October 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Adairsville softball dropped two one-run decisions Wednesday night at West Laurens and was eliminated in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. The Tigers lost 8-7 and 11-10. In Game 1, Adairsville led 5-0 through 2 1/2 innings and held a 7-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, but the Raiders rallied for four runs on two hits, four walks, and a wild pitch. In Game 2, the Tigers led 5-1 through two innings and 9-3 through four, but the Raiders outscored Adairsville 8-1 over the final three frames. Chloe Hill (6.2 IP, 8R, 5ER, 9H, 8BB) was the losing pitcher in the opener. Paislee Rooks (5.2 IP, 10R, 9ER, 9H, 6BB) suffered the pitching loss in Game 2. Heidi Rickett (1.1 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB) pitched in relief in both games. Ansley Powell led the Adairsville bats in the series with five hits, including a homer and two RBI. Madison Brookshire (RBI) and Hill had three hits. Ashlynn Durden (home run, five RBI), Sydney Satterfield (double, four RBI), Rooks (double, three RBI), and Rickett (RBI) each finished with two hits. Hynleigh Statham added one hit. West Laurens (23-7) advanced to the Class 4A double-elimination Elite Eight State Finals in Columbus on October 28-31. Adairsville finished the season 21-13.

October 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cass softball lost both games of a doubleheader Wednesday night at Starr’s Mill and was eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen round of the Class 5A state playoffs. The Lady Colonels suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in Game 1 on a walk-off home run, then fell 5-1 in the nightcap. Junior pitcher Kylie Gentry went the distance in the opener, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. She went two innings in the second game, allowing three earned runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts before Lily Powell took over. Powell worked the final five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Lindsey Chubb and Gentry each had two hits in the series loss. Shyia Woods, Addy Bauder, Natalie Hughes, Rilyn Caspari, and Kharmyn Collum each added one hit. Starr’s Mill (25-7) advanced to the Class 5A double-elimination Elite Eight State Finals tournament in Columbus on October 28-31. The Lady Colonels finished the season 17-13.

October 20, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Trevor Lawrence Bartow County athletes continued to make their mark at the professional and collegiate levels this past week, with standout performances across football, volleyball, cross country, rifle, and soccer. Former Cartersville High standout Trevor Lawrence threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars, while local college football players contributed tackles, interceptions, and key efforts in wins across multiple conferences. Other highlights included Berry College volleyball player Ailee England helping the Vikings to two weekend victories, Morehead State rifle standout Lucy Evans placing seventh individually, and North Georgia goalkeeper Miguel Pineda remaining unbeaten in goal. Here’s a look at the latest accomplishments and upcoming schedules for athletes with ties to Bartow County high schools. NFL TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (6th-yr. NFL; Clemson; Cartersville HS) . . . completed 24 of 41 pass attempts for 306 yards and four touchdowns with one interception this past Sunday in the Jags’ 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans in London. The 27-year-old quarterback also rushed for 11 yards on three attempts. He threw TD passes to Bhayshul Tuten (27 yards and 2 yards), Nate Boerkircher (1 yard), and Travis Hunter (7 yards) in the loss. Jacksonville (4-2) has a bye week before hosting the Indianapolis Colts on November 1. PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS JASON BOHN — 34th-year professional; Cartersville Country Club member; Acworth resident; University of Alabama — carded rounds of 71-70-74 (1-under) and tied for 22nd place this past weekend at the SAS Championship in Cary, North Carolina. JOE DURANT — 39th-year professional; Cartersville Country Club member; Pensacola resident; Huntingdon College — fired rounds of 72-78-74 (8-over) and tied for 57th place last weekend at the SAS Championship played at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. FOOTBALL WESTIN CRISP — Centre College (Fr., Adairsville HS) … made three tackles (two solo) in the Colonels’ 63-20 home win this past Saturday over Rhodes College (TN). Centre (2-4, 1-2 Southern Athletic