Canes dismantle Bears, travel to Woodward Academy for state quarterfinals
The top-ranked and defending state champion Cartersville Purple Hurricanes took another step toward a championship repeat Friday night at Weinman Stadium with a 35-7 defeat of Burke County in the second round of the 2016 Class AAAA state playoffs.
Cartersville now has 27 consecutive wins.
The Canes started fast once again, posting five first half touchdowns to take a 35-0 lead to the intermission.
Junior quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, hooked up for touchdown passes to Avery Showell twice (13 and 26 yard TDs), while connecting with Trey Creamer (11 yard TD) and E.J. Turner (18 yard TD) once each for the other scoring strikes.
Antoine Jefferson added a first half rushing touchdown on a 10 yard reverse play.
Burke County drove 64 yards late in the third quarter for their only score. It was a drive aided by a pair of Cartersville penalties that took 15 plays narrowing the final margin to 35-7 with 1:11 left in the period.
Cartersville outgained the visiting Bears with 409 yards of total offense compared to Burke County’s 170 yards. The Canes also had 19 first downs to 12 by the Bears.
Lawrence finished the evening 19 of 31 for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air. He also added six rushes for 57 yards.
His top targets were Showell (9 receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns), Creamer (3 receptions for 79 yards, Fezzia (2 catches for 53 yards, TD), and Turner (3 receptions for 27 yards and a TD).
Creamer had just three carries for 33 rushing yards.
Nyvin Nelson recorded 12 tackles; Brandon Wade and Sean Holton had 8 tackles each. Torrian Scrutchins had three tackles and one sack. Fezzia made five stops and broke up a pass. Darrien Poellnitz made six tackles. Showell added five tackles. Trevor Lowe garnered three tackles and broke up a pass.
Burke County’s season ends with a 9-3 mark. They were runner-up to Thomson in Region 3AAAA.
Cartersville (12-0) will now go on the road for the Class AAAA state quarterfinals. The Canes travel to Woodward Academy next Friday night (Nov. 25) to play the 11-1 War Eagles in College Park.
It will be the first-ever meeting of the two schools in football.
Woodward Academy — the Region 4AAAA champs — routed Northwest Whitfield Friday night, 49-8, and have now won 10 in a row since a late August loss at Grady, 14-10. The War Eagles have not allowed two touchdowns in a game since that loss and have shutout five of their last ten opponents.
Woodward scored three first quarter touchdowns to take a big lead early at home. The War Eagles accumulated over 500 yards of total offense.
Woodward quarterback Ryan Glover was 15-of-21 for 257 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a four yard rushing touchdown. Tahj Gary led the War Eagles’ ground game with 104 yards on 11 carries and two short touchdown runs.
Other second round scores from Friday night in Class AAAA:
Jefferson 21, West Laurens 0 Blessed Trinity 24, Carver-Columbus 21
Spalding 38, Ridgeland 21
Thomson 42, West Hall 14
Cairo 10, Sandy Creek 7
Mary Persons 38, Heritage-Catoosa 21
