Calhoun County football continues to make history

EDISON — This year’s Calhoun County High School football team will enter uncharted waters as they make the near four-hour bus ride to Commerce to take on the Commerce Tigers Friday night in the second round of the GHSA Class A Public School State Playoffs.

No previous Calhoun County football team has ever advanced beyond the first round of the state playoffs. This year’s team accomplished that feat last Friday with a 13-12 road victory at Mitchell County. The last time the Cougars qualified for the state playoffs was in 1992. They were bounced in the first round by Lincoln County.

Calhoun County coach John Williams knows that the long trip can be a fatigue factor, but he has plans to deal with it.

“We’re going to have to break up the trip so it won’t be a factor, so it won’t be a lag factor where we’re so worn out from the drive,” Williams said. “I think we’ll be fine because we’re going to break it up and try to do some things to increase our potential by giving them breaks periodically and letting them loosen up so they’ll be ready once they get to Commerce.”

The Tigers (9-2) are coming off a first round win over Clinch County last Friday. Calhoun County opened its season at Clinch County, losing 36-8. Williams is aware that Commerce has a powerful running attack.

“I saw them pound the ball pretty good against Clinch County and we know that Clinch County, in the past, has been a real good football team,” he said. “Commerce was able to get the ball outside, run real well and do a lot of good things.”

The Cougars’ main leader on offense is quarterback DaJohn Williams, who is being recruited by a handful of colleges. Coach Williams is very high on his quarterback’s physical tools and his understanding of the game.

“He’s 6-foot-2 and a half, almost 6’3, he has a pretty decent arm, throws the ball well,” Coach Williams said. “He has a good football IQ and does a good job for us.”

On the defensive side, the Cougars are led by defensive lineman Elester Shedrick. He and his brother — junior defensive tackle Shamir Shedrick — have become a dynamic duo as far as getting to the quarterback.

“For the past few games this season, he (Elester Shedrick) has been an integral and vital part of our offense and defense because he comes off the ball so well, and he creates situations where he makes the quarterback have to hurry up and get rid of the football because he does a great job,” Coach Williams said. “I think he and his brother Shamir last Friday had four sacks together. That’s vital when you have a tight, close ball game like that.”

Elester Shedrick believes that as far as the Cougars defense is concerned, players fulfilling their responsibilities and playing with intensity will be essential if they want to have a chance of advancing past Commerce.

“We need to play hard and come out with intensity, do our keys and stay on our assignments,” Elester Shedrick said.

DaJohn Williams knows how important it will be for him and the offense to not turn the ball over against the Tigers.

“Just take care of the ball,” he said. “If we take care of the ball and the offensive line comes off the ball and blocks, we’ll be pretty good.”

As far as what challenges the Tigers’ defense pose, DaJohn Williams is only concerned about one thing.

“I’m not worried about what they do,” he said. “If we come out and do what we’re capable of doing, we’ll be just fine.”

They have already accomplished what no previous Calhoun County football team has done. The winner advances to the semifinals to face the Dooly County-Irwin County winner.