Cass football Colonels looking forward to 2015 campaign

Cass High School football has hovered near the .500 mark the past three seasons. They were 5-5 last season and have accumulated a 14-16 record over the past three years. A pair of 5-5 seasons sandwiching a 4-6 season in 2013.

That record, along with the fact the Colonels have not been to the state playoffs since 2006, leaves the 2015 Cass players hungry for more.

Junior quarterback, Trevor Lowe, said the team has taken some steps in the right direction this summer. Lowe has been the Colonels' starter at quarterback since arriving as a freshman.

“We have great team chemistry,” noted Lowe. “We’re getting stronger in the weight room and our conditioning this summer has really pulled us together. It’s hard. We hate the running and the heat, but we know how much it is paying off.”

Fellow junior slot back, Lazon West, agreed. “Being together in competition at the 7-on-7’s, taking those long bus rides together, and having the opportunity to work together and bond in the summer has definitely helped us.”

The Colonels have continued both indoor and outdoor workouts all summer in the weight room and on the practice field for conditioning purposes. They have also competed in 7-on-7 competitions against other schools, and many have attended position camps.

Cass head coach, Bobby Hughes, said his team’s conditioning has already shown dividends in some of the recent summer competitions. “Our last 7-on-7 at Douglas County was really up tempo and we never showed signs of fatigue or even shortness of breath. Our guys are in pretty good shape right now and we’re not even into our regular practices yet. That will not only pay off physically, but mentally too. It’s hard to even stay focused and learn in practices if you’re not in top shape.”

Senior linebacker, Noah Foley, pointed to the off-season weight room workouts and the conditioning improvements he and his teammates have made as a catalyst fore greater strides this season.

“With the work our guys have been doing, we expect to be successful. We’ve put in the effort this summer to earn it,” noted Foley. The Colonels, along with all other GHSA member schools, begin a week of mandatory conditioning related practices July 25. Teams begin working out in full pads August 1.

Cass will travel to Adairsville for a pre-season scrimmage on August 14 and then have two weeks to prepare for their regular season opener at home on August 28 against Cartersville.

“Our region games are always the most important,” stated Lowe, “but it’s always fun to play in front of the big local crowd when we play Cartersville. That’s just a fun atmosphere.” West agreed with his quarterback regarding the season opener, “Playing Cartersville is fun. We get to show people what we can do. It’s always a big crowd.”

Following the season opener with Cartersville, the Colonels have games with Coosa and Forsyth Central before the sub-region 7-AAAAA Division A slate begins against Dalton, Creekview, Woodland, Sequoyah, River Ridge, and Rome.

The tenth game for members of Region 7-AAAAA is a cross-over playoff game for the top three teams in each sub-region.

Cass finished just outside a region playoff spot last season. Senior outside linebacker Collin McIntosh believes his team has what it takes to extend their year beyond the regular season.

“We’ve grown close — like family,” stated McIntosh. “Our goal is definitely the playoffs this year. We believe in each other and know we can get the job done.”

You can listen to Cass games this season live on your computer or mobile device. Just use the menu at the top of the page to select ‘Football Broadcasts’. Then click the play button on the screen. That will connect you with our radio partner AM1270 WYXC.

The full broadcast schedule also includes three Adairsville and three Woodland games.

Bartow Sports Zone will broadcast a Friday morning (7am to 8am) coaches show that begins Friday, July 24 online and on AM1270 WYXC throughout the entire high school football season. Coaches from all four local programs are scheduled as regular guests to talk about their teams, upcoming games, and high school football in general.

Charles Wilson will host the weekly coaches show and do the play-by-play on the games.