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October 31, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com LaKiaya Banks makes a play from her shortstop position. Cartersville softball bounced back from a first-round loss at the GHSA Class 4A Elite Eight State Finals tournament on Thursday night to eliminate Pace Academy 12-9 on Friday morning in a back-and-forth battle at the Olympic Softball Complex in Columbus. Cartersville led 4-0 before Pace Academy batted in the first inning, and the Lady Canes led 8-3 in the middle of the fifth inning. The early Hurricanes' advantage didn’t keep the Knights from fighting back into a late lead, before giving up that lead in the final frame. The Knights narrowed Cartersville’s lead to 5-3 in the third inning, but Cartersville scored a run in the fourth and two more in the top of the fifth to go up 8-3.  The persistent Knights responded with a five-run fifth inning to tie and grabbed a 9-8 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Cartersville regained the lead with four runs in the top of the seventh, and Canes’ relief pitcher Zoie Shiflett closed out the game with two strikeouts and a come-back groundout. Zoie Shiflett picked up the pitching win for Cartersville in relief in their victory over Pace Academy. Shiflett picked up the pitching win, covering the final three innings. She allowed just one, unearned run on two hits and a walk and struck out four. Presley Crabbe started in the circle for Cartersville and was lifted in the fifth inning after allowing eight earned runs on six hits, four walks, and a hit batter. Crabbe fanned seven. It was far from a clean game for either team. Cartersville committed three errors, and Pace Academy made four. Additionally, Knights’ pitcher Megan Wrigley issued 13 walks but struck out 11 in a seven-inning effort. Pace Academy (14-11) had eight hits while Cartersville needed only four to produce their dozen runs. Bodhi Venturi led the Lady Knights’ offense with three hits, including two doubles and four RBI. Presley Crabbe made the pitching start for Cartersville on Friday in their win over Pace Academy. Sophia Harper had two hits, including one double and three RBI, to lead the Canes. Izzy Tummins (RBI) and Miley Jo Williams produced the other Cartersville base hits. Kinsey Woodard and Zoie Shiflett drove in runs with sacrifice flies. LaKiaya Banks was credited with two RBI, and Sam Porter added one RBI. With their victory, the Lady Canes (30-5) advanced to a 1 p.m. elimination game on Friday against Harris County (30-4). The Tigers defeated Wayne County in the first round, but lost a Thursday night game to Eastside 4-1 to fall into the elimination portion of the double-elimination bracket.  The Harris County/Cartersville survivor will be one of only four teams remaining and is scheduled to face the Central-Carroll/Wayne County/Union Grove survivor on Friday at 7 p.m. Kell (28-3), who defeated Cartersville in the first round, was scheduled to play Eastside (30-1) on Friday evening in a matchup of the last two unbeaten teams in the tournament.

October 31, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Sophomore RB Solomon James eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing milestone in the Wildcats' home loss to Dalton on October 30. RANDY PARKER / DTN The Dalton Catamounts punched their ticket to the state playoffs with a commanding 49-0 victory over the Woodland Wildcats on Thursday night at Wildcats Stadium, securing the final playoff spot from Region 7-AAAA. The Catamounts will enter the Class AAAA postseason as the No. 4 seed and travel to face top-ranked Creekside on November 14. Dalton (3-7, 3-3) wasted no time asserting control, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter to build a 21-0 lead.  The onslaught began at the 10:45 mark when the Catamounts took the opening kickoff and marched 51 yards in four rushing plays, capped by running back Nash Smith's 8-yard touchdown run. Kicker Julian Villa converted the first of his seven perfect PATs to make it 7-0. After Woodland turned the ball over on downs at their own 46-yard line, Dalton struck again.  Quarterback Caine Woods connected with Landon Cox on a 20-yard touchdown pass to complete a seven-play, 46-yard drive at the 5:12 mark, pushing the lead to 14-0. Korbyn Jarrett is brought down after a catch vs. Dalton on October 30. RANDY PARKER / DTN Woodland's ensuing three-and-out paved the way for Dalton's third score. Woods found Clayton Thompson for a 31-yard touchdown strike with 13 seconds left in the quarter, wrapping up a six-play, 62-yard drive and extending the margin to 21-0. The second quarter belonged to Dalton's opportunistic offense, fueled by a trio of Woodland turnovers. At the 3:01 mark, Smith powered in from 7 yards out to finish a six-play, 26-yard drive, making it 28-0. Woodland QB Sammy Ray IV scrambles to his right vs. Dalton on October 30. RANDY PARKER / DTN Woodland fumbled the kickoff return, and on Dalton's very next snap, Smith broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run at 2:39, ballooning the lead to 35-0. Defender Damoni Black then picked off a Woodland pass, setting up a five-play, 48-yard drive that Woods capped with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kamdon London at the 1:02 mark. The Catamounts headed to halftime with a 42-0 advantage. A running clock ruled the second half as Black notched his second interception early in the third quarter. That led to Dalton's lone score of the half—a five-play, 59-yard drive ending with Woods' 14-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Summey at the 4:48 mark, finalizing the 49-0 score. Head coach Andy Scott looks on during the Wildcats' game vs. Dalton on October 30. RANDY PARKER / DTN Woodland managed a late threat, driving to the Dalton 1-yard line in the fourth quarter but coming up empty on downs. The Wildcats struggled all night with four turnovers, including three in the second quarter alone. A positive note for Woodland came from sophomore running back Solomon James, who surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing milestone for the season, though exact totals were unavailable. Dalton now turns its focus to the playoffs, while Woodland closes out a challenging 2-8 campaign. ~~ Stuart Morse contributed to this report.

