Back to Back! Hurricanes blow past Thomson for second consecutive Class AAAA state title
The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes not only won their second consecutive Class AAAA state football championship Saturday night in the Georgia Dome, they did it in convincing fashion.
The Canes wrapped up their second straight 15-0 season and routed second-ranked Thomson, 58-7.
Cartersville took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and was never really challenged. Trey Creamer made it 14-0 on a pair of short runs and added a 20-yard touchdown reception from Trevor Lawrence to build the early advantage.
Thomson scored on a 59-yard pass play from Demekus Taylor to Trey Parker that narrowed the margin to 21-7 less than four minutes into the second quarter, but it was all Purple Hurricanes from there.
Avery Showell caught an 18-yard second quarter touchdown pass from Lawrence that gave Cartersville a 28-7 lead and kicker Jonathan Cruz -- who successfully converted all six of his PATs in the game -- made field goals from 50- and 41-yards late in the second period for a 34-7 lead at halftime.
Cartersville took advantage of six turnovers by the Bulldogs in the game that led to 34 points.
Trase Fezzia returned one of five fumbles recovered by the Hurricanes 60 yards in the third quarter for a score and Xavior Coaxum picked off a pass for the Canes.
Creamer added another short touchdown run in the third period and Cruz connected on a 37-yard field goal as Cartersville took a 51-7 lead to the final quarter.
Nique Williams scored on an 8-yard run for Cartersville in the fourth quarter and Grant Farmer added the PAT for a 58-7 final score.
Creamer finished with 107 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 28 yards and one score.
Lawrence was 14-of-34 passing for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Antoine Jefferson caught five passes for 85 yards. Showell, E.J. Turner, and J’Kobe Orr each had two receptions. Evan Williams and Fezzia added one catch each.
Mike Thomas led Thomson with 84 yards rushing. Bulldogs’ quarterback Mills Ridings was 14-of-21 passing for 131 yards and one interception. Trey Parker was the leading receiver for Thomson with 101 yards on six catches and their 59-yard score.
Showell made nine tackles on defense for Cartersville, including a sack, three tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit. Sean Holton followed with eight tackles, one for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Coaxum added seven tackles, one for loss, a forced fumble, a pass break up, and an interception. Four more Canes — Dylan Henderson, Creamer, Fezzia, and Carson Murray — finished with five stops each. Murray, Nyvin Nelson, and Garrett Shelton had fumble recoveries for the Purple Hurricanes.
Click on the icon below to be redirected to the full statistical game report provided by West Georgia Sports Information Services.
2016
CARTERSVILLE PURPLE HURRICANES (15-0, 6-0)
Aug. 19 -- Cartersville 30, Allatoona 14
Sept. 2 -- Cartersville 56, Calhoun 0
Sept. 9 -- Cartersville 31, Westlake 0
Sept. 16 -- Cartersville 38, Hapeville Charter 7
Sept. 23 -- Cartersville 44, Cedartown 6
Sept. 30 -- Cartersville 59, Central-Carroll 9
Oct. 7 -- Cartersville 52, LaGrange 7 Oct. 14 -- Cartersville 35, Sandy Creek 21 Oct. 21 -- Cartersville 48, Chapel Hill 7 Nov. 4 -- Cartersville 68, Troup 0
Nov. 11 -- Cartersville 77, Chestatee 14 (1st Rd. State Playoffs) Nov. 18 -- Cartersville 35, Burke County 7 (2nd Rd. State Playoffs) Nov. 25 -- Cartersville 26, Woodward Academy 15 (State Quarter-Finals)
Dec. 2 -- Cartersville 38, Mary Persons 17 (State Semi-Finals) Dec. 10 -- Cartersville 58, Thomson 7 (State Finals, Georgia Dome)