Association) welcomes Sewanee-University of the South on Saturday. J.D. DeROCHE — University of the Cumberlands (So., Cass HS) … made three tackles in the Patriots’ 38-21 win at Bethel University (TN). Cumberlands (5-2, 1-1 Mid-South Conference) hosts Cumberland University (TN) on Saturday night. KADEN ELLIS — Appalachian State University (So., Cass HS) … the Mountaineers’ defensive lineman made one tackle last Friday in a 35-32 win at Coastal Carolina. App State (4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) welcomes undefeated James Madison University to Boone on Thursday night. TOKYO GORDON — Sam Houston State University (R-Sr., Adairsville HS) … the Bearkats’ linebacker made five tackles October 14 in a 16-3 home loss to Western Kentucky University. SHSU (1-5, 0-2 Conference USA) hosts New Mexico State University on Wednesday night. DEVIN HENDERSON — Appalachian State University (Jr., Cass HS) … made six tackles, broke up one pass, and intercepted a pass last Friday in a 35-32 victory at Coastal Carolina. The Mountaineers (4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) host unbeaten James Madison University on Thursday. KEVIN HENDERSON — Appalachian State University (Jr., Cass HS) … the Mountaineers’ linebacker made two tackles last Friday in a 35-32 win at Coastal Carolina. Appalachian State (4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) hosts James Madison University on Thursday night. BRAYLON HILL — Kentucky Wesleyan College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the Panthers’ running back had one carry for two yards and caught one pass for a three-yard loss this past Saturday in a 42-7 loss to visiting Ohio Dominican University. Kentucky Wesleyan (0-7, 0-5 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) visits Ashland University (OH) on Saturday afternoon. SHADRE HURST — University of Houston (5th-year, Cartersville HS) … a regular starter on the Cougars’ offensive line that helped produce 505 yards of total offense last Saturday in a 35-32 home win over 18th-ranked Oklahoma State. This Saturday, 14th-ranked Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12 Conference) visits Salt Lake to challenge 9th-ranked Utah in another conference showdown. KHRISTIAN LANDO — Jacksonville State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … rushed for three yards on two attempts October 13 in the Gamecocks’ 27-24 home win over Florida International University. Jax State (5-2, 3-0 Conference USA) travels to Las Cruces to play New Mexico State on October 28. TRENTON MAHAFFEY — Anderson University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … a regular starter on the Trojans’ offensive line that helped produce 357 yards of total offense this past Saturday in a 37-33 home loss to Catawba College. Mahaffey also earned credit for a tackle following a Catawba interception. Anderson (4-4, 3-3 South Atlantic Conference) has a bye week and will look to snap a three-game skid at Wingate University (NC) on October 31. BRADY MARCHESE — Auburn University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … played on special teams but did not record a stat line in the Tigers’ 27-24 win last Saturday at top-ranked Georgia. Auburn (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) hosts 18th-ranked LSU on Saturday. ZAY NALLS — Anderson University (So., Adairsville HS) … made one tackle and had one quarterback hurry last Saturday in the Trojans’ 37-33 home loss to Catawba College. Anderson (4-4, 3-3 South Atlantic Conference) travels to Wingate University (NC) on October 31. JAKE PARKER — Cumberland University (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … completed 18 of 37 pass attempts for 203 yards with one interception last Saturday in a 31-14 loss at 13th-ranked Campbellsville University (KY). The Phoenix (4-3, 0-2 Mid-South Conference) will visit 24th-ranked University of the Cumberlands (KY) on Saturday night. CHRIS ROPER — Dartmouth College (Sr., Adairsville HS) … caught one pass for 12 yards and rushed five times for eight yards last Saturday in a 27-21 home win over Merrimack College (MA). The Big Green (2-3, 1-1 Ivy League) visits Columbia University (NY) on Saturday. STEPHEN ROWSER — Morehouse College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made five tackles (three solo) in the Maroon Tigers’ 31-17 loss at Howard University last Saturday. Morehouse (3-5, 3-3 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) has a bye week before traveling to Columbia to take on Allen University (SC) on October 31. BRAXTON RYAN — Kentucky Wesleyan College (So., Adairsville HS) … an offensive line starter on a unit that helped produce 116 total yards in a 42-7 loss to Ohio Dominican University last Saturday. The Panthers (0-7, 0-5 Great Midwest Conference) visit Ashland University (OH) on Saturday afternoon. COLTON SANFORD — Centre College (Fr., Adairsville HS) … made two tackles this past Saturday in the Colonels’ 63-20 home victory over Rhodes College (TN). Centre (2-4, 1-2 Southern Athletic Association) welcomes Sewanee-University of the South (TN) on Saturday. SACOVIE WHITE-HELTON — University of Georgia (Jr., Cass HS) … caught four passes for 37 yards and had three punt returns for seven yards in the Bulldogs’ 27-24 home loss to Auburn. