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By Mark Brock
The No. 8 ranked DeKalb County Stephenson Jaguars go on the road for the first time in the 2024 Class 3A high school football playoffs as they travel to take on the No. 7 ranked Calhoun Yellow Jackets in Gordon County on Friday(Dec. 6) at 7:30 p.m.
Both teams enter the game at 10-3 as they face off for the third time in a series tied at 1-1. Stephenson won the first meeting 29-0 in 1996 and Calhoun took the 1997 meeting 17-9.
Stephenson won its 240th victory in program history last week with a 36-3 win over Southeast Bulloch (10-3) to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since a 12-2 season in 2005. The Jaguars won the playoff opener against Whitewater 44-37 and then knocked off Jenkins of Savannah 41-7.
Junior running back Anthony Booker drives the Jaguar offense during the first three rounds of the playoffs rushing for a combined 643 yards and 10 touchdowns on 51 carries while adding five receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown.
Senior quarterback Marte Barton has hit on 18 of 28 passes in the playoffs for 388 yards and three touchdowns. Will Chaney had eight of the receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown to lead the receiving corps.
Linebacker Romando Craddock has 32 total tackles (23 solo, 2 for loss) to lead the Jaguars while defensive lineman Sergio Mason has 30 tackles (22 solo, 1 sack, 13 for loss, 2 FC, 2 FR) and sophomore defensive lineman Kwame Green has 26 tackles (20 solo, 2 sacks, 8 for loss, 2 FC, 1 FR).
Calhoun is coming off a big 38-28 road win over No. 1 ranked Peach County last week to reach the semifinals. The Yellow Jackets opened the state playoff with a 31-6 win over Spalding and followed with a 38-14 victory over Douglass.
Story and photos by Mark Brock. Mark Brock is DeKalb County School District’s Athletics Specialist for Media Relations