October 30, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Kennedy Crenshaw had one of only two hits by the Lady Canes on Thursday in their first-round loss to Kell at the state tournament in Columbus. On Thursday, Cartersville's softball team was defeated in its opening game at the 2025 Class 4A Elite Eight State Finals Tournament, held at the Olympic Softball Park in Columbus. The Lady Canes were unable to score against the Kell Longhorns, losing 6-0. Kell scored three runs in the top of the first inning and added two more in the second to build an early 5-0 advantage.  The Longhorns added one more run in the fourth inning. Kell pitcher Lyla Morici struck out eight, scattered two hits, and issued one walk to earn a shutout in the circle. Cartersville’s Kinsey Woodard and Kennedy Crenshaw had the only base hits for the Lady Canes. Zoie Shiflett made the pitching start for Cartersville and was touched for six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and one walk through four innings. Presley Crabbe allowed just one hit and struck out five over the final three frames.  Kell (27-3) advanced to a 5 p.m. game Thursday evening in the double-elimination tournament against Central-Carroll. The Lions (27-8) defeated Pace Academy 9-0 in the first round. Cartersville (29-5) falls to the loser’s bracket and will play on Friday at 9 a.m. in an elimination game against Pace Academy (21-13). With wins in the elimination bracket, the Lady Canes could play at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday.

October 27, 2025 The Cartersville High girls’ and boys’ cross country teams hosted and won the Sundown Showdown at Sam Smith Park on October 21. The Lady Canes finished 18 points ahead of Woodland, while Cass did not field a full team score. The Hurricanes won the boys’ race ahead of Woodland and Cass. Top performances in the girls’ race included Allison Snead (Woodland, 20:07), Sofia Burns (Cartersville, 20:33), Rylee Maxwell (Woodland, 20:52), Sydney Burris (Cartersville, 21:13), Zoe McCurry (Cartersville, 21:22), Samantha Stepp (Cartersville, 21:27), Addison Brown (Woodland, 22:20), Genevieve Alessandro (Cartersville, 22:21), Hadley Finnemore (Cartersville, 22:26), and Adalin Empie (Cartersville, 22:39). Top performances in the boys’ race included Jonathan Ringwell (Woodland, 16:52), Ben Russell (Cartersville, 17:14), Carson Robinson (Cartersville, 17:19), Ethan Empie (Cartersville, 17:51), Tripp Chitwood (Cartersville, 17:59), James Morris (Woodland, 18:01), Malachi Weir (Cartersville, 18:02), Kaleb Lanier (Cartersville, 18:14), Knox Matthews (Cartersville (18:23), and Micah Sanders (Cartersvile, 18:37). The Adairsville boys were 22nd, and the Lady Tigers did not field a full team score on October 21 at the Heritage-Catoosa Fast Break Challenge in Ringgold. Bella Smith (22:16) was 14th and Fernanda Singer (25:30) was 71st in the girls' race. The Adairsville boys were led by Aaron Souders (19:51) in 73rd place. Other Tigers included Luke Farmer (126th, 21:31), Canyon East (144th, 22:04), Cayden Hatfield (156th, 22:29), and Charlie Potter (163rd, 22:52). Adairsville will run in the GHSA 3A Sectional 2 in Ringgold on Saturday. Cartersville, Woodland, and Cass will compete in the GHSA Class 4A Sectional 2 back at Sam Smith Park in Cartersville on Saturday.

