The Cass Colonels could not keep pace with the high-scoring Hiram offense Friday night in Paulding County in a 50-20 Region 7-5A loss to the Hornets. Hiram, who leads Class 5A in scoring at almost 44 points per game, led Cass 19-7 at halftime before blowing the game wide open in a turnover-plagued third quarter for the Colonels. The Hornets trailed Cass 7-3 late in the first quarter but took advantage of field position and Cass's mistakes to score 30 unanswered points in just over a 15-minute stretch of the game clock. Two fumbles, a blocked punt, and a failed onside kick attempt by Cass enabled Hiram to build a 33-7 advantage less than two minutes into the third quarter. The Colonels had also fumbled early in the first quarter to set up the Hornets' first field goal. Hiram running back Kendarius Brown rushed for four touchdowns for Hiram. He had short scoring runs of 1- and 3-yards in the first half and found the end zone with runs of 23- and 2-yards in the third quarter. Da’Shaun Williams had a 4-yard touchdown run for the Hornets in the third quarter. Jamarion Whatley hit paydirt with a 6-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter while UGA commit Oliver Castaneda booted three field goals. Castaneda’s kicks were good from 48-, 21-, and 42-yards. He did miss a pair of mid-range attempts in the first half and had one PAT kick blocked by the Colonels’ Kaden Ellis. Cass took a 7-3 lead less than four minutes into the game by driving 80 yards in six plays. Quarterback Brodie McWhorter hit Sacovie White on a tunnel screen pass that White took to the end zone from 21 yards out. Austin McArthur converted the PAT kick. After falling behind 33-7, the Colonels drove 83 yards on nine plays to score with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter. A long reception by Chase Tatum from McWhorter took the Colonels to the 3-yard line where Kevin Henderson punched in a short run. The PAT missed leaving the score at 33-13. After the Hornets had built a 50-13 lead, Cass drove 93 yards in just five plays. A 49-yard reception by White from McWhorter moved the Colonels into Hiram territory. Braylon Hill then got loose on a 34-yard scamper to put Cass in scoring position. McWhorter found Tatum on a slant route to culminate the drive from the 5-yard line. That made the score 50-20 and with a running clock, Hiram ran out the clock with their final possession. Hiram (7-2, 2-2) plays at Woodland on Friday night in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Cass (4-5, 1-3) can still make the state playoffs following Calhoun’s 28-21 loss Friday night at Dalton. The Colonels, who host Calhoun Friday night in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, can claim Region 7-5A’s final playoff spot with a win over the Yellow Jackets (6-3, 2-2).

The Adairsville Tigers and the Cartersville Hurricanes both collected one-sided region wins Thursday night. The Tigers won 40-7 at Gordon Lee while the Purple Hurricanes won 43-0 at Woodland. The games were moved to Thursday to accommodate the current football officials shortage in the state of Georgia. ADAIRSVILLE 40, GORDON LEE 7 The Adairsville Tigers dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage Thursday night at Gordon Lee and overpowered the host Trojans in Chickamauga, 40-7. Adairsville built a 40-0 lead by halftime and closed out the second half by giving their reserves some valuable playing time. Jamarion Pullum scored three touchdowns in the Tigers’ victory. He scored on a 47-yard screen pass in the first quarter and had rushing touchdowns from 9- and 12-yards in the second quarter. Quarterback Jonathan Gough opened the scoring on Adairsville’s first possession. His 13-yard run capped a quick 48-yard drive that took only five plays. Ethan Blome also had a pair of touchdown runs in the opening half. His 4-yard touchdown from the Tigers’ jumbo-set finished off a 71-yard drive and he scored Adairsville’s late touchdown on a 1-yard run in the final minute. Gordon Lee’s only score came with just 3:12 remaining. A 6-yard touchdown run capped a 60-yard Trojans drive. Gordon Lee falls to 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (6-2, 5-0) hosts Bremen next Friday, October 27 in what could be a showdown for the region title. CARTERSVILLE 43, WOODLAND 0 The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes improved to 9-0 on the season and 4-0 in Region 7-AAAAA Thursday night with a 43-0 shutout at Woodland. Running back Baylon Long and reserve quarterback Andrew Purdy had a pair of touchdown runs each for the Hurricanes. Khristian Lando and Luke McBride added one touchdown run each in the win. Long capped the Canes’ opening drive with an 11-yard run and Lando ran in a two-point conversion as Cartersville grabbed an early 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Later in the first quarter after Woodland missed a field goal attempt, Lando broke off a long 50+ yard run that set up McBride’s short rushing score. The drive put Cartersville up 15-0 just five seconds into the second quarter. The score stayed that way until a scoring drive by the Canes late in the half. Quarterback Nate Russell had a key fourth down scramble play to extend Cartersville’s drive and Lando finished it with a 22-yard run with 1:01 left before intermission. Ryan Johnson, who made all of his five PAT attempts, kicked the extra point for a 22-0 Hurricanes lead at the break. Early in the third quarter, a nice kick return by Logan Shrewsbury set up the Canes' next score. Long completed the drive with a 6-yard run with 9:43 to go in the third quarter making the score 29-0. From there, the Cartersville reserves added a pair of touchdown runs by Purdy for a 43-0 final score. Woodland (2-7, 0-4) hosts Hiram next Friday, October 27. Cartersville (9-0, 4-0) hosts Dalton — also on Friday, October 27.

