JEFFERSON, Ga. — There are probably few coaches that understand more the challenge of winning a state title than Jefferson’s Travis Noland.
Noland began coaching in 1998, beginning his career at Clyde Erwin (NC) outside of Jacksonville (N.C.). He arrived in Georgia in 2005 to take over at Stephens County. That’s 27 years if we’re counting. In that time he has compiled an impressive 221-96 overall record and has guided nine teams to region titles, including his current squad each of the last three seasons.
But there is one glaring thing missing from what could be a Hall of Fame career as well -- no state titles. Twice he led Oconee County to the championship game (2019 and 2020) but both ended in losses, one in overtime.
“It's very hard to win a football game in the state of Georgia, in any classification,” Noland said. “I don't think there's a magic formula in championship football. I think you’ve got to be really solid, and you’ve got to block and tackle and play good fundamental football.”
Noland and his Dragons will face off against Calhoun on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the Class 3A crown.
Calhoun’s Clay Stephenson has been around a long time as well, first as an assistant for the Yellow Jackets from 2004 until taking over the program from legendary Hall of Fame coach Hal Lamb in 2019. He, too, understands just how hard it is to grab the ring.
Stephenson won three titles as an assistant under Lamb. Now in his sixth season leading the Yellow Jackets, he is into his second title game as a head coach in the last four years. Ironically, it took Lamb seven years to get into his first-ever championship game and 15 to capture his first title.
Stephenson is already ahead of his mentor’s pace with a chance for he and his staff to win their first on their own after the Jackets were beaten 38-14 by Warner Robins in the 2021 Class 5A championship game. This will be his 10th trip to the finals as either an assistant or a head coach. He said no two have ever been the same and they are hard to win. Calhoun is just 3-6 in the finals over that time.
“Make no mistake: it’s hard to get to this point and it’s even harder to win it,” Stephenson said. “They are a lot of fun for the communities and the players. It’s hard work for the coaches to get them ready to play with all the things that go into playing in one of these games.
“But it’s not about me or the coaches. I've been on both sides of these things, winning some and losing some. So many things can happen during the course of the game. You just never know how these things will end up.”
For Noland and his staff, it took 15 years to get their first title shot -- just like Lamb. This will be their third trip to the finals in the last six years. The first two ended in losses (17-14 to Blessed Trinity in 2019 (4A) and 13-7 in OT to Pierce County in 2020 (3A)).
Noland is hoping the third time will be the charm, as they say.
“I mean, it would be rewarding,” he said. “But, you know, it's not about me. I've lived through losing two and I'll live through it again if we were to lose a third one. But for our players and for our coaches who put so much time and energy and effort into this thing, it'll be very rewarding.
“This is a really special group of seniors. I would really like for them to have a sense of fulfillment, because they have put a lot into what they've done this year.”
He also said there is no secret ingredient to winning a state title, even for those uber-successful programs.
“This game is about our team against their team, and we’ve just got to try to be the best team that we can be on that given day," he stated.
However, he is more than ready to see how the other half lives.
“It'll be exciting, it'll be a great environment, you know, but at the end of the day, they're going to put a ball down and kick it off, and the team that plays the best football will be the one that walks out a champion,” he said.
We'll find out around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday who will be raising a title trophy for the first time as a head coach.
“We lost two close games the first two times," Noland said. "To be honest, I think we would all love to know what it feels like to win a state championship."
CLASS 3A FINALS
CALHOUN VS. JEFFERSON
Records: Yellow Jackets (11-3, No. 6 seed); Dragons (11-3, No. 1 seed)
Last week: Calhoun beat Stephenson, 35-13; Jefferson beat LaGrange, 21-13
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Radio: WDUN AM 550/WDUN 102.9 FM
Time: 4 p.m.
The Statisticals: Series tied 1-1. Ironically, the last time the two teams’ met was in the 2012 Class 2A title game, won 31-14 by the Dragons at the old Georgia Dome. It was Jefferson’s 1st-ever state title. The Yellow Jackets won 39-6 in 2011 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs on the way to their 2nd state title. They won state titles in 2014 and 2017 in Class 3A. Jefferson’s 1st-ever state title. The Yellow Jackets won 39-6 in 2011 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs on the way to their 2nd state title.
What to watch for: The Calhoun offense vs. the Dragons defense. The Jackets offense also has picked up the pace, averaging 36.7 ppg during a 10-game win streak, including scoring 31 or more in 6 straight games. Calhoun Fr. QB Trace Hawkins (1,893 yards, 23 TD, 1 INT) had a near-perfect game last week going 14-of-16 passing for 231 yards with 4 TD passes. TE Emaree Winston (17 rec., 74 yards, 4 TD, Texas commit), who missed more than half the season with an injury, had six receptions for 93 yards and scored on two short runs vs. Douglass. He had six receptions for 128 yards vs. Stephenson. Justin Beasley is their leading receiver with 18 TD catches. Hudson Chadwick, filling in for injured starter Isiah Nalls, rushed for 126 yards. The Dragons are yielding just 13.25 ppg in the playoffs behind one of the state’s most talented LB groups. As a team the Dragons have 85 TFL, including 19 sacks, and have forced 23 turnovers (15 INT, 8 fumbles). They snagged 3 LaGrange turnovers last week. LBs Max Brown (140 tkl, 13 TFL, ), Rett Hemphill (131 tkl, 11 TFL, 4 sacks, 7 INT), and JD Lang (88 tkl, 4 TFL) along with DL Kelan Butler (85 tkl, 12 TFL, 5 sacks) have a matchup nightmare for most teams this season.
