Calhoun continued on the path toward repeating as the Class AAA champion on Friday night. But just like the previous week, the Yellow Jackets needed overtime to advance.
Calhoun and visiting Elbert County were tied 13-13 at the end of regulation before slugging it out for three extra periods before Calhoun could claim a 33-30 win.
Calhoun quarterback Kaelan Riley rushed 27 times for 106 yards and four touchdowns and completed 11 of 20 passes for 96 yards. Olico Dennis rushed 21 times for 99 yards for the Yellow Jackets (13-0).
Elbert County (11-2) was led by quarterback Mecole Hardman, who carried 35 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Elbert County took a 10-6 lead with 9:19 remaining on a 50-yard touchdown run by Hardman, but had Calhoun answer with the go-ahead touchdown on a run by Riley wtih 6:23 left that gave the Yellow Jackets a 13-10 lead.
With less than two minutes remaining Elbert County was able to move inside the Calhoun 10 before the Blue Devils settled for David Vera’s 25-yard field goal that tied the game and forced overtime.
Elbert County had the ball first in overtime and scored on a 1-yard run by Hardman and Calhoun answered with a 4-yard touchdown by Riley.
Calhoun started the second overtime with a 17-yard touchdown run by Riley, only to have the Blue Devils equal it on a run by Hardman.
In the third overtime, Elbert County was forced to settle for a 23-yard Vera field goal, but could not keep Calhoun out of the end zone. Riley scored the winning points on an 8-yard run,
Cedar Grove advances: The No. 3-ranked Saints (11-1-1) whipped Westside-Macon 41-25 to reach the Final Four.
Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
The big moment for Cedar Grove came in the third quarter after Westside had trimmed the Saints’ lead to 14-7 with an 88-yard pass from Gerimie Mitchell to Ty’gee Cunningham. Cedar Grove answered with Israel Spivey’s 80-yard kickoff return, which restored the two-touchdown lead and regained the momentum.
Quarterback Jelani Woods threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Jadon Haselwood on Cedar Grove’s next possession and the rout was on.
The Cedar Grove defense was stellar. Adrian Fendell returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble on the next possession, which Antwaun Jackson picked up and returned 16 yards for a score.
Cedar Grove’s offense was led by LaBron Morris, who ran 16 times for 108 yards, and Woods, who completed 7 of 11 for 152 yards and two scores.
Westside’s Gerimie Mitchell completed 13 of 20 for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Mitchell started at quarterback because of an injury to Savion Knowlton. Cunningham had four receptions for 156 yard.
The one-two punch of quarterback Rankin Woley and running back Zay Malcome was again instrumental in Westminster’s 51-21 win over Adairsville on Friday.
Malcome carried 13 times for 155 yards and Woley threw for two touchdowns, rushed for another and returned an interception for a score to help the Wildcats (9-4) to the state semifinals for the second straight year.
Woley scored on a 2-yard run and threw a 61-yard touchdown to Chase Williams and a 2-yard touchdown to Truman Jones. Williams also scored on a 3-yard run.
Westminster’s Blake Gillikin kicked a 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half, setting a school record. He also kicked a 27 yarder.
The Wildcats also scored on a 2-yard rush by Ian Ude and on a 32-yard pick-six by Woley.
Adairsville (11-2) was led by tailback Sidnee Johnson, who carried 29 times for 196 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Roger Redd threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Hale.
Shelton returns to lead Titans: A week ago Milton Shelton was carried off the field with what was feared to be a season-ending neck injury. Later diagnosed as a stinger, the senior was able to return and lead No. 2 Blessed Trinity to a 35-7 win over Dawson County, which put the Titans in the semifinals for the second straight year.
Shelton carried 21 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns and caught 28-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Jake Smith. The effort enabled Shelton to surpass the 5,000-yard rushing mark for his career.
Blessed Trinity (12-0-1) came away with three interceptions -- two by Elijah Hamilton and one by Colin Dore -- and extended their season-long streak of not allowing more than two touchdowns in a game.
Dawson County (9-4) got its lone touchdown on a 3-yard run from Andrew Goley.
That sets up these semifinals:
Blessed Trinity vs. Calhoun
Westminster at Cedar Grove
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