This week’s Gridiron Central Game of the Week will be contested in Rossville where the Calhoun Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 2 in the Class AA poll, will try to upend defending Region 6-AAA champion Ridgeland in a battle of North Georgia powers.

“It will be a big test for us,” Ridgeland head coach Mark Mariakis said. “They have playmakers all over the field and, defensively, we can’t give up the big plays. It’s definitely going to be a measuring stick for us.”

While the Panthers looked completely dominant last Saturday night, albeit against an inexperienced Gordon Lee squad, Calhoun had its hands full all night long before finally collecting a 31-28 home victory over Class AAAA Dalton.

Last year’s Class AA runners-up got even stronger in the offseason with the transfer of quarterback Nash Nance from Darlington. The Vanderbilt commitment has one of the nation’s top receivers to throw to in Da’Rick Rogers, who committed to Georgia over the summer.

At 6-foot-3 and just over 200 pounds, Rogers has blazing speed (4.34 in the 40-yard dash) and incredible leaping ability.

He torched Dalton for 204 yards last week, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a score.

Throw in linebackers Kedron Aker (UAB) and Cody Ralston (Central Florida) and the Jackets will suit up four future Division I players.

Dustin Christian and David Collins are the main ball-carriers out of the backfield while Josh White and Brett Walraven are valuable on both sides of the ball.

“They aren’t ranked as highly as they are without a good reason,” Mariakis added. “Like I told our kids, we’re in the same position we were last year, 1-0. Last year, we won the first one and had a couple of hiccups. We don’t want to do that this year.”

The veteran coach said the game would likely be won or lost in the trenches.

“Upfront on the offensive and defensive lines is where the difference will be,” he continued. “We are going to have to block well to get ourselves going, and we have to be able to put pressure on them from our defensive line.”

Last year, Calhoun broke a 7-7 tie in the second quarter to win going away, 28-9, in a game Ridgeland had to play without quarterback Carlan Bowman, who sat out with an injured ankle.

Calhoun got touchdowns from Aker and Collins, and a defensive score by Ralston in the win.

Mike Bowman had four catches for 68 yards while Terryl Freeman rushed 18 times for 76 yards. The all-time series is tied 1-1.