No. 1 ranking official, as honors continue to highlight JHS program

The Dragons (14-1) finished the season officially ranked no. 1 in Class AA, followed by Calhoun, according to the Maxwell Ratings, which apply a mathematic formula to all of the Georgia High School Association teams.

On Dec. 16, the Dragons upset Calhoun 31-14 at the Georgia Dome to win JHS’ first-ever football title.

Calhoun (14-1) won the 2011 state title and was enjoying a 29-game winning streak before meeting JHS. The Yellow Jackets, considered the odds-on favorite to repeat, finished no. 2.

When compared with all schools across classifications, including the state’s largest 5A and 6A divisions, Jefferson was ranked 18th overall. Calhoun finished 20th.

Norcross led the entire field, with a host of large-classification teams such as Lovejoy, North Gwinnett, Lowndes and Parkview filling in some of the gaps.

In addition to publishing the Maxwell Rankings, an online newsletter called the Georgia High School Football Daily presented some of the state’s statistical leaders, as well.

JHS quarterback Bryant Shirreffs was listed as one of the top 23 passers in the state this season with 2,404 yards passing in 15 games. Another state title winner, Gainesville’s Deshaun Watson, finished atop the field with 4,011 yards. (Calhoun’s Taylor Lamb ended the season with 3,228 yards passing.)

A Jackson County Comprehensive High School player, Xavier Harper, also made the list for his receiving. He earned 1,185 yards in 11 games played to finish fifth overall in the statistical category, according to the GHSFD newsletter.

The veteran sports writers who produce the bulletin, Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye, also listed one JHS lowlight.

The Dragons’ single blemish on its record was listed as the single most improbable win during the 2012 season.

“The regular season began with Commerce beating Jefferson,” the newsletter stated. “It ended with Loganville beating Gainesville. Five weeks later, Gainesville and Jefferson were holding state championship trophies, prompting at least a few people to ask: How did that happen? How did middling teams knock of eventual state champions?”

The writers went on to rate the mathematical likelihood of Commerce beating Jefferson again at 0.005.
Other items of interest: JCCHS finished 26th out of all the Class AAA teams in the state, according to the rankings, with East Jackson listed as 58th out of 60 teams in the same division… Commerce was listed as being 25th out of 42 teams in Class A (public schools) … JHS athletic director Tim Corbett was named as the Region 8-AA athletic director of the year.

T-shirt sale: To commemorate the feat, the Jefferson High School booster club has launched another T-shirt sale. A graphic artist affiliated with the team designed the image of a robust dragon, horns protruding from its helmet, standing arms folded across its broad chest, back to the fact that reads, “Jefferson Dragons, 2012 AA State Champions.”

Jim Wells, father of team member Luke Wells, designed the image. Royal blue is the most popular pick, said Chuck Carson, president of the booster club.

For more information about the T-shirt design or to purchase a shirt, go to jeffersondragons.com.