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) dropped from No. 1 to No. 5 in the A.P. poll this week. The Bulldogs will play Florida in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on October 31. IAN WILLIAMS — University of Arkansas (So., Cass HS) … made two tackles and forced one fumble this past Saturday in the Razorbacks’ 31-21 win at Vanderbilt. Arkansas (3-4, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) has a bye week before hosting Missouri on October 31. VOLLEYBALL AILEE ENGLAND — Berry College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … saw action in all 13 sets this past weekend in Danville, Kentucky, as the Vikings won five-set matches against Southwestern University (TX) and Trinity University (TX), but lost to host Centre College in three sets. England contributed six aces, four digs, and one kill in the three matches. Berry (17-4, 10-2 Southern Athletic Association) plays Maryville College (TN) on Saturday in Sewanee, Tennessee, and Sewanee-University of the South on Sunday. CROSS COUNTRY ADDISON BROWN — Truett-McConnell University (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished 53rd individually (27:30) as the Bears finished 7th of 11 teams last Friday at the 6K Maryville College Invitational in Knoxville. Next, TMU will compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships in Knoxville on November 6. TYLER JONES — University of West Georgia (Sr., Woodland HS) … finished 184th (27:08) of 344 runners this past Saturday at the 8K USC-Upstate Invitational. UWG placed 14th of 37 teams. Charleston Southern won the meet, followed by Duke and Furman. The United Athletic Conference Championships are October 30 in Richmond, Kentucky. WILL PARKER — Truett-McConnell University (So., Woodland HS) … placed 66th (29:29) of 136 runners, and the Bears finished 4th of 12 teams last Friday in Knoxville at the Fighting Scots Invitational. TMU returns to Knoxville for the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships on November 6. RIFLE LUCY EVANS — Morehead State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … finished 7th individually and second for her team this past Saturday in a 4712-4660 home loss to Murray State University. Evans was 6th in air rifle and 11th in smallbore among 16 shooters. The Eagles (3-1) host the University of Tennessee-Martin on Friday and Saturday. SOCCER BRIONNA CARVER — Johnson University (Fr., Woodland HS) … the Royals’ outside back took two shots on goal in 40 minutes last Wednesday in a 4-1 home loss to Reinhardt University. Johnson (3-12, 0-9 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Bryan College (TN) on Wednesday and travels to Columbia College (SC) on Saturday. HUNTER LIMBAUGH — LaGrange College (Fr., Woodland HS) … made a start, logged 48 minutes, and took one shot this past Saturday in a 2-0 home loss to Covenant College (GA). LaGrange (6-7-1, 1-2-1 (Collegiate Conference of the South) visits Oglethorpe University on Thursday and Piedmont University on Saturday. ELIZABETH MORGAN — Thomas University (So., Woodland HS) … logged 45 minutes and assisted on one goal in the Nighthawks’ 17-0 home win over Abraham Baldwin last Thursday. She then saw 20 minutes on the pitch and took one shot in a 5-1 home win over Wesleyan College this past Saturday. Thomas (8-4-2, 6-3-1 Southern States Athletic Conference) has won five straight, heads to Point University (GA) on Thursday, and hosts Andrew College on Saturday afternoon. MIGUEL PINEDA — University of North Georgia (Fr., Woodland HS) … made two starts in net last week as the Nighthawks edged Clayton State University 2-1 at home and won 1-0 at Georgia Southwestern University. Pineda (4-0-2 in goal) faced 22 shots in the two games and totaled seven saves. UNG (9-2-5, 5-2-4 in the Peach Belt Conference) is receiving votes in the NCAA Division II coaches poll and will visit Middle Georgia State University on Wednesday before hosting Rollins College (FL) on Saturday. The PBC conference tournament begins October 31.