The Cartersville and Woodland volleyball teams both lost their first-round matches Wednesday evening in the Class 5A state tournament. The Lady Canes fell at home in three straight sets to Chattahoochee. The Lady Cats dropped three straight sets at Greater Atlanta Christian. The season for Woodland ends with a 13-27 record. Cartersville’s season ends with a 28-18 mark.

Cartersville softball beat the Jefferson Dragons in walk-off fashion twice Tuesday to win their Super Regional and advance to the Class 5A Final Eight State Tournament October 25-28 in Columbus. The Lady Canes won 4-3 in Tuesday afternoon's first meeting with the Dragons. Then after Jefferson eliminated Centennial, Cartersville beat Jefferson Tuesday night in the championship round, 8-7. Layne Callan had Cartersville’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning of the 4-3 victory. Reese Dumas had the Lady Canes’ walk-off hit in the bottom of the eighth inning of the 8-7 Super Regional clincher. Zoie Shiflett was the winning pitcher for Cartersville in both games. She worked 14 innings allowing six earned runs on 12 hits and two walks in the two games combined. Shiflett struck out three. Kennedy Stevens pitched one inning for the Canes allowing two earned runs on two hits. Stevens fanned one. LaKiaya Banks had four hits in the two games for Cartersville including a pair of RBIs. Shiflett had three hits including two doubles. Erin McCrary totaled three hits with a double and three RBIs and Jordan Bishop also contributed three hits including a double and a solo home run. Callan finished with two hits including a double and three RBIs while Dumas, Crenshaw, and Addi Burns added one hit and one RBI apiece. Jefferson’s season comes to a close with a 20-8 record. Cartersville (21-9) advances to the Class 5A Final Eight State Tournament in Columbus where the Lady Canes will open the double-elimination tournament against Ola (24-3) on October 25 at 1 p.m. Other teams in the Class 5A tournament in Columbus are Cambridge (17-9), Harris County (23-7), Northside-Columbus (26-7), Kell (26-7), Eastside (22-5), and Northgate (16-11).

The “Road to LakePoint” and the Class 5A State Volleyball Championship Game begins on Wednesday with a pair of local teams in action. The Woodland Lady Cats (13-26) will travel to Greater Atlanta Christian (30-7) for their opening round match while the Cartersville Lady Canes (28-17) will host Chattahoochee (10-24) at the Storm Center. Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m. starts. Teams advancing to the second round will play on Saturday at the higher remaining seed. The Woodland/GAC winner will play the Eastside/Villa Rica winner. The Cartersville/Chattahoochee winner will play the Jefferson/Jackson-Atlanta winner.