October 26, 2025 Greg Johnson won the 2025 Men's Club Championship at Cartersville Country Club on Sunday. PHOTO: CARTERSVILLE COUNTRY CLUB Greg Johnson carded rounds of 69-70-72 (5-under par) this past Friday through Sunday to win the Men’s Club Championship at Cartersville Country Club. Chad Branton (71-72-74) was runner-up, and Reid Henson (74-72-73) finished third. Other division winners included: Players Division Gross Champion:  Dave Coleman (80-77) Players Division Net: Alan Barnes White Division Gross Champion:  Charles Wilson (72-77) White Division Net:  Glenn Harris Super Senior Club Champion:  Randy Knight (70-77) Super Senior Net:  Randy White From left: Randy Knight, Dave Coleman, Alan Barnes, Charles Wilson, Glenn Harris. PHOTOS: Cartersville Country Club

October 26, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Former Cartersville High School quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars were on a bye week, but this week’s collegiate update includes contributions from fifteen athletes in five sports. FOOTBALL JOHNATHAN CLINE — East Tennessee State University (R-So., Cartersville HS) … was part of an offensive line rotation that helped the Buccaneers produce 323 total yards this past Saturday in a 14-10 home win over Wofford College (SC). ETSU (4-5, 2-3 Southern Conference)  enjoys a bye week before traveling to Birmingham to face Samford University on November 8. KAIL ELLIS — Auburn University (Fr., Cass HS) … made a start at center and was part of an offensive line rotation that helped produce 380 total yards in the Tigers’ 33-24 win this past Saturday at Arkansas. Auburn (4-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) hosts Kentucky on Saturday night. KEVIN HENDERSON — University of Findlay (So., Cass HS) … a starting linebacker, Henderson made seven tackles and broke up two passes this past Saturday as the 14th-ranked Oilers beat visiting Ohio Dominican 27-20. Findlay (8-0, 6-0 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) visits Northwood University (MI) on Saturday.  TYLER MARTIN — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … a starter on the 21st-ranked Vikings’ offensive line that helped produce 447 total yards in a 43-20 home win over Millsaps College (MS) this past Saturday. Berry (6-1, 4-0 Southern Athletic Association) travels to Danville, Kentucky to play at Centre College on Saturday. XAVIOUS NALLS — Anderson University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … had one tackle in the Trojans’ 30-3 home loss to Wingate University this past Saturday. Anderson (5-4, 3-4 South Atlantic Conference) hosts Newberry College (SC) on Saturday. JAKE PARKER — Cumberland University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … completed 22 of 34 passes for 289 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions this past Saturday during a 35-33 home win over Campbellsville University (KY). The Phoenix (5-3, 1-2 Mid South Conference) host the University of the Cumberlands (KY) on Saturday. SAM PHILLIPS — University of Iowa (Sr., Cartersville HS) … had one catch for 11 yards in the Hawkeyes’ 41-3 home win this past Saturday over Minnesota. Iowa (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten Conference) has a bye week before hosting 6th-ranked Oregon on November 8. BRAXTON RYAN — Kentucky Wesleyan College (Fr., Adairsville HS) … a starter on the Panthers’ offensive line that helped produce 254 total yards in a 49-14 home loss to Northwood University (MI). Wesleyan (0-8, 0-6 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) plays at Tiffin University on Saturday. IAN WILLIAMS — University of Memphis (Fr., Cass HS) … was a participant but did not have a stat line in the 25th-ranked Tigers’ 34-31 home win this past Saturday over the University of South Florida. Memphis (7-1, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) plays at Rice on Friday night. CROSS COUNTRY DANIELLE THAYER — Augusta University (Jr., Woodland HS) … ran to a 17th place finish in 19:30 as the Lady Jaguars finished runner-up to Flagler College (FL) at the 11-team Peach Belt Conference Championships this past Saturday. Next for the Jaguars is the NCAA Southeast Regional on November 8 at Wingate, North Carolina. TENNIS EMILY BUSH — University of North Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … won the Flight C Singles draw at the UNG Invitational this past weekend. Bush defeated her opponents from Young Harris College and Columbus State University in the first two rounds before defeating Claudia De Lucas Rivera of Columbus State 6-4, 6-3 in the bracket finals. She also paired with teammate Sofia Giraldo in doubles and went 1-2 in three matches. SOCCER ABBEY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … logged all 90 minutes on defense as the Lady Eagles won 2-1 at Brenau University on October 22. Reinhardt (8-5-2) opens the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament at Columbia International (SC) on Saturday. LIBBY MORGAN — Shorter University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made a start at Emmanuel University on October 21 and logged another 40 minutes this past Saturday in a home match against Ferrum College. The Hawks lost 1-5 at Emmanuel and 0-1 to Ferrum. Shorter (1-10-2) hosts Southern Wesleyan University (SC) on Tuesday and visits Young Harris College on Saturday. VOLLEYBALL MADELYN ORTON — LaGrange College (Sr., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep Academy) … totaled one kill and eight digs this past Saturday as the Panthers lost to host Covenant College, but defeated Piedmont University. LaGrange (11-17, 9-5 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts a conference tri-match Saturday with Asbury University (KY) and Wesleyan College (GA). MEREDITH ORTON — LaGrange College (Sr., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep Academy) … recorded one service ace and three digs this past Saturday as the Panthers split conference matches with Covenant College and Piedmont University in Lookout Mountain. LaGrange (11-17, 9-5 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts a conference tri-match Saturday with Asbury University (KY) and Wesleyan College (GA).

