Canes capture region title with 21-14 win over Calhoun

Quarterback Jake Parker had a pair of first half touchdown passes and running back Malachi Jefferies punched in a 2-yard run late in the third quarter as No. 1-ranked Cartersville held off Calhoun 21-14 to finish the regular season undefeated and won the 2021 Region 7-AAAAA championship.

The Hurricanes led 14-0 at halftime with running back Amari White hauling in a 16-yard touchdown pass with 2:51 left in the first quarter and Jacob Ray receiving a 41-yard strike from Parker with just 0:18 remaining in the second quarter.

Calhoun scored at the 9:25 mark of the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Caden Williams to cut the Cartersville lead in half (14-7), but the Canes responded with 1:38 remaining in the period on Jefferies' plunge.

The Yellow Jackets converted a fourth down play with 5:32 left in the game and turned it into a 76-yard touchdown pass from Christian Lewis to the speedy Cole Speer, but got no closer. The Cartersville offensive line and backs White and Jefferies closed out the contest with a final possession, taking a knee in the final minute inside the Calhoun red zone.

Calhoun (8-2, 4-1) will host a state playoff game in two weeks as the Region 7-AAAAA runner-up.

Cartersville (9-0, 5-0) will host the No. 4-seed from Region 5-AAAAA at Weinman Stadium November 12.