Riley-led Calhoun routs Adairsville, 42-10

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

CALHOUN, Ga. - Raw talent has exuded from Kaelen Riley his entire life. Friday night, in the 42-10 dismantling of 10th-ranked Adairsville, the Calhoun High School junior became a polished quarterback.

Riley completed 14 of 23 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns while adding 100 yards and two scores on 25 carries as the Yellow Jackets (6-0, 3-0 Region 6-AAA) claimed another victim at a standing-room-only Phil Reeve Stadium.

"Kaelen was in complete control tonight," Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. "He threw the ball well and he ran the ball well, and he was very poised out there. Our third- and fourth-down conversion rate was off the chart. There's no doubt the sky's the limit for this football team. We've got a long way to go, but I like the direction this team is headed."

Calhoun racked up 544 yards of total offense, including a season-best 329 on the ground. However, a message-sending opening drive was all about Riley. On third-and-14 from his own 26, the strong-armed quarterback was chased out of the pocket yet hit Cole Jackson for a 22-yard gain. The drive appeared to have stalled after Riley fumbled a snap and was called for intentional grounding.

On third down he hit Jackson for 10 yards, but that left the Jackets in a fourth-and-18. No worries as Riley hit a streaking Carson Brown in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

"That opening drive was very important and Kaelen showed what he can do," Lamb said. "That drive set the tone for the game."

If that drive was impressive, the next Calhoun scoring jaunt was even more so. Pinned at their 7 midway through the second quarter, the Jackets moved out of trouble with Riley keeping three times for 25 yards. He and Jackson (three receptions, 75 yards) then hooked up for a 43-yard screen pass to the Tigers' 21. Four plays later, on fourth-and-2, Jackson converted with a 4-yard run, and on the next play Riley threw to Jireh Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown.

A Thomas Lester interception and 62-yard return on Adairsville's next play set up Calhoun at the Tigers' 8, where Riley needed just one keeper to make it 21-0.

The Tigers (4-1, 2-1) showed some life with a field goal just before the half and a quick 80-yard drive to open the second half behind the hard running of Sidnee Johnson, who scored from 36 yards out. However, after Olico Dennis' 65-yard run set up Riley's 1-yard sneak and a 28-10 lead, the Calhoun defense forced a three-and-out. As the final period started, the Jackets moved 49 yards in nine plays, with Riley hitting Lester for a 23-yard score that more than secured the win.

"We haven't proven anything," Riley said when asked if the game sent a message. "We did what we do, and that's win football games. We always play well at the Reeve, and we did so again tonight as our offense was clicking on all cylinders. This is a great group of guys. I would give my life for every single person on this team.

"That's a great football team that will go far in the playoffs," he said of Adairsville, "but tonight was our night."

Dennis led Calhoun with 116 yards on 10 carries, while third-string back Bryson Bushong added 90 yards. Johnson led Adairsville with 119 yards on 15 carries.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.

Upcoming Events