October 26, 2025 Cartersville volleyball's state playoff run ended on Saturday with a loss to Pace Academy in the Class 4A state semifinals at Seckinger High School in Buford. The Lady Canes fell in four sets in the best-of-five format.  Pace Academy won the opening set 25-18, but Cartersville evened the match by taking the second set 25-22.  The Knights wrapped up their victory by winning the third and fourth sets by identical 25-20 scores. The Knights improved to 35-7 on the season and will face Marist for the Class 4A state championship on Thursday at LakePoint in Emerson. Cartersville's season ends with a 44-7 mark.

October 25, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cass tight end Chase Tatum powers across the goal line for a Colonels' two-point conversion. RANDY PARKER / DTN Kalil Charles rumbled for 279 yards and two touchdowns, including a 40-yard dagger with 3:40 remaining, as the Cass Colonels rallied past the Allatoona Buccaneers 22-19 on Friday night at Doug Cochran Stadium to solidify the No. 2 seed in Region 7-AAAA. Allatoona needed a win to keep state playoff hopes alive, while Cass eyed a first-round home game. The showdown featured two of Class AAAA’s top rushers in Charles and Allatoona’s Ethan Corpus. Cass struck first after an early exchange of punts and a missed 51-yard field goal by the Bucs. The Colonels marched 80 yards in five plays, with Charles breaking runs of 45 and 20 yards before punching in from 3 yards at the 0:31 mark of the first quarter. The PAT sailed wide, leaving it 6-0. Allatoona answered with Wilson Perry’s 40-yard field goal at 10:37 of the second, capping a 46-yard drive and trimming the deficit to 6-3. Sophomore RB Kalil Charles entered the game against Allatoona as the leading rusher in Class 4A and added 279 yards and two touchdowns to his season totals. RANDY PARKER / DTN Cass responded with an 80-yard, nine-play answer.  Brodie McWhorter hit Elijah Slocum for 16 yards, Charles burst for 24, and McWhorter found Jah Abdullah-Kortay for 15. On fourth down, McWhorter scrambled and hit tight end Chase Tatum for a 24-yard touchdown in the front-right corner. Tatum took a direct snap and muscled in for a two-point conversion, pushing Cass ahead 14-3 with 8:14 left in the half. Myles Davis answered instantly, returning the kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Perry’s PAT made it 14-10 with 8:01 remaining. Cass went three-and-out, and Allatoona drove 42 yards in nine plays to set up Perry’s 30-yard field goal at 2:22, narrowing the gap to 14-13 at halftime after Cass managed one interception but no points on its final two possessions. The third quarter produced four fruitless possessions, and McWhorter was picked off early in the fourth at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Corpus exploded up the sideline for a 98-yard touchdown. The two-point try failed, but Allatoona led 19-14 with 9:44 to play. Cass drove the next possession to the Allatoona 24 before turning it over on downs, but the Bucs punted back five plays later. Cass QB and Mississippi State commit, Brodie McWhorter, scrambles as he looks for an open reciever downfield. RANDY PARKER / DTN Taking over with under five minutes left, Cass covered 74 yards in five plays.  McWhorter swung a 25-yard pass to Slocum, then handed to Charles, who raced 40 yards for the go-ahead score at 3:40. Jeremy Barrett’s two-point run made it 22-19. Allatoona drove from its 37 to the Cass 44 before turning it over on downs, and Cass knelt twice to seal the victory. Corpus finished with 125 yards on 26 carries and the 98-yard score. Frank Young went 7-for-24 for 80 yards with one interception. Xavier Rucker added 54 yards on five carries for the Bucs. Charles finished the night with 279 yards rushing on 28 attempts with two touchdowns. McWhorter completed 13 of 27 passes for 155 yards, one touchdown, and one pick. Slocum hauled in eight catches for 83 yards and ran twice for 14. Abdullah-Kortay had four grabs for 50 yards, and Tatum added the 24-yard score. Cass earns two weeks off before hosting the Region 4-AAAA No. 3 seed—likely Mays—on November 14. Allatoona closes the season 3-7.

