Cartersville, Woodland earn opening night wins
Two of the three local teams in action Friday night came away with victories. Cartersville came-from-behind twice to defeat Allatoona 14-13 while Woodland raced to a big first half lead on their way to a 35-7 win over visiting Southeast Whitfield. Meanwhile, Adairsville suffered a shut out loss at Chattooga.
CARTERSVILLE 14, ALLATOONA 13
Cartersville, ranked second in Class AAAA, came from behind twice Friday night to take a narrow 14-13 decision at Class AAAAAA 5th-ranked Allatoona. The host Buccaneers led 6-0 at halftime on a pair of Jude Kelley field goals. The all-state kicker connected from 54- and 43-yards although he missed from 49 in the opening half. An Allatoona punt had the Canes pinned at their own two yard line early in the third quarter when Quante Jennings exploded for a 98-yard touchdown run. An Oscar Hernandez PAT gave Cartersville their first lead at 7-6. Allatoona answered on the ensuing drive, punching in a score with a two-yard run to take a 13-7 lead into the fourth quarter. After the Bucs missed on a 47-yard field goal attempt, Cartersville had possession with just under six minutes remaining and cashed it in. Canes quarterback Tee Webb connected with Sam Phillips for a 59-yard touchdown and a 14-13 lead following another Hernandez kick.
Allatoona had one last possession and was driving for a possible go-ahead score, but Devonte Ross stripped the ball from receiver Asante Das. Cartersville recovered the fumble and the Canes were able to run out the clock. Jennings finished with 171 rushing yards on 17 carries. Phillips had 97 receiving yards. Webb was 9-of-17 passing for 134 yards. Cartersville (1-0) is idle next week before hosting Luella September 6.
WOODLAND 35, SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 7
Junior quarterback Johnathan Thomas scored three touchdowns as Woodland blasted visiting Southeast Whitfield Friday night, 35-7. Thomas, who finished the night with 121 rushing yards on 13 carries, had scoring runs of eight and 28 yards in the first half as the Wildcats took a 29-7 lead at halftime.
He added a 39-yard scamper in the fourth quarter for the only points by either team in the second half. Asa James scored first for Woodland on a 20-yard run midway through the first quarter. The scoring play capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive that made the score 7-0 following a Jordan Holbrook PAT. The first Thomas touchdown culminated an 82-yard drive by the Wildcats and a two-point conversion run by Demarcus Williams gave Woodland a 15-0 lead. Southeast Whitfield drove 67 yards on seven plays to narrow the Woodland lead to eight points. Adam Sowder connected with tight end Bryson Lofton to finish the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass. Luis Laguna added the extra point kick for the Raiders. That would be as close as Southeast would get. Woodland answered with two quick scores to lead by 22 at halftime. James returned the ensuing kickoff to the Southeast Whitfield 39 yard line to set up a three-play scoring drive. Williams, who finished with 161 yards on 17 carries, went 30 yards on a third-and-one play to give the Wildcats a 21-7 lead.
Thomas added his 28-yard scoring run to cap a five-play, 54-yard drive before the break. A two-point conversion pass from Williams to Blake Cash made the score 29-7 at halftime.
It was a good night for the Woodland secondary. Senior Jaden Johnson and juniors Tyler Thurman and Tommy Good each picked off Raiders' quarterback Adam Sowder.
Woodland (1-0) has a bye week before heading to East Hall September 6.
CHATTOOGA 20, ADAIRSVILLE 0
The visiting Adairsville Tigers suffered a 20-0 loss Friday night at Chattooga to open the 2019 season. The Adairsville defense limited the Indians early, but Leshaun Lester got Chattooga on the scoreboard with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter on a 16 yard run. After a missed PAT, the Indians led 6-0 and that score would hold into the intermission. With Chattooga threatening just before the half, Adairsville’s Courtney Slocum had an important interception inside the ten yard line to keep the deficit at six points. In the second half, Lester added another touchdown run and a two-point conversion gave the Indians a 14-0 advantage. Devon Heroch scored the final touchdown for Chattooga six seconds into the final period for a 20-0 final. Adairsville (0-1) hosts Cass next Friday. It will be the season opener for the Colonels.