October 19, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville High School senior golfer Bodie Brumlow represented the USGA’s National Development Program this past weekend at The Match, a three-team international ‘friendly’ junior match held at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico. Mexico won with 21 points in the three-session event, which featured concurrent singles matches on Saturday morning, foursomes/alternate shot on Saturday afternoon, and singles again on Sunday morning. The Americans placed second with 20.5 points, and Puerto Rico finished third with 18.5. Each team included eight players—two boys and two girls—with the USA squad made up of four players each from Team Colorado and Team Georgia. Brumlow won his Saturday singles match 6 & 4 over Mexico’s Miguel Garcia and topped Pablo Fernandez of Mexico 4 & 3. He teamed with Grant Odom on Saturday to defeat Mexico’s Alain Petitjean and Carlos Moreno 3-up, and the same duo topped Puerto Rico’s Evan Pena and Fernando Leduc 2-up. In Sunday’s singles, Brumlow defeated Fernandez 4 & 3, but lost 1-up to Evan Pena of Puerto Rico.

October 18, 2026 Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Madoxx Davis fights for extra yards against Allatoona on Oct. 16 in Weinman Stadium. Photo by Russell Andrews Earlier this week, Cartersville High football’s social media team put out a video of players doing their best Conor Foster imitation. “A lot of them were impressive,” admitted the Canes head coach. “Jorian Bailey’s was great, reminding all the guys that I’m holding them accountable because I love them. Someone said you have to show up on my time, not your time. That was a good one. Coach Wilkins threw his hat, which I’m not real proud of. My children even got in there.” The highest form of flattery also has these Purple Hurricanes embracing the play-fast-but-disciplined mentality Foster preaches. This time it came across in a 60-0 shutout – the fifth in eight games – over Allatoona as Cartersville moved to 8-0 on the season heading into a bye week. Tyon Coe breaks free for a Canes' touchdown. Photo: Russell Andrews Last week, the Canes (8-0, 4-0) became the first team in state history to score 48 or more points in each of its first seven games of the season. That record grew with the blowout in Weinman Stadium on Friday. Before the 55-0 Cass win on Oct. 2, Cartersville had 5A’s top-scoring offense at 51.6 points per contest and the No. 1 defense at 5.4 points allowed. CHS now averages 52.5 points per game while giving up 4.38. Margins like those could lead to complacency. But, well, that’s not the mentality these players foster. That is the case, primarily, because many are still sour over a playoff loss last year to Kell that ended a highly productive season. “We’ve got a lot of guys who feel like they have something to prove,” said Georgia Tech commit and middle linebacker/tight end Cole Crawford. “After how last year ended, we want to leave no doubt and make sure we prove it every time we play and show everybody in the state that we’re legit.” Brayden Doss scores a touchdown in Cartersville's 60-0 rout of Allatoona. Photo: Russell Andrews Something to prove? During the Cartersville High band’s playing of the National Anthem on the field in pre-game, cheerleaders at attention on either side, the wind picked up and caused some pom poms to tumbleweed their way across the field. One made it 19 yards. That pom-pom covered nearly as much ground as Crawford and the Canes D allowed of the first-half Allatoona offense (26). What little wind Canes’ opponents still have in a game is often knocked out with several scores just before halftime. Three touchdowns in the final five minutes against Cass and Mt. Zion. A 23-point onslaught in the last 5:15 versus Villa Rica. That follows another message sent by Foster – win the final four minutes of the second quarter and first four minutes of the third. “If you get a turnover coming out of the half, or right before the half and go down and score, that takes the breath out of people,” said Crawford. One such score against the Buccaneers looked to be a fumble caused by Crawford on a lateral pass with less than three minutes to play in the half. Fellow linebacker Athens Davenport scooped up the ball, but bumped into Crawford and couldn’t get away from pursuers before being dragged down at the Allatoona 5-yard line. The Canes settled for a 25-yard Jayden Nevarez field goal and 52-0 lead. Grayson Warmack and Noah Cagle stop an Allatoona ball carrier. Photo: Russell Andrews Another chance came moments later when Cooper Melvin intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards to the Buccaneer 34. CHS advanced to the 16, but with seven seconds remaining, settled for another Nevarez field goal, this time from 33 yards out, for the 55-0 halftime advantage. Eight Cartersville first-half possessions ended with scores, plus a Kylen Pope 20-yard interception return caught at point-blank range. “It was an electric moment, for sure,” said the 6-foot-3, 225-lb. junior defensive end. “I was just trying to make a play on the