Canes take region opener with Cedartown; Cass, Woodland, Adairsville drop region games
The top-ranked Canes started slowly and grabbed a 10-2 lead just before the intermission on their way to a 24-2 Region 5-AAAA victory over visiting Cedartown Friday night at Weinman Stadium. Cartersville (5-0, 1-0) took a first quarter lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Tee Webb (photo) to Sam Phillips and added a 30-yard field goal by Oscar Hernandez in the final minute of the first half for their halftime lead. Cedartown (1-4, 0-1) got on the scoreboard for their only points of the night late in the first quarter on a safety. A muffed return of a Bulldogs’ punt forced Cartersville to begin a drive from their own one yard line leading to the safety.
In the second half, Cartersville running back Jake Brasfield scored with a one yard run late in the third quarter and added a 10-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Hernandez converted both PATs and the Hurricanes defense did the rest.
Cedartown hosts LaGrange Friday.
Cartersville plays at Central-Carroll next Friday.
ROME 49, CASS 10
Running backs E.J. Burks and Ahijah Blackwell combined for five touchdowns Friday night at Cochran Stadium as the Class AAAAA 8th-ranked Rome Wolves defeated Cass, 49-10.
The Wolves led 42-3 at halftime. The only Cass points in the first half came on the Colonels' second offensive series. Following a failed onside kick attempt by Rome, Cass drove downfield for a Kaleb Speights 29-yard field goal that narrowed the Rome lead to 7-3 at the time. The loss snapped a three-game streak for the Colonels (3-2, 2-1) as Cass suffered its first Region 7-AAAAA loss of the season. The lone Cass touchdown came with less than three minutes remaining in the game. Triston Mize threw a 7-yard touchdown to Brandon Martin. Rome improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in region action. The Wolves host Woodland next Friday. It gets no easier for the Colonels. Cass travels to Class AAAAA 3rd-ranked Carrollton Friday.
HIRAM 30, WOODLAND 0
Hiram’s Jalen Townser scored four touchdowns on runs of 23, 3, 80, and 4 yards Friday night as the visiting Hornets blanked Woodland in a Region 7-AAAAA matchup. The first touchdown was set up by a blocked punt by Joshua Martin in the first quarter. The next touchdown was on the Hornets’ next possession and was set up by a 52-yard pass play. Woodland then benefited from two consecutive personal foul penalties on Hiram to start deep in Hornets’ territory. The Wildcats, down 14-0 at the time, had two separate plays at the Hornets’ one-yard line, but committed illegal procedure penalties to set them back. The drive failed when Johnathan Thomas was picked off in the end zone by Mahki Touray for a touchback. On the next play, Townser scored on an 80-yard jaunt that gave the Hornets a 21-0 lead with 3:04 left in the first half. A short kickoff return and a penalty forced the Woodland offense to start inside their own five yard line early in the third quarter. The possession ended in a safety when Wildcats’ running back Asa James was tackled by Martin in the end zone for a Hiram 23-0 lead. Following the ensuing free kick, Hiram drove 32 yards on five plays with Townser finishing the drive with a four-yard run. Kicker Dalton Moyse made all four PATs.
Hiram (2-2, 2-0) hosts East Paulding next Friday.
Woodland (1-4, 0-3) lost its fourth straight and must travel to 8th-ranked Rome next week before making the trip to 3rd-ranked Carrollton October 11.
NORTH MURRAY 28, ADAIRSVILLE 0
In a game that suffered through multiple lightning delays, North Murray defeated Adairsville in Chatsworth 28-0.
The game was halted and declared a final score in the second quarter following additional lightning in the area.
Garrison Cochran gave the Mountaineers a 7-0 lead with a 29-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Ethan Dempsey set up his own nine-yard touchdown run with a big 58-yard run and Hayden Hulett had a 15-yard touchdown reception as North Murray built a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Noah Lunsford scored on an eight-yard run for North Murray's final score.
The Mountaineers improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in Region 6-AAA. North Murray plays at Murray County Friday night.
Adairsville (2-3, 1-2) hosts Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe next Friday.
