Calhoun can’t keep up in loss to Cartersville
Calhoun’s Payton Morrow (2) runs against the Cartersville defense during Friday’s game. Cartersville 58, Calhoun 6
CARTERSVILLE — The Cartersville Hurricanes flashed their prolific aerial attack and ferocious defense on Friday, storming past the Calhoun Yellow Jackets 58-6.
The Yellow Jacket defense struggled to come up with an answer for Cartersville quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence, considered by many to be the best pocket-passing quarterback recruit in the nation, established phenomenal pocket presence and pinpoint accuracy en route to passing for nearly 300 yards and four passing touchdowns.
Just like Lawrence, the rest of the Hurricane offense was as advertised against Calhoun (2-1), snatching an early lead and never looking back. On Cartersville’s first possession, Lawrence dropped back and hit JKobe Orr in stride on a deep post route. Orr did the rest, coasting past the Jacket secondary for a 56-yard touchdown that set the tone.
Due to a combination of unfavorable, rainy field conditions and the immense pressure generated by the physicality of Cartersville’s defense, Calhoun was unable to find its offensive rhythm in the first half.
Calhoun quarterback Gavin Gray showed poise, but mostly failed to connect with his receivers in the first half due to the swarming coverage by the Hurricanes. He finished with 88 passing yards on 12 completions.
After the Jackets’ second drive stalled out, punter Aaron Hayes received a low snap on the wet surface and didn’t have time to get the kick off. The mishap placed the Hurricanes well within striking distance on the 7-yard line, and bruising Cartersville running back Rico Frye promptly punched it in a couple plays later for the 3-yard rushing score and a 14-0 advantage.
Lawrence once again proved lethal on the following possession for Cartersville, displaying excellent touch on a slant to EJ Turner that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown that put the Hurricanes in complete control by a score of 21-0 midway through the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets are off next Friday, but will try to get back in the win column against Coahulla Creek on Sept. 15.