Calhoun (Ga.) High School won its third state championship since 2011 with a win over Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.) in the Class 3A state title game on Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Brannon Spector was a big reason why. The class of 2019 Clemson commit keyed Calhoun’s 10-6 victory with the lone touchdown of the contest, a 45-yard interception return late in the first half that gave his team a 7-0 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
“It means a lot,” Spector said of winning the title in an interview with TCI. “Just all the work that I’ve put into the program, and we finally won it. So it means a lot to me because of all the hard work I’ve put into it.”
Spector, who plays safety and receiver for the Yellow Jackets, made the game’s biggest play with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The future Tiger jumped in front of a pass from Peach County’s quarterback and was off to the races. He side-stepped a defender near the 10-yard line before diving into the end zone.
“A few plays before that, they ran the same play,” Spector said of his pick-six. “We were playing a Cover 2, and I was just ready. I jumped underneath the flats, I broke on the ball and made a play on it, took it to the house.”
Spector (6-1, 190) shined in front of a large group of family members, including his father, former Clemson receiver Robbie Spector, and older brother, Clemson freshman linebacker Baylon Spector.
Clemson safeties coach Mickey Conn was also on hand to witness his standout performance.
“He gave me a little head nod at halftime, like a little wave at me, and I waved at him,” Spector said.
“It was cool. Any time a coach comes to watch you play, it’s a really cool thing.”
Spector became the second commitment in Clemson’s 2019 class when he pledged before the Georgia Tech game in late October.
After wrapping up his junior season in style, Spector has just one more year of high school left before he joins the Tigers in Clemson.
“I’m just going to keep working hard,” Spector said. “In the classroom, in the weight room and on the field.”
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