Cartersville softball, with a 13-5 win over Centennial on Monday, advanced to the second day of the Super Regional hosted by the Lady Canes as one of two unbeaten teams. The Lady Canes will face Jefferson in the next round on Tuesday at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to the 7 p.m. championship round needing only one more win to advance to the State Tournament’s Final Eight in Columbus. The Cartersville/Jefferson loser will need three straight elimination game wins to advance. Meanwhile, at the Villa Rica Super Regional, Woodland was eliminated in two straight games — falling to Cambridge 6-3 and host Villa Rica, 5-3. CARTERSVILLE 13, CENTENNIAL 5 The Lady Canes not only broke open a close game Monday with a nine-run fifth inning but also ended the game by run-rule in a 13-5 first-round Super Regional win at home over the Centennial Knights. Centennial and Cartersville were tied 4-4 heading to the fifth inning. The Knights then took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth. The Lady Canes then blew the game wide-open with eight hits in their final frame including a home run, triple, double, and five singles. Zoie Shiflett (5 IP, 5R, 4ER, 10H, 1BB, 4K) collected the pitching victory for the Hurricanes. Erin McCrary had three doubles and drove in three runs to pace the Cartersville offense. Jordan Bishop also had three hits including a triple and two RBIs. LaKiaya Banks finished with two hits including a double and one RBI. Shiflett homered to begin the fifth-inning rally. Allana Williams (triple, two RBIs), Kennedy Crenshaw (two RBIs), Reese Dumas (RBI), Addi Burns, and Layne Callan added one hit apiece. The Lady Canes (19-8), who host all games in their Super Regional, advance to face Jefferson (18-6) on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. Centennial (11-18) slipped to the elimination portion of the bracket to play Creekside Monday night. Jefferson defeated Creekside 15-0 in Monday’s other opening-round game. The double-elimination tournament concludes Tuesday with games at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. if needed. CAMBRIDGE 6, WOODLAND 3 In both teams’ opening game at the Villa Rica Super Regional on Monday, Cambridge took a 3-0 lead through the first five innings then held on to defeat Woodland, 6-3. Woodland narrowed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the sixth on a two-run single by Mackenzie Araya but the Bears answered with a two-run homer and one more insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to build a 6-2 lead. The Lady Cats added a run in the top of the seventh but got no closer. Peyton Dorn (6 IP, 6ER, 12H, 4BB, 4K) worked all six innings for Woodland in the circle and had two hits in the loss. Alana Carnes (RBI) and Jordan Hammonds had the other Lady Cats’ hits. VILLA RICA 5, WOODLAND 3 In an elimination game featuring two teams named Wildcats, Super Regional host Villa Rica downed Woodland 5-3. The two teams were tied 3-3 through five innings before Villa Rica grabbed the lead on pitcher Chloe Smith’s two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth. Woodland loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh but was not able to push across any runs. Ashlynn Baines (6 IP, 5R, 4ER, 6H, 6BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for the locals. Kamryn Smith finished the game with two hits including one double and one RBI for Woodland. Alana Carnes hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Jordan Hammonds and Baines (double) added one hit each. Villa Rica (23-7) advances in the elimination portion of the double-elimination bracket to play on Tuesday. Woodland’s season comes to a close with a 20-11 mark.