quarterback and luckily, my teammate, Kaiden Kent, had jumped the screen. The quarterback kind of just threw the ball straight at me, and it stuck in there,” said Pope of his first touchdown since he was a middle school running back. “I’ve got the size of a defensive end,” he said, “but I’ve got hands, too.” Speaking of hands, receiver Madoxx Davis had a season-high 167 yards on six receptions, two of which went the distance. As a team, the Canes piled up 466 yards of total offense, 196 on the ground and 270 through the air. “We focus on preparation,” said Davis. “Playing fast is what separates us from most teams. Every day at practice, we’re working fast so that game day is fast, too. Speed is our identity, because we’re going to be the best-conditioned team. No one’s going to out-condition us, so eventually they’re going to break.” Cartersville’s first two scores came off Tyon Coe runs. The first showed the senior running back’s power on a seven-yard bruiser through the heart of the defense. The second came on the first play of the next possession, a 77-yard dash that started up the middle before breaking to the right and down the visitors’ sideline. That play gave Coe 100 yards on four carries. A three-yard loss a couple of drives later kept him from hitting the century mark for the third time this season. Harris Turner tossed his 12th touchdown of the season – a 34-yarder to Davis that made the score 35-0 early in the second quarter – on a 14-for-20 night for 200 yards. Fellow quarterback Brayden Doss’ lone pass was a 43-yarder to Davis for another touchdown. Doss also finished with 56 yards rushing on four carries, including a 46-yard race to the corner that pushed the lead to 42-0 with 7:06 to play in the first half. AJ Townsend followed that with a six-yard score to make the advantage 49-0. The two field goals by Nevarez off Allatoona turnovers produced a halftime score of 55-0. Second-half scoring with a running clock started with a safety on the Buccaneers after a high snap on a punt attempt was kicked out of the end zone. Canes kicker Landon Trevino booted a 25-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter for the 60-0 final. Complementary football has been key to the Canes’ success, Foster noted. “They feed off each other,” he said of the offense and defense. “Our offense is explosive, but the defense can give the ball right back to them. It’s fun to see those guys challenge each other. They’re a tough group and don’t want to give up a yard. I love their competitiveness. They’re eager to get better every week.”

October 18, 2026 Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Amara Ejieke (3) led the Lady Canes to a first-round win over Cedartown with 12 kills and reached the 1,000-kill milestone in her career. Photo: Russell Andrews Cartersville High’s career kills leader, Amara Ejieke, added another milestone on Oct. 17, scoring her 1,000th kill in a first-round playoff sweep of Cedartown. The point came from the left side off an Emma Wall assist in the second set, making the score 6-1 on the way to a 25-12 Cartersville win. The Lady Canes opened with a 25-15 win over the visitors and finished with a 25-10 third-set victory. Cartersville (35-5) will host Druid Hills (23-16-2) on Wednesday in the Storm Center. Fans are encouraged to wear white for a white-out in partnership with Bartow Family Resources. If a student brings a 12+ pack of diapers or a 3+ pack of wipes, they will be among the first to get the new student section T-shirts for volleyball and basketball games. The Lady Canes are all smiles after a winning point. Photo: Russell Andrews “It was a great feeling,” said Ejieke, who passed Ailee England on Oct. 6 in a win over Midtown to become the CHS All-Time leader. “My teammates really helped me to reach [1000 kills]. This year we’ve had good chemistry with our setters, Emma and Brooke, and it’s really shown.” England was a major influence on her. “I’d watch her play when I was on JV and in middle school, and she was so good. She pushed the team and had a lot of grit and was really smart with her shots. I’d watch and be like, ‘Wow, How did she do that?’ That made me want to hit like her.” Emma Wall sets. Photo: Russell Andrews . he had left an impact, figuratively and literally, on her teammates. “I cannot say enough good things about Amara,” said outside hitter Holly Dufrene. “I’ve played with her since the sixth grade, and she’s always been a stellar teammate. She’s quiet, but reliable. When she goes to the net, everybody ducks and covers.” “She’s been a silent leader, even as a sophomore,” said head coach Kyle Lundberg. “Amara comes in, does what she’s supposed to do, goes hard every day in practice and has been a model for these younger girls. She’s a 4+ GPA, too, and a lot more than just volleyball.” Ejieke finished with 12 kills against Cedartown. Blakely Morris had nine, while Dufrene, Adelynn England, and Sammie Camper each had four. Blakely Morris serves. Photo: Russell Andrews Emma Wall had 17 assists, followed by Brooke Belarmino’s 14. Kenzie Wilkie led the way in digs (10) and aces (7). England had six digs, while Ejieke added four. Belarmino had five aces, followed closely by Morris with four. Cartersville built an 11-4 lead in the first set before Cedartown fired off seven straight points to tie. Ejieke's kill broke another tie for a 14-13 lead, and the Lady Canes outscored the Bulldogs 11-2 the rest of the way. Reese Gibson’s second-set kill gave her team a 9-2 lead. The junior later teamed up with Dufrene for a block to build a 17-6 advantage. Belarmino’s assist to Morris for the kill ended the set at 25-12. Kenzie Wilkie sets as Adelynn England (4) looks on. Cedartown won a long third-set rally to close the gap, 10-8. Back-to-back aces by Wilkie, though, extended the Cartersville lead to 19-9. Kills by Camper, Ejieke, and Morris, along with three aces by Belarmino, ended the set and match. “We did what we needed to do,” said Lundberg of the 112th game in his third year leading the program. “Our first set was very slow. Second set, we did what we were supposed to do. Third set, it was slow again. “This last month, we’ve focused on a dig-or-die mentality. We’ll play a game [at practice] where if you’re up, but the other team scores and you don’t get a dig, then you go back to zero. So it’s basically everyone flying around. You have to have that mentality. You have to be all-in.” ADAIRSVILLE FALLS IN OPENING ROUND AT CALHOUN The Adairsville Lady Tigers volleyball team lost in three straight sets on Saturday at Calhoun and were eliminated from the Class 4A state playoffs. Adairsville finished the season 13-23. Calhoun (30-13), the classification's No. 3 seed, advanced to the second round and will host Troup County on Tuesday.

October 17, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Colonels defenders smother a Cedartown run attempt in a Cass 14-11 win at Cochran Stadium Friday night. Photo: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News The Cass Colonels overcame three turnovers, swirling winds, and a late Cedartown rally Friday night at Doug Cochran Stadium to secure a hard-fought 14-11 victory over the Bulldogs. Both teams entered the matchup looking to rebound from one-sided losses to top-ranked Cartersville in their previous outings. Despite those setbacks, both remained in the top 10 of the GHSA postseason rankings. In a windy game, with gusts reaching 35 mph and temperatures dropping for the first time this fall, the Colonels built an 11-point halftime lead before holding off the Bulldogs in the second half. Cass improved to 7-1 with the win, while Cedartown fell to 5-3. Cass running back Kalil Charles stretches for a touchdown against Cedartown. Photo: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News. Cedartown opened the scoring with a 46-yard field goal by Branson Adams with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldogs' six-play drive covered just 11 yards before Adams connected on the long kick, giving them a 3-0 lead. A Colonels fumble in the backfield set up the abbreviated drive. Cass answered with an 80-yard, 12-play drive. Kalil Charles capped the possession with a 7-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, and Anthony Diaz added the extra point to give the Colonels a 7-3 lead. Cass' defense provided another scoring opportunity early in the second quarter when defensive lineman Cordae Reed recovered a Cedartown fumble at the Bulldogs' 20-yard line. Five plays later, Charles scored on another 7-yard run with 11:43 remaining in the half. Diaz's extra point extended the Cass lead to 14-3. Cass QB Noah Rogers scrambles to buy more time vs. Cedartown on Oct. 16. Photo: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News. The Colonels' defense kept Cedartown's offense in check for the rest of the first half. The Bulldogs managed just one more first down on their final four possessions before halftime, and they lost another fumble that Cass' Tyson Beauford recovered. Cass had opportunities to extend its advantage but also struggled with ball security and finishing drives. The Colonels lost a fumble at the Cedartown 25-yard line when a defender stripped a Cass receiver after the catch. The Bulldogs also stopped two Cass possessions on downs, one at the Cedartown 26 and another at the 9-yard line. Cass led 14-3 at halftime. The second half opened with another unusual turnover. Battling the heavy winds, Cass delivered a high, short kickoff that Elijah Beaulieu recovered for the Colonels at the Cedartown 28-yard line. Cass could not capitalize, however, gaining no yardage before turning the ball over on downs. The Colonels struggled to generate offense throughout the third quarter, failing to record a first down on three possessions. Cedartown also struggled to move the ball, managing only one first down on its two second-half possessions before putting together a drive that carried into the fourth quarter. Kalil Charles turns the corner vs. Cedartown on Oct. 16. Photo: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to three points with 10:22 remaining when Chris Johnson scored on a 6-yard run to finish a 54-yard, seven-play drive. The key play came