The Skinny
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets advanced to the state title game for the eleventh time in school history and for the first time since 2017. Calhoun lost their regular season finale back on October 29th, but there has been no hangover, as they’ve won four straight to get to the title game. In their four playoff wins, Calhoun has averaged 34.7 points per game while allowing 19.2. In all fourteen games this season, the Jackets are averaging 38.5 points per game while allowing 18.9. Calhoun has defeated two No. 3 seeds and two No. 1 seeds to get to the championship game. They had perhaps one of the more impressive wins in the playoffs, going down to Waycross and defeating Ware County in the second round. Calhoun is an explosive team as quarterback Christian Lewis has several weapons around him, headlined by Cole Speer, Quin Smith and tight end Emaree Wilson at receiver and super sophomore Caden Williams in the backfield. Defensively, “Swiss army knife” Gager Leonard is a thumper in the secondary while Christopher Lewis is another leader and defense.
The Warner Robins Demons are in the finals for the fifth consecutive season and for the tenth time overall. The Demons have won seven consecutive games entering this week. In their four playoff games, they are averaging 44.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.2. Overall this season, Warner Robins is averaging 48 points per game while allowing 18.5. The Demons have defeated one No. 3 Seed, One No. 2 seed and two No. 1 seeds on route to a chance to defend their state title. JaFredrick Perry continued on his torrid playoff pace as he scored four more touchdowns in the victory last week. Coming into the semifinals, Perry had rushed for 1,148 yards and 18-TDs, while spelling another 1,000 yard rusher, Malcolm Brown. Quarterback Christon Lane has thrown for 2,289 yards and 29-TDs, completing 65% of his passes through the first thirteen games of the season. Through that same time frame, Deuce Petty and Daveon Walker have combined to catch 88 passes for 1,711 yards and 22-TDs. A Warner Robins win would give them their second consecutive state title and their sixth state title overall.
There are playmakers all over the field in this game. The Warner Robins defense will have their hands full defending Cole Speer and the Calhoun receivers. Expect Calhoun quarterback Christian Lewis to be harassed by Vic Burley and the Demons front four. On the other end, expect for Warner Robins to feed Calhoun a steady dose of Fred Perry. We wouldn’t be surprised to see a few big collisions between Perry and Calhoun’s Leonard at some point. We’d also expect a lot of points being scored, but like Warner Robins and their ground game to prevail. Demons by 9.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)