Tigers shutout at Calhoun

September 28, 2024

Class AAA ninth-ranked Calhoun shutout visiting Adairsville Friday night, 24-0.

The Yellow Jackets got on the board with 7:06 remaining in the opening quarter. An eight-play, 60-yard drive resulted in a Carlos Lopez 27-yard field goal.

The score remained 3-0 until the final three minutes of the first half. Calhoun quarterback Trace Hawkins had key passes to Emaree Winston and Isaiah Nalls, and Baylor Johnson added a nice run. The Jackets' 89-yard drive was capped with a three-yard run by Nalls for a 10-0 advantage.

The Tigers drove into Jackets territory on their next possession, but the six-play drive stalled and came up empty, as a 27-yard field goal attempt into the night’s strong winds was missed.

The Yellow Jackets had one final opportunity to add points before the intermission, but a 23-yard field goal attempt failed as time expired.

Calhoun’s Clayton Goad intercepted a pass to end Adairsville’s opening possession of the second half, and a series of punt exchanges resulted in a scoreless third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets used considerable time off the third-period clock and culminated their next scoring drive with 9:26 left in the game. Winston had another key reception from Hawkins to the Adairsville 14-yard line, and a Nalls run put Calhoun in position for a five-yard Hawkins touchdown run that built a 17-0 lead.

The ensuing Adairsville drive was halted near midfield with another interception, and Calhoun ground out the remaining clock.

Hawkins had a 15-yard pass to Jaxon Moore, and Nalls had a 20-yard run before the Jackets turned the offense over to some of the second unit. Calhoun’s Cross Land completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Junior McConnell in the final minute for a 24-0 final score.

Calhoun (2-3, 1-0) travels to Ridgeland on Friday.

Adairsville (4-2, 1-1) has a bye week before hosting Ridgeland on October 11.