on a double-handoff reverse, with Rohan Kent racing 39 yards to the Cass 1-yard line. Johnson scored on the next sequence, and quarterback Wyatt Mosley connected with Ollie West on a two-point conversion pass to make it 14-11. Cass had three possessions remaining to protect its lead. The first ended on downs near midfield, and the second ended when Noah Rogers fumbled at the Cedartown 49-yard line. The Colonels' defense kept the Bulldogs from capitalizing, setting up one final chance for Cass to close out the game. With two minutes remaining and Cedartown out of timeouts, Cass took possession and ran out the clock with kneel-down plays from victory formation. Turnovers defined the contest. Cedartown fumbled three times and failed to field the second-half kickoff, while Cass fumbled three times. Neither offense found much success after halftime. Cedartown managed just four first downs in the second half, while Cass recorded only two. The Colonels will carry their 7-1 record into next Friday night's road matchup against Allatoona. Cedartown, now 5-3, will return home to host Woodland.

October 17, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Dalton built a commanding halftime lead and continued to pull away in the second half Friday night, handing Woodland a 62-6 defeat at Harmon Field at Bill Chappel Stadium. The victory improved the Catamounts to 6-1, while the Wildcats fell to 2-5. Dalton took control early, leading 10-0 in the first quarter. Julian Villa opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal with 8:06 remaining, then quarterback Caine Woods connected with Akeem Cox for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left in the period. Villa added the extra point. Villa extended the lead with a 28-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and Dalton struck for another big play when Woods found Cox for an 81-yard touchdown pass with 4:39 remaining in the half. Woods added a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 29 seconds left to make it 27-0. Just 12 seconds later, Dalton's Drayden Gazaway returned a Woodland fumble 20 yards for another touchdown, sending the Catamounts into halftime with a 34-0 advantage. Dalton continued its offensive surge after the break. Woods threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Havyn Searels with 11:03 remaining in the third quarter, and Bronx Stallion followed with a 42-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 48-0. Woods connected with Ayden Ashlock on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 3:22 left in the third quarter, pushing Dalton's advantage to 55-0. Woodland got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Hayden Collins scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 8:55 remaining. The Wildcats' extra-point attempt failed, leaving Dalton up 55-6. The Catamounts added the game's final points with 47 seconds remaining when reserve quarterback Hudson Ruppert threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Clayton Thompson, completing the 62-6 victory. Woodland will look to rebound next Friday, Oct. 23, when the Wildcats travel to Cedartown. Dalton will host Villa Rica on Friday, Oct. 23. ~~ Stuart Morse contributed to this report.

October 15, 2026 The Cartersville and Adairsville volleyball teams begin their respective state tournaments on Saturday. Cartersville will host Cedartown in the first round of Class 5A. Adairsville plays at Calhoun in the Class 4A first round.

October 14, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Adairsville Lady Tigers swept a doubleheader against the Mary Persons Bulldogs in Forsyth on Wednesday afternoon, 10-1 and 6-2, to advance to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. The Tigers broke open Game 1 with a six-run third inning and rallied in Game 2, scoring five runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Chloe Hill was the winning pitcher in Game 1, working all five innings. She scattered two hits and three walks while striking out three. The Bulldogs' lone run in Game 1 was unearned. Paislee Rooks collected the pitching win in Game 2, working all seven innings. She allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk and struck out three. Ansley Powell (double, two RBI), Madison Brookshire, and Sydney Satterfield (RBI) each had two hits for Adairsville in Game 1. Powell also stole three bases. Rooks (two RBI), Lily Brookshire (RBI), Ashlynn Durden, and Hynleigh Statham each added one hit for the Lady Tigers. Satterfield had three hits, including a double and two RBI, in Game 2. Brookshire (RBI) and Hill (double) each had two hits. Rooks (RBI), Durden (RBI), and Powell each added one hit. Statham recorded one RBI. Mary Persons finished the season with a 19-12 record. Adairsville (21-11) advances to a second-round best-of-three series next Wednesday and Thursday at No. 2 seed West Laurens in Dexter. The Raiders (23-7) swept Hardaway on Tuesday, 18-1 and 17-2. The winner of the Adairsville/West Laurens series advances to the Class 4A Final Eight double-elimination tournament in Columbus on October 28-31.

