Gilmer ran into one of the best teams in the state and did not back down.
The GHS Bobcats were in Calhoun last Friday to take on the defending state champions, the No. 3 ranked Yellow Jackets. CHS had plenty of speed and size to spare, and the Cats went to the air more than they had all season and found success.
Calhoun led by 12 points at the half, which is also where its lead stood in the fourth quarter. The Jackets tacked on two more touchdowns to remain undefeated in the region, 49-22.
The Bobcats’ 22 points were the most any team has scored in a Calhoun victory, and they did so shorthanded.
“We knew who we were playing as far as the caliber of team, and they’re well-coached. If they’re not the best team in 3A, they’re definitely No. 2 or No. 3 without question,” said head coach Paul Standard. “And we went in there without three of our top starters, which is part of football. Our kids did a great job because, mentally, when you know you’re going to play one of the best opponents without your best players available, that can wear on a team.
“What I was so impressed with when it came to our kids is how they prepared and how the next man stepped up. There were a bunch of young kids who stepped up, and the guys who were injured did a fantastic job this week acting like assistant coaches and helping the young kids out. It was very impressive and it’s just another example of this senior class and the leadership they have.”
GHS took the field without four senior starters. Lineman Jack Puckett missed his third game in a row. Safety Bo Cronic and halfback and linebacker Cheyne Smith were out against Calhoun. Receiver and linebacker Riley Duggan was injured in the previous game versus LaFayette and is out for the season.
Calhoun had passed for more yards than it rushed in every game before facing Gilmer. However, the Jackets’ ground game proved hard to stop as they racked up 319 yards on 27 carries.
It took CHS six plays to cover 72 yards on its first series, and tailback Hudson Chadwick scored from 9 yards out.
GHS was behind by 7 points less than three minutes into the game before its touchdown drive that took 8:27 off the clock. Quarterback A.J. Callihan completed three of his six passes on the drive, which included a 28-yard pass to fullback Peyton Chancey on fourth down and 1 to set the offense up at the Jackets’ 33.
The Cats later faced a fourth down and 2, and halfback Hunter Britain picked up the needed yards for a first down at the 12. After a 5-yard penalty, A.J. Callihan passed to Douglas Callihan for a 15-yard gain. On the ensuing play, Chancey took the ball across the goal line from 2 yards out. Carter Gearhart’s extra point was blocked, and GHS trailed 7-6.
Calhoun got the ball back with 50 seconds left in the opening quarter, and the Jackets scored quickly once again. This time they needed seven plays to traverse 65 yards. They continued to blend the run and pass and scored on a 21-yard touchdown on a carry around the left edge.
Gilmer punted on its next possession, and the Bobcat defense forced Calhoun to do the same. The Jackets’ fourth drive ended in seven points. From its 47, CHS moved downfield on just three plays. Chadwick’s 48-yard jaunt took him to the end zone for a 21-6 lead with 1:14 left in the half.
GHS took over at its 27, and on Britain’s opening carry, CHS was flagged for a facemask. Two plays later, Douglas Callihan took the ball across the left and broke loose for a 33-yard run for a first down at the 21. GHS attempted a final pass before Gearhart’s 38-yard field goal split the uprights as the half expired.
GHS started the second half behind, 21-9. Gilmer attempted a fourth down conversion from its 38 but was stopped shy of a first down.
Calhoun’s four-play, 42-yard drive ended with a 12-yard Chadwick touchdown run for a 28-9 lead.
Gilmer’s second chop block penalty of the night stalled its next possession, but the defense was there to cause a turnover. Denny Ramirez forced a Chadwick fumble, which was recovered by Ryan Rellinger.
Britain’s 38-yard run on the drive’s third play advanced GHS to Calhoun’s 22. On the ensuing play, A.J. Callihan passed down the middle and over the outstretched reach of two Calhoun defenders and into the hands of halfback McCoy Sutton.
Gearhart’s extra point capped the 63-yard drive and trimmed Calhoun’s lead to 28-16 with 3:38 left in the third.
CHS answered immediately with a 70-yard screen to Chadwick that resulted in a touchdown to extend its lead to 35-16.
Gilmer responded with an 80-yard drive and needed seven plays as A.J. Callihan continued to make the Jackets pay through the air. On the possession’s third play, he passed to Douglas Callihan, who broke free down the sideline and laid out to make a 33-yard catch.
Chancey then rumbled twice for 18 total yards. From the 27, Britain rushed for 3 yards before slipping out of the backfield for a pass. A.J. Callihan hit him in stride before Britain broke a tackle for a 24-yard touchdown.
The extra point made the score 35-22 a minute into the fourth quarter.
CHS needed just one play this time. The Jackets answered immediately with an 80-yard Chadwick touchdown run to lead 42-22.
A sack stalled Gilmer’s next drive. CHS scored its final touchdown on a six-play, 72-yard possession. It ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass.
With the score 49-22 and 3:32 to play, both teams inserted their reserves into the game.
“I felt like our kids played as hard as they could have played,” Standard said. “They were not intimidated by Calhoun even though they tried to intimidate us. Our kids wouldn’t have any part of that, and they made it a game. A couple plays here or there, it might have even been a tighter game. We missed an open receiver, dropped a potential touchdown pass, and they had a couple really nice long runs. If we tackle them, do they still go down and score? Who knows? But I couldn’t be prouder of our kids and how they responded to the challenge we gave them.
“Now they’re ready to take on Adairsville for senior night, and we’ve still got a chance to get in the playoffs. We might get a couple of our guys back, so that’s something. We won’t know until later in the week, but there’s certainly a chance.”
Gilmer hosts Adairsville (4-4) Friday at 7:30 p.m.