Class 3A Blog: Peach County football moves to the top, former No. 1 Calhoun falls one spot

Despite a narrowly contested 38-35 loss against Class 4A No. 4 Cartersville, then top-ranked Calhoun (2-1) fell to No. 2 in the Class 3A football poll this week, paving the way for Peach County’s ascension to the No. 1 ranking entering the Trojans’ bye week.  

Peach County is 4-0 and coming off a 30-24 victory against Crisp County last week after moving past Class A-Division I No. 4 Northeast-Macon 33-14, Perry 27-6 and Berkmar 56-8. The Trojans will play at Class 5A Northside-Warner Robins on Sept. 19 in the 22nd edition of the mid-state rivalry.

Aside from Calhoun’s slide, the active and ranked programs performed as they should in the fourth week of the season.

Stephenson (4-0), ranked No. 3, beat Decatur 27-17 and relied on one touchdown run each from Zabrian Boler, Jayden Johnson, Tyler Eldridge and Nasir Dale in the victory.

Fifth-ranked Jefferson (4-0) upended Stephens County 42-14 and relied heavily on the running game to get the job done. The Dragons rushed for six touchdowns in the romp. Quarterback Colton Grant, who was 7-of-8 passing for 62 yards and two interceptions, had six carries for 31 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Max Brown made 13 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Juniors Griffin Drake and Eli Primm each scored one rushing touchdown for Jefferson.

In a 35-23 victory against Trinity Christian, No. 6 LaGrange (3-1, 1-1) was led by senior quarterback Dylan Barber, who was 8-of-16 passing for 172 yards and a touchdown while rushing 15 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Caydin Thomas made nine carries for 61 yards and LaGrange’s other two touchdown runs. Senior Jardon Stringer made one catch in the game, a 62-yard touchdown.

Requiring a Hail Mary from quarterback Alex Schlieman to Ty Kemp to secure the victory, No. 7 North Hall (3-0) narrowly defeated East Hall 51-49.

Schlieman was 23-of-32 passing for 416 yards and three touchdowns – one each to Cole Cable, Dawson Gray and Kemp. Senior Smith McGarvey had 11 carries for 108 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans.

No. 8 Cherokee Bluff (3-1) moved past Habersham Central 35-14 to right the ship after losing to No. 7 North Hall 43-31 on August 29.

In a 44-7 victory against Whitewater, No. 9 Troup (3-0, 1-0) had two 100+ yard rushers in the romp. Senior Trent Hodo had five carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns while senior Mon’ty Heard had 17 carries for 113 yards and a touchdowns. Senior Garrison Edwards and junior Javarris Warner each scored one rushing touchdown for Troup. The Tigers will continue Region 2 play against Mary Persons (3-0, 1-0) at home. Friday.

Games to watch in Week 5

There are two meetings between ranked programs in the fifth week of the season and for No. 2 Calhoun, it will face another ranked Class 4A program in No. 9 Cambridge at home.

A Class 4A quarterfinalist last season in head coach Tyler Jones’ first year at the helm, Cambridge is coming off the program’s best season in its 14-year history. And like Calhoun, it wants to right the ship. The Bears have beaten Pope 45-0, Johns Creek 56-0 and Creekview 35-7 before losing to Denmark 31-14 last week.

Calhoun’s sophomore quarterback Trace Hawkins is 46-of-71 passing for 655 yards and six touchdowns – three to senior Justin Beasley, two to senior Jaden Perkins and one to Trenton Quinn. Calhoun’s run game is anchored by sophomore Isiah Nalls, who has 36 carries for 251 yards and four touchdowns while junior Hudson Chadwick has 33 carries for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

In the other matchup between ranked teams, No. 5 Jefferson (4-0) will be the second Class 3A program to face Class 4A No. 1 North Oconee (3-0) when the Dragons welcome the Titans Friday. North Oconee has beaten Oconee County 41-0, Dalton 56-7 and Clarke Central 40-0. Jefferson has moved past Class 4A No. 6 Marist 19-0, Jackson County 10-3, Clarke Central 42-10 and Stephens County 42-14 last week.

The Dragons rely heavily on the run – scoring 11 rushing touchdowns to just four receiving scores – and Brown leads with 42 carries for 427 yards and four touchdowns. Grant, who is 23-of-33 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns, has 24 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Juniors Griffin Drake and Primm each have two touchdown runs.

Class 3A Week 5 Top 10 Schedule

1. Peach County (4-0) – Rests.

2. Calhoun (2-1) vs. Class 4A No. 9 Cambridge (3-1)

3. Stephenson (4-0) vs. Mount Zion-Jonesboro (1-2)

4. Sandy Creek (3-0, 1-0) vs. Upson-Lee (3-0, 1-0)

5. Jefferson (4-0) vs. Class 4A No. 1 North Oconee (3-0)

6. LaGrange (3-1, 1-1) vs. Fayette County (0-3, 0-1)

7. North Hall (3-0) vs. Chestatee (2-1) (Region Opener)

8. Cherokee Bluff (3-1) at Banks County (0-3)

9. Troup (3-0, 1-0) vs. Mary Persons (3-0, 1-0) (Saturday)

10. Westover (2-0) vs. Griffin (1-2)

PHOTO - Calhoun defensive back Jake Jordan (33) intercepts a pass intended for Jefferson wide receiver Dalton Dye (17) during the second half in the GHSA Class 3A State Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, in Atlanta. Calhoun won 20-7. (Jason Getz / AJC)