October 16, 2023 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com This week's Athletes Beyond Bartow edition includes NFL updates on former Canes Trevor Lawrence and Miller Forristall plus updates on a dozen college football players including a pair of former Cartersville High linemen who squared off in American Athletic Conference play. There are also updates from senior pro golf and collegiate cross country, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and swimming. NFL TREVOR LAWRENCE Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … was 20-for-30 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns with one interception as the Jaguars defeated the visiting Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday 37-20. Lawrence also had three rushing attempts for 15 yards in the win. His TD tosses went to Christian Kirk in the second quarter from 29 yards to make the score 21-3. He also connected with Brenton Strange on a 10-yard score in the third quarter to build a 31-6 lead. Jacksonville (4-2) now leads the AFC South and visits the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night in an 8:15 p.m. kickoff. MILLER FORRISTALL — Los Angeles Rams (NFL, 3rd-yr pro; TE; Alabama; Cartersville HS) … remains on the Rams’ practice squad after being released by the Cleveland Browns at the end of August. Forristall was signed by Los Angeles in mid-September where he remains listed behind tight end starter Tyler Higbee plus Brycen Hopkins, Davis Allen, and Hunter Long on the Rams’ depth chart. PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS SENIOR TOUR JASON BOHN — PGA Tour Champions (Acworth resident; Cartersville Country Club member) … fired rounds of 76-72-72 (220, 4-over-par) and finished in a tie for 60th place this past weekend at the SAS Championship. The senior tour event was held at the par-72, 7,237-yard Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. With this week’s results, Bohn slipped one spot in the Schwab Cup standings to 73rd. The next event is the Dominion Energy Charity Classic this weekend in Richmond, Virginia. COLLEGE FOOTBALL KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (R-So., Cartersville HS) … had one tackle this past Saturday in a 30-16 win over visiting San Diego. Through the Red Foxes' first six games, Benham has 13 total tackles including one for loss. Marist (3-3, 3-1 Pioneer Football League) plays at Presbyterian College this Saturday afternoon. HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Vikings’ starting center was part of an offensive unit that scored touchdowns on nine of its first eleven possessions and rolled up 569 total yards including 29 first downs and 398 rushing yards in 64-7 rout of visiting Millsaps College. Berry (5-1, 3-1 Southern Athletic Association) plays at conference foe Sewanee (Tennessee) this Saturday afternoon. CARLOS DEL RIO-WILSON — Syracuse University (R-So., Cartersville HS) … in a fourth-quarter relief role, he was 2-for-9 passing for 29 yards with one interception as the Orange lost 41-3 at 4th-ranked Florida State. Del Rio-Wilson also had a pair of rushing attempts for four yards. Syracuse (4-3, 0-3 ACC) will try to snap a three-game losing streak on Thursday, October 26 at Virginia Tech. COLLIN FLETCHER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … caught a pair of passes for 80 yards including a 45-yard touchdown. He also completed a 35-yard pass as the NAIA 23rd-ranked Eagles won 57-0 at St. Andrews University (North Carolina). Reinhardt (4-2, 2-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visits Valley, Alabama this Saturday to take on conference-rival Point University. TODD GADDY — Berry College (Fr., Cass HS) … did not have a stat line but saw action in the Vikings’ 64-7 Mountain Day win this past Saturday over Millsaps College. Berry (5-1, 3-1 SAA) heads to Sewanee-University of the South (Tennessee) this Saturday afternoon. JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … an offensive line starter and part of a unit that totaled 366 yards but the Tigers lost at home last Thursday to Tulane, 31-21. Memphis (4-2, 1-1 American Athletic Conference) plays at UAB this Saturday afternoon. SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Green Wave’s offensive line, Hurst was part of a unit that produced 403 yards of total offense including 144 rushing yards in a 31-21 Thursday night victory at the University of Memphis. Tulane (5-1, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) hosts North Texas this Saturday in the Green Wave’s annual Homecoming game. TYLER MARTIN — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … saw action in the offensive line for the Vikings this past Saturday as they rolled to a 64-7 home win over Millsaps College (Mississippi) and totaled 569 yards of offense. Berry (5-1, 3-1 Southern Athletic Association) plays at conference foe Sewanee (Tennessee) this Saturday afternoon. J.P. PERRY — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … saw action with the Vikings’ defense this past Saturday but did not have a stat line in a 64-7 blowout win at home. Berry (5-1, 3-1 Southern Athletic Association) plays at conference foe Sewanee (Tennessee) this Saturday afternoon. SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-So., Cartersville HS) … made three catches for a total of 52 yards this past Saturday