October 25, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Woodland sophomore running back Solomon James finds an opening in the Cedartown defense. Solomon James erupted for three touchdowns and 217 all-purpose yards as the Woodland Wildcats won their second-straight game with a 28-14 victory over the visiting Cedartown Bulldogs on Friday night at Wildcats Stadium. The first quarter set the tone for a back-and-forth first half.  Cedartown struck first when Jaylen Johnson broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run at the 9:32 mark. The Bulldogs' PAT made it 7-0. Woodland answered immediately. James lofted a halfback pass to Korbyn Jarrett for a 23-yard touchdown. Hunter Limbaugh’s first of four PAT kicks tied it at 7-7 with 5:39 left in the opening period. Less than five minutes later, James took matters into his own hands with a 41-yard touchdown scamper. Limbaugh’s kick gave Woodland a 14-7 lead with 49 seconds remaining in the first. Clayton McArdle (10) looks for yardage after the catch. Cedartown quarterback Wyatt Mosley knotted the score at 14-14 with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 0:26 mark of the second quarter, sending the teams to the intermission with the score tied. The teams traded possessions through a scoreless third quarter, though Woodland was driving as the period ended. The Wildcats finished off their victory with a pair of fourth-quarter scores. James plunged in from 5 yards out with 11:54 remaining to put Woodland ahead 21-14. With just under three minutes remaining, he broke loose again for a 19-yard touchdown run, and Limbaugh’s PAT set the final margin at 28-14. Woodland defenders stop a Cedartown run. James finished with 126 rushing yards on 20 carries, three total touchdowns, a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett, and five receptions for 68 yards. Sammy Ray IV completed 11 of 15 passes for 113 yards with one interception. Clayton McArdle added three catches for 29 yards. Cedartown finished 2-8 overall and winless in region play. Woodland (2-7, 1-4) hosts Dalton on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in its regular-season finale. ~~ Stuart Morse contributed to this report.

By Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Braylon Hill had 159 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the first half of the Canes' 50-7 win at Hiram on October 24. Braylon Hill rushed for 137 yards on only eight carries as Cartersville built a 30-0 first-quarter lead on the way to a 50-7 win over Hiram to secure a Region 7-4A title.  The Canes are idle next week, which is followed by a GHSA-mandated open week. Cartersville returns on Nov. 14 in Weinman Stadium for the first round of the playoffs.  Hill opened the game with a 22-yard reception for 159 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in one half of play as the Canes took a 44-0 lead into the locker room. Quarterback Nate Russell, 12-of-13 for 208 yards and two scores, also exited the game after the first half alongside other starters.  Brady Marchese caught three passes for 36 yards on the Canes’ first possession, finishing with a 12-yarder from Russell less than two minutes into the game. The Georgia signee barely missed getting another touchdown on the next drive before falling out of bounds at the one. Tripp Chatmon bulled his way in on the next play before a two-point conversion attempt to Madoxx Davis fell incomplete for the 13-0 lead. Ramsey Rowell, who connected on all five point-after attempts, followed up Hill’s first touchdown of the night with a 20-yard field goal for a 23-0 cushion. The Canes’ defense set up the next score as Kylen Pope ran down Hiram quarterback Caleb Carmichael to force a fumble that Chatmon recovered at the Hornet 18. Tyon Coe’s eight-yard run pushed the advantage 30-0.  The Hurricanes' defense bottles up a Hiram ball carrier. Marchese led the Canes with 84 yards and a score through the air on five touches. Davis finished with 59 yards on four catches. Cooper Melvin’s 51 yards on two receptions included a 34-yard score for a 37-0 advantage midway through the second quarter.  Hill has provided many an electric play this season, and his run to close out the first half certainly applies.  Taking a handoff left near midfield, the senior reversed his field and followed a nice downfield block by Marchese to waterbug his way around tacklers for the 48-yard score and 44-0 Canes lead.  After a Hiram score against Cartersville's defensive backups, Harris Turner led the offense on a 97-yard drive, capped by a 39-yard CJ McClendon run to the two. AJ Townsend scored on the next play, but the running clock expired before the extra point kick, leaving the score at 50-7.

