Calhoun holds on to advance in playoffs CLASS 3A STATE PLAYOFFS: Calhoun 28, Monroe Area 20
CALHOUN — Coaches always stress the importance of playing well in all three phases, and on Friday night that often overlooked third phase came into play in a big way for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets.
The Jackets came up with a couple huge plays on special teams that turned the momentum in their favor in the second quarter of their Class AAA State Playoff Second Round matchup against Monroe Area, and they proved to be one of the deciding factors in a 28-20 victory to keep their season alive.
Calhoun (11-1) recovered a loose ball on a punt that hit off a Monroe Area player late in the second quarter, and Zack Fuller converted
that into points a few plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7. On the next possession with Monroe Area (10-2) backed up deep in their own territory, the Jackets sent pressure and blocked a punt with Collin Baggett recovering
the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 21-7.
Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said the special teams plays made a significant impact in a hardfought win.
“Those were real big,” said Lamb. “We didn’t
play our greatest overall game, but give (Monroe Area) credit. They were tough, and they wouldn’t go away. Sometimes you’ve got to win games like this when it gets to this time of the season. Our team found a way, and that’s the important thing. This time of year it’s survive and advance, and we definitely survived tonight.”
The Jackets now advance to the Elite Eight for the 10th straight season and will visit Liberty County, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-3A, next Friday. (The home site was determined by a universal coin toss conducted by the GHSA earlier on Friday.)