Canes pound Troup to win 7th consecutive region title

Cartersville won its seventh consecutive region championship and the Hurricanes’ completed a fourth straight undefeated regular season with a 43-10 victory over Troup Friday night at Weinman Stadium.

Marcus Gary ran for 149 yards on 22 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns while quarterback Tee Webb threw for two touchdowns and ran for one as the Canes’ put the visiting Tigers away early.

Gary (photo) went right up the middle and raced 77 yards on Cartersville’s first play from scrimmage to take a 7-0 lead.

That was followed by a 45-yard interception return for touchdown by Amarai Orr that gave Cartersville a 14-0 lead in the second minute of the game.

Troup cut the lead to 14-3 with a 36-yard field goal by Helsyn Martinez midway through the first quarter, but the Canes added two more touchdowns to take a 28-3 lead to the intermission. Webb tossed a 46-yard scoring strike to Devonte Ross with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter and then connected with Jackson Lowe early in the second quarter on a 20-yard touchdown pass.

A long kickoff return to open the second half set up Troup’s only touchdown of the night. Tigers’ QB Kobe Hudson scored on a four-yard run to cut the Canes’ lead to 28-10.

Cartersville answered with a five-yard touchdown run by Webb midway through the third quarter for a 34-10 lead, then added a safety and a 12-yard scoring run by Gary for a 43-10 lead before the end of the quarter.

Webb finished 12-for-24 through the air for 185 yards and two touchdowns to go with his rushing touchdown. Jackson Lowe had three receptions for 59 yards and one score.

Amarai Orr added a strip sack and a fumble recovery to his first quarter pick-six.

Troup (9-1) will host Oconee County next week in the first round of the Class AAAA state playoffs.

Cartersville (10-0) will host Stephens County at Weinman Stadium.

COLONELS DROP 17-14 DECISION TO PATRIOTS

Cass took a 14-10 lead over visiting Paulding County Friday night on the opening play of the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold on in a season-ending 17-14 loss.

Paulding quarterback Hunter Jennings connected with Keishon Jackson on the ensuing Patriots’ drive for the go-ahead touchdown. The scoring play culminated a 73-yard, seven play drive.

Tony Lauzurica returned the game’s opening kickoff 99 yards to give Paulding a quick 7-0 lead, but Cass tied the score later in the first quarter on a 69-yard touchdown scamper by Malik Grimes.

Matthew Frey made a 25-yard field goal with 9:00 remaining in the second quarter to give Paulding a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Cass’ Zay Jackson capped a 52-yard, 11-play drive for the Colonels on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jackson’s 8-yard touchdown run gave the Colonels their only lead of the night at 14-10.

The win was the first of the season for the 1-9 Patriots who finished 1-7 in Region 7-AAAAA.

Cass finished the year 1-9 overall and 0-8 in region action.

CONLEY’S FIVE TDs LEADS KELL PAST WOODLAND

Woodland won its first four games in 2018, but Friday night’s 41-18 loss at Kell was a sixth straight for the Wildcats who finished the season with a 4-6 mark.

Kell quarterback Evan Conley had a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Brown, a five-yard touchdown pass to Sam Blancato, and a 19-yard touchdown run for the Longhorns in the first half.

Xavier Parris added a two-yard touchdown run for Kell and Logan Flesher made three of four PATs as the Longhorns built a 27-3 first half lead.

Following an early turnover, Ronny Ramirez booted a 31-yard field goal that gave Woodland a 3-0 lead and Jakob Foos completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Titus Jones late in the second quarter.

Conley added two more Kell touchdown passes in the second half. He connected with Ebony Jackson on a 21-yard score and found Parris on a 67-yard strike. Colby Kerns made both PATs.

Justice Carter (photo), who rushed for 90 yards, added a late touchdown run for the Wildcats who also scored a two-point conversion. The performance put Carter over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Woodland's Demarcus Williams rushed for 68 yards on 22 attempts. Foss was 3-of-7 passing for 17 yards and a score.

Kell (8-2) will host Carver, Atlanta next Friday as a 2-seed in the opening round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs.