Hurricanes surge past Colonels, 38-7
October 5, 2024
Second-ranked Cartersville remained undefeated this season and continued dominance in the all-time series with county-rival Cass on Friday night with a 38-7 victory at Weinman Stadium.
The Canes improved to 7-0 on the season and won for the 46th time in 51 meetings with the Colonels since 1956. Cartersville's win was also their eleventh consecutive in the series.
Cartersville quarterback Nate Russell threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers in the victory.
Cass scored on its opening possession when running back Braylon Hill scampered 65 yards through Hurricane defenders. The drive covered 80 yards in four plays. Mason Madrid’s PAT kick gave the Colonels a 7-0 lead with 9:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Cartersville drove to the Cass 27-yard line on its initial possession but missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.
The Colonels’ second possession ended with a fumble at the Cartersville 47-yard line, but the Canes were stopped on downs at the Cass 30-yard line.
Three plays later, Cass fumbled again at their 36-yard line, setting up the Hurricane’s four-play drive to knot the score at 7-all. Russell found A’Darian Taylor-Wilson in the end zone for a 28-yard strike with 0:09 left in the first period. Ramsey Rowell converted the first of his five PAT kicks on the night.
Starting from their own 20, Cass mixed in runs by Hill and quarterback Elijah Slocum to reach Cartersville territory but turned the ball over on downs at the Canes’ 45-yard line.
On the first play of the next Cartersville possession, Cass defensive back Ja’Kai Baldwin picked off a Canes’ pass and returned it to the Cartersville 45-yard line.
Following two short runs and an incomplete pass, a low snap on a Cass punt attempt resulted in the Canes recovering the ball at the Colonels’ 34-yard line.
Five plays later, Russell connected with Brady Marchese in the left corner of the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 3:51 to play in the first half.
Cass returned the ensuing kickoff to the 44 yard line and marched inside the red zone on nine plays, but time expired in the half to negate the Colonels’ scoring opportunity.
The second half opened with a quick scoring play by the Canes.
On second down from the 35-yard line, Russell fired a quick slant to Ja’Mauri Brice, who raced 65 yards for the Canes’ third touchdown. The scoring play gave Cartersville a 21-7 lead with 11:06 remaining in the third quarter.
Following exchanges of punts — two by Cass and one by Cartersville — the Canes gained possession at the Cass 47-yard line. Four plays later, Russell tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the night. The 32-yard reception by Caden Aleman put Cartersville ahead 28-7 with 3:48 to play in the third period.
A third-down pass on the next Cass possession was intercepted by Kaden Baldwin and returned 30 yards for another Hurricanes’ score. The pick-six had Cartersville leading 35-7 with 2:10 left in the quarter.
The Cartersville defense forced another three-and-out on the next Cass possession and Reed Ezell returned a Cass punt to the Colonels’ 35-yard line. Cartersville drove to the Cass 10-yard line but settled for a 27-yard field goal by Rowell and a 38-7 advantage with 9:48 remaining in the game.
The Colonels marched from their 19-yard line to the Canes’ 6-yard line on their next possession but came up empty. The 10-play drive — all on the ground — included a 42-yard run by Hill.
Cartersville picked up two first downs on its final possession and ran out the game clock to seal the win.
The loss dropped Cass to 4-4 on the season and 1-3 in Region 7-4A. The Colonels have a bye week on the schedule before hosting Dalton on October 18.
The Canes, now 3-0 in region play, visit Allatoona on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
NOTE: Player stats may be added to this story when available. Please check back soon.
