Photos courtesy of Jennifer Miller
By Roger Propst
Calhoun Middle School evened its season record at 3-3 on Thursday evening at Mt. Zion with a 12-6 win over Walton Middle.
Were it not for an interception return for a touchdown with 1:19 left in the game, the Red Devils would have shutout the Tigers.
The Red Devils and Tigers both went three downs and out on their 1st series.
Calhoun then began its 2nd possession at the CMS 46-yard line after the Tiger punt. The Devils moved the ball steadily downfield mainly on the running of tailback Ben Laughlin to a 1st down at the Walton 20.
Quarterback Dylan Mefford then surprised everyone by dashing up the middle on a keeper play for the 20-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead. The pass for the two-point conversion was incomplete.
The Tigers were unable to move the ball after the kickoff and punted the ball back to Calhoun, at the 49-yard line. The Red Devils picked up a 1st down at the WMS 35 before being penalized five yards for illegal motion.
On a 3rd and 14 from the 40, Mefford hit Laughlin on a middle screen and he took the ball to the house for the score and a 12-0 lead at the 3:06 mark of the 2nd quarter. The run for two points was stopped.
After the kickoff, Walton moved the ball steadily downfield on its best offensive series of the game. The Tigers ran the ball seven consecutive times to the Red Devil 12-yard line, but two incomplete passes left the Tigers facing a 4th and 6. Calhoun stopped the 4th down run for no gain and snuffed out the drive. The 1st Half ended with Calhoun leading 12-0.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Miller
The teams battled through the 3rd quarter on even terms with neither team mounting a serious scoring drive, the score remained 12-0.
The Red Devils appeared to score on a 40 yard run by Laughlin, but a holding call nullified the touchdown, and the Tigers stopped the next play on 4th down.
Walton began its possession from its 42-yard line and a big 16-yard pass completion got the ball into Red Devil territory. Once again the Calhoun defense bowed up and stopped the Tigers on a 4th down at the Devil 19-yard line.
On Calhoun's 1st play, quarterback Mefford was sacked at his own 10. A holding penalty moved the Red Devils back to the 5-yard line, before Laughlin gained five to the ten creating a 3rd and 24.
On the next play disaster struck when a Tiger defensive back stepped in front of a Mefford pass at the ten and scampered into the end zone cutting the lead to 12-6 with 1:19 left in the game. The conversion attempt was not good, and Calhoun prepared for the obvious onside kick attempt.
Jacob Jett covered the kick cleanly, and for all intents and purposes the game was over. The Red Devils ran out the clock and sealed the victory. | 