at Mercer in a 22-10 conference victory in Macon. His receptions included a 30-yard touchdown. Phillips now has 40 catches this season for 414 yards and four touchdowns. Chattanooga (5-2, 4-1 Southern Conference), ranked 20th in FCS, hosts East Tennessee State this Saturday. COURTNEY SLOCUM — Mars Hill University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … did not record a tackle but was credited with one pass breakup from his linebacker position as the Lions won 24-14 at Emory & Henry (Virginia). Mars Hill (5-1, 4-1 South Atlantic Conference) visits Carson-Newman University this Saturday afternoon. EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … had two tackles and broke up one pass in the Demon Deacons’ 30-13 loss this past Saturday at Virginia Tech. Slocum now has 16 total tackles and one interception through six games this season. Wake Forest (3-3, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) will look to snap a three-game skid this Saturday at Pittsburgh. CROSS COUNTRY RYLEE EVANS — Western Kentucky University (So., Woodland HS) … ran to a 66th place finish of 168 competitors last Friday in Evansville, Indiana at the Angel Mounds Invitational. The Hilltoppers finished tenth of 19 teams in the race. WKU runs next at the Conference USA Championship at Hobson Grove Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. VOLLEYBALL VANESSA JOHNSON — Truett McConnell University (So., Cartersville HS) … saw action in one set this past Friday as the Bears won 14-25, 25-20, 25-16, and 25-18 at Johnson University (Tennessee). She was credited with one dig. TMU (18-8, 11-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Reinhardt University Tuesday night. MADELYN ORTON — LaGrange College (So., Rydal resident; Cornerstone Prep) … had six digs in the Panthers’ three-set home loss last Thursday to Belhaven University (Mississippi). LaGrange (2-14, 1-8 Collegiate Conference of the South) has conference matches this Saturday at Berea College (Kentucky) where they will also play Wesleyan College. MEREDITH ORTON — LaGrange College (So., Rydal resident; Cornerstone Prep) … in a straight sets home loss to Belhaven University (Mississippi) last Thursday, Orton had four kills and four digs. LaGrange (2-14, 1-8 Collegiate Conference of the South) has conference matches this Saturday at Berea College (Kentucky) where they will also play Wesleyan College. MARIA PILIPOSYANS — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … in a three-set loss at Union College (Kentucky) and a four-set win at Johnson University (Tennessee), Piliposyans totaled 11 kills and five blocks. The Eagles’ middle hitter has now totaled 65 kills and 30 blocks in 18 matches this season. Reinhardt (17-5, 10-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Truett McConnell University on Tuesday night and St. Andrews (North Carolina) on Saturday. SOCCER ABBEY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … totaled 62 minutes of pitch time off the Eagles’ bench in a 3-0 win last Wednesday over Brenau University and a 5-0 defeat of Johnson University (Tennessee) this past Saturday. Reinhardt (9-4-1, 9-0-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Pikeville University (Kentucky) this Wednesday afternoon and visits Bluefield University (Virginia) on Saturday. BRADY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … a starting defender for the Eagles, Craig had one shot on goal in a 6-0 home pitch win Saturday over Johnson University (Tennessee). Reinhardt (7-2-4, 5-2-1 AAC) hosts Pikeville University (Kentucky) on Wednesday afternoon before playing at Bluefield University (Virginia) on Saturday. TENNIS EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (So., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 2 singles match 7-6, 6-3 but lost on Line 2 doubles with partner Simone Mercier, 6-3, in a 4-3 home loss to Lenoir Rhyne University last Wednesday. YHC has one more Fall match on the schedule this Saturday afternoon when the Mountain Lions visit Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. EMILY SURCEY — Samford University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 0-3 in doubles and lost her only singles match this past Friday through Sunday as the Bulldogs hosted their second Round Robin in Birmingham. In doubles matches, Surcey partnered with Ally Hayduk and lost a 7-6 decision to their opponents from the University of South Alabama. The duo also dropped a 6-0 decision to opponents from UAB. In Sunday’s doubles action, Surcey paired with Margaret Jaraczewski and fell to their Western Kentucky opponents, 6-2. In singles play, she lost a 6-4, 7-5 decision to an opponent from Western Kentucky. Samford plays their final Fall matches October 27-29 at the University of Alabama Fall Invitational. SWIMMING HARPER POWELL — Florida Tech (Jr., Adairsville HS) … was on the Panthers’ ninth-place 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:39.73) this past weekend at the Nova Southeastern University Shark Invitational as Florida Tech finished third of eight teams. Powell also added a 21st-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (25.14), a 30th-place result in the 100-yard backstroke (1:03.74), and a 47th-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (58.26). The next meet for Florida Tech is at Lynn University on Friday, October 27.

