Tigers, Colonels, Canes all win; Woodland suffers shutout
ADAIRSVILLE 48, RINGGOLD 34
Roger Redd threw three touchdown passes, Tyler Riley and Travon Branch returned kickoffs for touchdowns, and Branch and Christian Steele both rushed for over 100 yards each as Adairsville defeated visiting Ringgold 48-34.
Redd (photo) had touchdown passes to Ethan Belcher (23 yards), Branch (31 yards), and Bryce Burgess (9 yards). Riley’s kickoff return gave was 84 yards to give Adairsville a 14-7 lead in the first quarter. Branch, who also had a 42-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, returned a kickoff 90 yards to open the second half and give Adairsville a 34-27 lead. Mason Boswell scored Adairsville’s final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 0:38 remaining.
Ringgold quarterback Cole Kibler accounted for three touchdowns. He connected with Drake Starks on a 52-yard pass in the first quarter; fumbled at the goal line after a 9-yard run but the ball was recovered by teammate Nathan Camp for a touchdown late in the second quarter; and the sophomore tied the game 34-34 on a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Ty Jones had an 11-yard touchdown run and Dee King added a 29-yard scoring run for Ringgold.
Adairsville (1-3) travels to Murray County (3-1) next Friday for both teams final game before beginning sub-region play the following week.
CASS 14, HIRAM 12
Derrick Maxwell scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and the Colonels’ defense held off the visiting Hornets for a 14-12 Region 7-AAAAA and homecoming victory.
The Cass offense doubled the yardage of Hiram in the first half, but only led 7-0 due to pair of turnovers.
Maxwell (photo), who rushed for 159 yards in the contest, scored his second touchdown to give the Colonels a 14-0 lead, but Hiram would challenge the outcome in the fourth quarter.
Hiram’s Marcel Murray scored on an 83-yard touchdown run to cut the Colonels’ lead to 14-6 on the first play of the final period, but the Hornets failed on the extra point kick. Hiram later scored on a 7-yard pass play from Nate Presnel to David Wearing to set up a potential game-tying two-point conversion play with just under four minutes remaining. Cass’ Colby Williams batted away a pass attempt on the two-point attempt, however, and the Colonels retained their 14-12 lead.
Hiram got the ball back one last time at their own 38 and moved quickly to midfield with a pass reception with only seconds remaining. The Cass defense would escape, however, with a two-point victory after halting the Hornets.
Hiram fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in Region 7-AAAAA with the loss.
Cass (3-1, 2-0 in 7-AAAAA) will host highly ranked Kell next Friday at 7:30pm at Doug Cochran Stadium. The Longhorns (4-1, 2-0 in 7-AAAAA) defeated Paulding County Friday night, 35-7.
Kell at Cass will be the Johnny’s NY Style Pizza Game of the Week on bartowsportszone.com with pregame coverage starting at 7pm.
CARTERSVILLE 38, HAPEVILLE CHARTER 7
Cartersville took a 14-0 lead early on a 28-yard touchdown reception by Avery Showell from Trevor Lawrence (photo) and a 50-yard punt return by Antoine Jefferson.
The visiting Hornets narrowed lead to 14-7 on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Hajj-Malik Williams to Rory Starkey, before the Canes’ Jonathan Cruz nailed a 25-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead. Lawrence later hit Jefferson for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Canes a 24-7 lead at the intermission.
Lawrence connected with Showell for a 33-yard touchdown pass on the Canes’ first possession of the second half and Lawrence tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Horton with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter for a 38-7 lead.
Cartersville (4-0) opens Region 5-AAAA play next Friday at Cedartown. The Bulldogs (3-1) were idle Friday, but have won three straight over Pepperell, Gilmer, and Rockmart. Their loss was the season opener at Piedmont, AL.
VILLA RICA 41, WOODLAND 0
Villa Rica posted 27 first half points on their way to a 41-0 shutout of visiting Woodland. Villa Rica improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland remains winless in four games.
Woodland hosts Carrollton next Friday at 7:30pm. Carrollton (3-0, 1-0 in 7-AAAAA) defeated East Paulding Friday night, 45-7 and has wins over Riverdale and Newnan.
