10.18 at Murray County
10.25 vs Coahulla Creek
11.1 at Haralson County
11.8 at Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe
Eighteen consecutive times. That is how many times the Calhoun Yellow Jackets have won their region. Eighteenconsecutive times. The Jackets set the Georgia State record for region championships in a row. In 2018, they advanced to the semifinals before falling to Peach County, their only loss of the entire season.
This season, for the first time since 1998, will not be coached by the legendary Hal Lamb. He retired following the 2018 season. Calhoun will be led by Clay Stephenson. However, there will be no change in what Calhoun football is all about and how they approach the game.
“Our goals will remain the same as they have been for the last few years,” says Stephenson. “We want to win our first game, win another region championship and make a run in the playoffs.”
Sounds like the same goal the Yellow Jackets have had for the past 18 years.
Not only will there be a new coach leading CHS, Clay Stephenson says there will be a lot of new faces on the field. “We will replace nine starters on offense, so getting our depth chart in place has been a priority so far this preseason. We have a talented group of seniors and underclassmen who will step up and take over these starting roles,” Stephenson explains.
Players to watch on offense will be quarterback Jake Morrow (senior), guard Jaden Curtis (senior), receiver Carson Speer (senior) and running back Jerrian Hames (junior).
Coach Stephenson goes on to discuss the situation on the other side of the ball.“We will also replace nine starters on defense. Our front six will be the strength of our defense this year. Our defensive line has two returning starters so we will look to control the line of scrimmage,” says Stephenson.
That line features Kendez Griffin (senior) and Dawson Hamby (senior), along with Carson Griffin (junior). They are followed by linebackers Zeke Brown (senior), David Braden (senior), and Julian Ipac (senior). Edjuardo Fajardo (senior) will return as starter for the special teams’ units.
Coach Stephenson likes what he sees in his junior varsity program and the potential for some of the youngsters to see the Friday night lights.
“We have a great core of 9th and 10th graders, so the future looks bright for these classes. We may have a few 10th graders press some upperclassmen for playing time by the end of this year,” says Stephenson.
Calhoun, in a year of transition, is still looking to extend their state record of consecutive region championships to another year.