October 16, 2023 The 2023 GHSA football season has now completed eight weeks of competition and region play is well underway across the state. Below are the standings for the two regions that include the four local teams.

The Cartersville Hurricanes went back and forth for four quarters with the visiting Hiram Hornets Friday night at Weinman Stadium and pulled out a 35-34 win in their third straight close game in as many weeks. The two teams matched first-quarter touchdowns. Hiram runningback Kaden Hamilton scored on a 45-yard run and Cartersville quarterback Nate Russell connected with tight end Connor Brasfield for an 11-yard score for a 7-7 tie. After the Canes blocked a punt and took over at their own 45-yard line, Russell hit Khristian Lando on a quick slant that turned into a 55-yard touchdown. The pass play gave Cartersville a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter. Hiram made a 47-yard field goal with about five minutes remaining in the half to make the score 14-10 but Lando got loose again shortly after for a 35-yard scoring jaunt that put Cartersville up 21-10. The Hornets’ Chase Tyler picked off a pass that set up another Hiram field goal and following another Cartersville turnover — this time a fumble, Hiram scored on a six-yard fade route with 0:03 left in the first half. A two-point conversion pass was successful and the Hornets and Hurricanes went to the intermission knotted 21-21. A rushing touchdown by the Hornets and a 65-yard touchdown scamper by Lando in the third quarter made the score 28-28 heading into the final quarter. Hiram’s Tyler hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass with just over six minutes remaining in the game but the Hornets failed to convert the PAT. The missed kick left Hiram with a 34-28 lead. With just over three minutes left in the game, Lando capped off a lengthy Canes drive with a three-yard plunge. Kicker Ryan Johnson converted his fifth PAT kick of the night and Cartersville held a 35-34 lead with just over two minutes remaining. The Canes’ defense then stopped Hiram on the ensuing drive and turned the ball over on downs with key stops on third and fourth down. The Hurricanes were then able to run out the clock to secure their eighth win of the year. Khristian Lando rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Nate Russell passed for 183 yards. Jamauri Brice had 105 receiving yards. Kendarious Brown rushed for 187 yards for the Hornets, and Kaden Hamilton ran for 115. Hiram had 352 yards rushing as a team. Hiram (6-2, 1-2) hosts Cass next Friday night. Cartersville (8-0, 3-0) plays at Woodland on Thursday night. CALHOUN 48, WOODLAND 13 The Wildcats had an early 7-0 lead at Calhoun Friday night with Cam Williams finding paydirt on a 6-yard run less than four minutes into the game, but the host Yellow Jackets responded with 21 unanswered to gain a 21-7 advantage. Calhoun's Caden Williams scored on a 28-yard run before quarterback Trey Townsend connected with Bryant Arnold for a 5-yard score late in the first quarter. Townsend then found Emaree Winston on a 27-yard touchdown pass early in the second period to make the score 21-7. Woodland's Nick Miranda kicked a pair of short field goals late in the second quarter and early in the third to narrow Calhoun’s lead to 28-13. He booted a 22-yarder with 4:52 left in the first half and made a 37-yarder at the 8:40 mark of the third period. The two field goals were sandwiched around a late second-quarter 30-yard rushing touchdown by Williams of the Yellow Jackets. Calhoun added to its lead with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Townsend to Winston in the third quarter, an 8-yard scoring pass from Townsend to Ripkin West near the end of the third quarter, and an 18-yard touchdown run by Hunter White in the fourth quarter. Woodland (2-6, 0-3) hosts Cartersville on Thursday evening in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Calhoun (6-2, 2-1) visits Dalton next Friday. ~~ David Archer, Jr. contributed to this portion of the report. DALTON 38, CASS 13 A stout rushing attack by the Dalton Catamounts took down the visiting Cass Colonels Friday night, 38-13. Dalton runningback Adriel Hernandez had touchdown runs of 13-, 11-, 8-, and 5-yards and rushed for 211 yards as the Catamounts scored 35 unanswered points across the first through third periods. The hosts mixed in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Long to Bubba Turner in the second quarter. The Catamounts also added a 41-yard field goal late in the game by Adrian Gongora who also made five PAT kicks. The Colonels led 7-0 on a quick four-play drive to begin the game. Quarterback Brodie McWhorter connected with Sacovie White for a 51-yard scoring pass that capped a 69-yard drive just one minute into the game. Cass did not score again until the first minute of the fourth quarter when the McWhorter-White duo hooked up for a second time with a 45-yard touchdown strike. Dalton (6-2, 2-1) hosts Calhoun next Friday. Cass (4-4, 1-2) travels to Hiram for a Friday night matchup in Paulding County.

Adairsville volleyball had its season end Saturday morning following a three-set loss to Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe in the Region 6-AAA tournament. The Lady Tigers dropped the opening set 25-19 but won Set 2 by a 25-18 score to force a third set. In the tiebreaker set, the Warriors escaped with a 15-7 win. Addie Pearson totaled seven kills, seven assists, and six digs in the loss. Jenna Claire Hendley had five kills and one block. Jordyn Hartline finished with three kills and a pair of digs. Cara Harp contributed ten assists with one dig and Sherry Wells added nine digs. Adairsville’s season ends with a 10-24 mark.

Adairsville volleyball lost its opening round match of the Region 6-AAA tournament Thursday night at Ringgold, 25-12, 25-12. Jenna Claire Hendley had five kills for Adairsville. Addie Pearson followed with four kills and added five assists. Cara Harp contributed three assists and one dig while Sherry Wells totaled eight digs in the loss. Adairsville (10-23) falls to the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament where they will face Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (16-20) in their next match on Saturday afternoon.

Cass softball lost its final game of the 2023 season to North Cobb Christian Thursday night in extra innings at the Cass athletic complex. The Lady Colonels rallied in the bottom of the seventh for two runs that sent the game into an extra frame but it was the Eagles who pushed a run across in the eighth to win 7-6. Braelyn Franklin (double, two RBIs) and Cayce Brown (RBI) led the Cass offense with two hits each. Bailey York (triple, two RBIs), Reese Howard, Harlee Thomason, KK Evans, and Autumn Smith added one hit apiece for the Lady Colonels. Emma Gibson (8 IP, 7R, 6ER, 10H, 5BB, 3K) went the distance in the circle for the locals. North Cobb Christian improved to 21-6-1 with their win. Cass closes the door on its season with a 9-18 mark.