Calhoun's road to 2014 state title

Calhoun 21, Dalton 14: The Catamounts shot out to a 14-0 lead, the largest deficit the Yellow Jackets would face all season. The Calhouh offense was plagued by mistakes, including four fumbled snaps, but a blocked field-goal try as Dalton was trying to extend its lead in the second half led to a rally. Cole Jackson had two touchdown runs and Olico Dennis had the game-winner. The linebacking trio of Jireh Wilson, Tristan Fuller and Austin Bennett combined for 46 tackles.

Calhoun 34, Carrollton 6: The Jackets' defense dominated this matchup of state powers, allowing the Trojans just 129 total yards. Will Conley led with 12 tackles, including four for loss, and Bennett had an interception return for a touchdown. Quarterback Kaelen Riley had 114 yards and two scores on the ground, part of a 262-yard team rushing performance.

Calhoun 49, Gordon Central 7: The Jackets led 28-0 after the first period as Riley threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the opening minutes. The Calhoun defense held the Warriors to minus-8 yards rushing.

Calhoun 57, North Murray 8: Riley carved the Mountaineers' defense apart with 224 yards and three touchdowns on just nine completions, while Dennis had 99 yards and three touchdowns on five carries. Defensively, Blaine Anderson had four sacks and Landon Rice added two.

Calhoun 27, Ringgold 13: The Tigers led 10-7 at halftime and let a couple of scoring opportunities get away. Though outplayed most of the game, Calhoun used a touchdown run by Riley, a turnover and Jackson's scoring run within two minutes in the final quarter to pull out the Region 6-AAA showdown. Fuller topped the defense with 14 tackles, four for loss, while Dustyn Harris added a pair of sacks.

Calhoun 42, Adairsville 10: This battle of state Top 10 teams never was close as the Jackets used a dominating run game (328 yards) and Riley's 224 yards and three touchdown passes to take control of 6-AAA. Riley added 91 yards and two scores on the ground, Dennis 117 yards on 10 carries and Bryson Bushong 92 on eight. Conley had five tackles for loss among his 12 stops.

Calhoun 55, Sonoraville 14: Wilson led a strong defensive effort with 12 tackles, five for loss, in this Gordon County matchup. Riley passed for two scores and ran for another, while Chazz Moss had 118 yards and both scoring catches.

Calhoun High School quarterback Kaelan Riley (1) looks for an open player while battling Westminster during the first half of the GHSA Class AAA semifinal matchup at the Yellowjackets' home field on Dec. 5.

Calhoun 56, Murray County 3: Riley was 18-for-22 passing for 186 yards and a score and Jackson had 127 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as Calhoun built a 42-0 halftime lead. The defense allowed only 33 rushing yards.

Calhoun 59, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 0: The Jackets wrapped up the region title as the efficient Riley was 8-for-10 passing for 135 yards and three touchdowns and added 85 yards and a score on the ground. Rice blocked two LFO punts and Anderson recorded four tackles for loss to pace the shutout defensive showing.

Calhoun 67, Coahulla Creek 0: The starters played less than a half, with Riley accounting for three scores and the Jackets' defense limiting the Colts to minus-17 total yards.

Class AAA playoffs first round

Calhoun, 43, Rockmart 14: The Jackets' defense dominated from the start, allowing under 50 total yards in the first half and cruising to a 43-0 lead before reserves finished out. The hard-running Jackson had 103 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, while the defense was led by Wilson's 14 tackles.

Second round

Calhoun 38, Cedar Grove 18: The Saints brought an impressive array of talent to Phil Reeve Stadium and moved the ball well early before the Jackets adjusted. Thomas Lester had his breakthrough performance on offense with 158 yards and two touchdowns on six catches, while Jackson added two TD runs and Riley was an efficient 17-of-21 for 262 yards. Bennett led the swarming defenders with 19 tackles.

Quarterfinal

Calhoun 19, Elbert County 17: The visitors gave Calhoun a huge scare behind the strong play of quarterback Mecole Hardman, but a late punt pinned Elbert back to its 1 and on the first play Ethan Woodard caught Hardman in the end zone for the winning safety. The Jackets escaped despite turning the ball over four times. Carson Brown had 105 yards and a touchdown on five catches and Jackson had 88 yards rushing. Wilson, Fuller and Bennett combined for 44 tackles.

Semifinal

Calhoun 19, Westminster 8: One of the Jackets' most complete games included three long drives by the clock-chewing offense and the defense holding the Wildcats out of the end zone until the final minutes. With the run game slowed by a strong Westminster defense, Riley was 18-for-23 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns and Lester scored twice and gained 131 yards on six catches.

Championship game

Calhoun 27, Washington County 20: The Jackets' defense held the state's highest-scoring team in history to three points in the second half and limited state player of the year A.J. Gray to just over 4 yards per carry. Riley passed for a touchdown and ran for one, but the game-winner was a double-reverse pass from Baylon Spector to Brown, part of a 394-yard showing by the offense. The title is Calhoun's second in four years and third overall but first in AAA, its first try.