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By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
While Johnny Taylor's back-to-back lightning quick long distance touchdown runs were the thing of awe the Calhoun defense was shocking to Spencer Middle School as the Red Devils rolled to a 24-8 victory over the visiting Yellowjackets Thursday night.
Nothing more need to be said about Taylor's brilliance than he scored on a 90-yard run - pulling away from Spencer defenders as he went - and the next time he touched the ball he scored on a 76-yard run. Those two second half runs were the difference on the scoreboard and helped him ring up 215 yards rushing on 10 carries.
But probably the difference in the game was the shutdown play of the Red Devils' defense, particularly the interior line, which held Spencer to 27 yards rushing on 27 carries.
The defensive front of Jazz Holcomb, Chris Lacy, Connor Ritchie and Coy Bailey did most of the damage but they also had very strong support from a group of hard-hitting linebackers and ball-hawking defensive backs.
One example of the Calhoun defense's dominance came in the second half when a Red Devil miscue turned the ball over to Spencer at the 31.
Three straight tackles for loss left the ball at the 50 forcing Spencer to punt.
The ball rolled dead at the nine and after a one-yard run Taylor made the Yellowjackets pay when he broke off the right side and ran away from everyone en route to a 90-yard score.
That touchdown broke and 8-8 tie and, coupled with the Red Devils' defense, virtually let the air out of the Yellowjackets, since Calhoun stopped Spencer again and Taylor scored again.
In two games this season Taylor has carried the ball 42 times for 402 yards and six touchdowns. He has also caught a pass for 59 more yards and a touchdown.
Calhoun took a quick 8-0 lead when Casey Ritchie teamed up with Devan McKown for a 37-yard touchdown on the third play of the game.
Casey Ritchie then hit his twin brother Cole Ritchie for the first of three straight extra point pass conversions.
Spencer tied the game on a third-and-long pass from 37 yards out but that was the end of the Yellowjackets' offensive fireworks as the Calhoun defense took over the rest of the way holding Spencer to 67 yards total offense and five first downs for the game.
Calhoun now 2-0 is home to Gilmer County next Thursday night. | 