October 14, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville pitcher Presley Crabbe threw a no-hitter in Game 2 as the Lady Canes swept Ware County on October 14 in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Photo: Russell Andrews / Sports Furnace Photography The Cartersville Lady Canes won two straight games against Ware County, 3-2 and 11-0, in a Class 5A first-round playoff series on Wednesday afternoon at Dellinger Park. The 2nd-seeded Canes scored in the first, third, and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead in Game 1, then held off the Gators, who hit solo home runs in the sixth and seventh. In Game 2, Cartersville pitcher Presley Crabbe tossed a five-inning no-hitter to blank the Gators, while the offense scored 11 runs on nine hits and capitalized on four Ware County errors. Crabbe issued one walk and struck out seven. Shiflett allowed two earned runs in Game 1 on two hits and one walk. She fanned eight. Allana Williams (RBI), Izzy Tummins (double), and Sophia Harper each collected two hits for Cartersville in Game 1. Sam Porter (RBI), Carder Brock, Taryn Bradley, and Shiflett each added one hit. The Lady Canes also stole seven bases. Allana Williams had three hits and one RBI in the Lady Canes' series sweep of Ware County on Oct. 14. Photo: Russell Andrews / Sports Furnace Photography In Game 2, Avaree Sellers had two hits, including a home run, and two RBI. Tummins (double, two RBI) and Shiflett (RBI) each had two hits. Porter (double, RBI), Harper (double, two RBI), and Williams each added one hit. Ware County finished the season 13-17. Cartersville (28-2) advances to a second-round, home, best-of-three series next Wednesday and Thursday against No. 18-seeded Blessed Trinity. The Titans (19-9) swept Dutchtown in the first round, 15-0 and 12-4. The winner of the Cartersville/Blessed Trinity series advances to the Class 5A Final Eight double-elimination tournament in Columbus on October 28-31.

October 14, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cass pitcher Kylie Gentry earned two wins and struck out 15 in the Colonels' first-round playoff sweep at Southwest DeKalb. She also had five hits and five RBI in the doubleheader. The Cass Lady Colonels won their Class 5A first-round playoff series on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, sweeping a doubleheader against the Southwest DeKalb Panthers, 16-1 and 2-1. Cass exploded for nine runs in the top of the first inning in Game 1 and finished with 16 runs on 11 hits. Southwest DeKalb struggled defensively, committing six errors and allowing seven unearned runs. Game 2 was much tighter, with the Lady Colonels carrying a 2-0 lead into the final inning. The Panthers got a one-out triple in the seventh and scored on a passed ball, but Cass pitcher Kylie Gentry struck out the final two batters to close out the victory. Gentry was the winning pitcher in both games. She went three innings in Game 1, allowing one earned run on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts. In Game 2, the junior hurler went all seven innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits. She again issued no walks and struck out ten. Lily Powell pitched one inning in Game 1, yielding no runs on one hit. She issued no walks and struck out two. Shyia Woods (double, three RBI) and Gentry (double, triple, five RBI) led the Lady Colonels’ offense in the playoff opener, each with three hits. Maci Walker collected two hits and one RBI. Kharmin Collum hit a solo home run. Natalie Hughes (RBI) and Lindsey Chubb each had one hit, and MJ McFarlane added one RBI. In Game 2, Woods and Gentry each produced two hits. McFarlane (RBI), Hughes, Rilyn Caspari, and Addy Bauder each had one hit. Lindsey Chubb drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Southwest DeKalb finished the season 20-4. Cass (17-11) advances to a second-round, best-of-three series next Wednesday and Thursday against No. 8-seeded Starrs Mill in Fayetteville. The Panthers (23-7) swept LaGrange in the first round, 1-0 and 3-2. The winner of the Cass/Starrs Mill series advances to the Class 5A Final Eight double-elimination tournament in Columbus on October 28-31.