BC 9U Panthers move into state rankings; BC 12U Panthers win NWGYFL opener
The Bartow County 9U and 12U Panthers youth travel football teams earned wins Saturday. The BC 9U Panthers rolled to 47-0 non-league win over the Milford Warriors while the BC 12U Panthers earned their first Northwest Georgia Youth Football League victory over Marietta, 7-0. Following the 9U Panthers win, they cracked the Georgia 9U youth football rankings — entering at the No. 10 spot. Kaiden Kent and Cooper Melvin paced BC 9U with 62 and 60 yards rushing, respectively. Both had four carries and both scored one touchdown. J’Tavyous Whatley finished with 42 yards on three attempts with one score and Kayden Blackwell carried twice for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Trace Hawkins was 2-for-3 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He added a three-yard rushing touchdown. Melvin caught one pass for a 70-yard touchdown and Lance Tippett had a pair of receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Javious Davis was the game’s top defender with five solo tackles and two forced fumbles. Melvin contributed four tackles. Solomon James had three tackles and Whatley picked off a Milford pass.
The Bartow County 9U Panthers (2-0) host the Bill Arp Falcons Saturday at 12 noon at Cass High School.
BARTOW COUNTY 12U PANTHERS WIN LEAGUE OPENER
The Bartow County 12U Panthers likely made the rest of the Northwest Georgia Youth Football League pay attention Saturday with a 7-0 blanking of Marietta. The Marietta team placed second in the league last year, meaning the upstart Panthers are a team to be regarded as the 2019 league schedule gets underway. In the defensive battle, BC 12U quarterback Brodie McWhorter connected on 5-of-12 passes for 118 yards and Jachai Delgado rushed for 30 yards on three attempts for the bulk of the offensive production. Jacob Ellis scored the Bartow touchdown on a short run and finished with five yards rushing on four carries.
Talan Nix caught two passes for 55 yards. Logan Shrewsbury had a pair of receptions for 45 yards and Keve Porter hauled in an 18 yard toss and run.
In all, BC 12U ran 28 plays for 159 yards, but the rushing attack was limited to only 39 yards on 17 attempts.
Isaiah Livsey had three carries for five yards. Porter gained three yards on two attempts. Baylon Long added a yard on two carries and McWhorter was sacked twice leading to a -5 yard total on three rushing plays.
“The offense sputtered with some dropped passes, missed blocking assignments, and over 80 yards in penalties,” said BC 12U coach Josh McWhorter. “Fortunately the defense was great again.”
“Four of our offensive linemen graded out fine,” McWhorter added. “Brice Wilson, Bear McWhorter, Peyton Emery, and Price Higgins all played well. Marietta has a solid team.”
The 12U Panthers defense limited Marietta to only 59 total yards on 22 rushing attempts. They did not attempt a pass. Long led the BC 12U defense with 6.5 tackles. Ellis had 3.5 tackles. Will Feuerbach, Kelson Mitchell, and Livsey added three tackles each.
The BC 12U Panthers (2-0, 1-0) will host the West Georgia Extreme (1-0 NWGYFL) Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cass High School.
Youth football updates are presented by CiCi's -- Beyond Pizza in the Cherokee Place shopping center. Results and information presented by the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department, the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department, and local travel team representatives.
