The No. 4 Calhoun Yellowjackets took advantage of a blocked punt and three interceptions to knock off the No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove Saints 14-6 in the Class 3A semifinals at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.

The two teams had two possessions each when the Saints (13-1) dropped back to punt on their own 28. The Yellowjackets (13-1) broke through, blocked the punt and recovered on the Cedar Grove 12-yard line with 3:49 to play in the first quarter.

The Saints held tough on first and second down, but on a third and four at the six-yard line, Calhoun quarterback Gavin Wray rolled right and threw back to the left on a screen to Davis Allen who ran into the end zone for the first score of the game. Calhoun led 7-0 with 1:53 left in the quarter.

Bralin Barton made the first of his three interceptions two plays later to set Calhoun up at the Cedar Grove 36. On third and goal at the Saints’ 13 Wray was intercepted in the end zone by Cedar Grove’s Malik Johnson to end the threat.

Cedar Grove got the ball back on their own 20 with 5:46 to play in the half and began marching down the field. The big play was a 29-yard run by quarterback Xavier Dennis to the Calhoun 26.

The Saints were facing a fourth and seven when David dropped back and threw into the back, right corner of the end zone to Devon Barnes who grabbed the ball and came down in the end zone with what was first signaled a touchdown with 1:41 left in the half. The referees conferred and then ruled the catch no good and Calhoun held it’s 7-0 lead going into the half.

Calhoun stopped Cedar Grove’s first possession of the second and five plays later Wray found a wide open Branon Specter down the middle of the field for a 60-yard touchdown play. The Yellowjackets took a 14-0 lead with 5:05 left in the third quarter.

Barton got his second interception of the game on the Saints’ first play after the score, but Jadon Haselwood made a nice diving interception two plays later to give the Saints the football at the Calhoun 27-yard line with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

Chavon Wright had runs of 13, 4 and five to get the Saints down to the Calhoun five-yard line. Two plays later he converted a fourth and 1 with a three-yard carry to the two-yard line.

On second and goal at the one, quarter Xavier Davis tried to dive in for the score on a quarterback sneak, but was met hard and fumbled into the end zone where offensive lineman Rashad Cheney recovered for the touchdown. The extra point try went wide left and the Saints trailed 14-6 with 1:13 left in the third quarter.

The Saints’ defense forced a punt to give Cedar Grove the football at its own 44 with 8:03 to play in the game. Barton popped up again intercepting his third pass of the game at the Yellowjackets’ four-yard line with 7:30 remaining.

Calhoun was able to run out the rest of the 7:30 in the game with a 13-play drive down to the Cedar Grove 48 to seal the win.

Coffee 14, Tucker 3
The No. 4 Coffee Trojans took advantage of three turnovers by the No. 1 Tucker Tigers for a 14-3 Class 6A semifinal victory at Adams Stadium on Friday night.

The first turnover of the game Tucker (12-2) on the opening kickoff as the Trojans recovered at the Tigers’ 15-yard line. Three plays later Wade Sumner scored on a five-yard touchdown run to put Coffee up 7-0.

The Tigers pulled within 7-3 on a 27-yard field goal by Kyle Wright in the second quarter and then saw an opportunity to take the lead before the half with a fumble at the Coffee 22- yard line.

Tucker drove down in the third quarter, but a field goal try was missed. Coffee answered with an 80-yard drive to extend the lead to 14-3 on a Sumner to Antonio Dawson touchdown pass with 9:33 to play.

Tucker get not get anything going on its next two drives and an interception by Coffee at its own nine-yard line sealed the win.