October 25, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Peyton Chancey's four touchdown runs powered the Gilmer Bobcats to a dramatic 28-21 comeback victory over the Adairsville Tigers on Friday night in Ellijay, capping a wild fourth quarter that featured two successful onside kicks, a blocked PAT, and a controversial call that swung momentum in a Region 7-AAA showdown. Gilmer leaned on its ground game from the opening whistle, with Chancey capping an 11-play, 65-yard drive at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter with a 7-yard touchdown scamper. Carter Gearhart's PAT made it 7-0.  Adairsville turned it over on downs on its ensuing possession, but Gilmer couldn't add to the lead after Gearhart missed a 31-yard field goal with six seconds left in the quarter following a 6-play, 24-yard march. The Bobcats extended their advantage in the second quarter when Chancey plunged in from 2 yards out to finish an 8-play, 80-yard drive at the 6:13 mark, pushing the score to 14-0 after Gearhart's kick.  Adairsville finally answered late in the half, as Braxton Elrod orchestrated a 9-play, 65-yard series ending with his own 7-yard touchdown keeper at 0:27. Cooper Souders' PAT cut it to 14-7 at halftime. The third quarter belonged to Gilmer's defense and clock management.  Adairsville went three-and-out on the opening possession, and the Bobcats took over at their own 20-yard line with 10:08 remaining. They methodically marched to the Adairsville 20 and held the ball for the remainder of the period, setting up a pivotal final quarter. Gilmer struck first in the fourth on a grueling 14-play, 80-yard drive that consumed nearly five minutes, with Chancey scoring from 1 yard out at 10:58. Colt Sanford blocked Gearhart's PAT attempt, keeping it 20-7.  Adairsville responded immediately, needing just three plays to cover 71 yards, highlighted by Elrod's 30-yard touchdown strike to Sanford at 10:03. The PAT made it 20-14. The Tigers weren't done. They executed a successful onside kick and recovery, then drove 49 yards in seven plays for Elrod's 4-yard touchdown pass to Evan Hardin at 6:16, taking their first lead at 21-20 after the PAT. Adairsville attempted another onside kick, but controversy erupted when the ball appeared to touch a Gilmer player first before being recovered by the Tigers. Officials ruled that Adairsville touched it initially, awarding possession to Gilmer. The Bobcats capitalized, driving 49 yards in eight plays and punching it in with Chancey's 1-yard touchdown run at 1:20. Hunter Brittain's 2-point conversion run extended the lead to 28-21. Adairsville mounted one final push but, out of timeouts, managed only one first down before going four-and-out. Gilmer knelt to run out the clock and seal the win. Chancey finished with 103 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries, while Elrod accounted for two scores through the air and one on the ground for the Tigers. The Adairsville signal-caller was 12-for-22 passing for 135 yards. He rushed for 69 yards on 15 attempts. Sanford had seven receptions for the Tigers for 99 yards and one touchdown.  Gatlin Fair had 11 total tackles for the Adairsville defense. Matthew Cook finished with ten. Adairsville (4-4 overall, 3-2 region) hosts Heritage-Catoosa next week, while Gilmer (5-4, 2-3) travels to Ridgeland for its regular-season finale. ~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report.

October 21, 2025 Cartersville volleyball defeated visiting Blessed Trinity 25-23, 25-16, and 25-11 Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament. Jada Zimmerman had 10 kills and three blocks for the Lady Canes. Amara Ejieke contributed seven kills and four blocks. Blakely Morris produced five blocks and four kills. Holly Dufrene had five blocks and three kills, and Riley Huff finished with six blocks. Emma Wall had seven assists, six digs, and three assists. Aubree Barrett had 13 assists and three aces. Sydney Seigler contributed four aces, and McKenzie Wilkie totaled 15 digs. With their straight-set victory, the Lady Canes (44-6) advance to the state semifinals on Saturday at Seckinger High School in Buford to face the Pace Academy/Starr’s Mill quarterfinal survivor. The loss ended the season for Blessed Trinity with a 35-11 record.