August 26, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Adairsville volleyball swept two matches on Tuesday night at Ridgeland, defeating Dade County in three sets (25-20, 16-25, 16-14) and winning two straight sets with Ridgeland (25-20, 25-22). In the three-set win over Dade County, Alexis Scott had nine kills and 12 digs. Kenzie Griffin totaled five kills and one block, Nadelyn Dodson contributed 17 digs, and Teaghan Myers dished out 16 assists. Adairsville (4-8) visits Gordon Central on Thursday at 5 p.m. WOODLAND EDGES HARALSON COUNTY The Woodland volleyball team edged Haralson County (28-26, 24-26, 15-12) in a non-region home match on Tuesday evening, before losing its region match with Villa Rica in three straight sets (19-25, 21-25, 18-25). Dayana Jaimes recorded 26 digs and two kills in the win over the Rebels. Ava Lawler finished with six digs, two kills, and nine assists. Reese Martinak totaled four kills, seven digs, and three assists. Emily Guin contributed two kills, nine digs, and five aces. Aby Childs had four kills and nine digs. In the loss to Villa Rica, Lawler had 13 assists and six digs. Childs produced five kills and six digs. Guin contributed five kills and five digs. Martinak had three kills and five digs. Jaimes totaled 13 digs. Woodland (3-8) travels to Summerville on Thursday to play Chattooga at 5 p.m. and Cedartown at 6 p.m. CASS EXTENDS NORTH MURRAY TO A THIRD SET Cass volleyball took host North Murray to three sets on Tuesday night, but narrowly dropped a 25-23, 11-25, 12-15 decision to the Mountaineers. The Lady Colonels also lost to Coahulla Creek in two sets, 9-25 and 11-25. Briley Lauro had six kills and 10 digs for Cass. Alicia Nalls totaled seven kills and two blocks. Nikitta Jett produced six aces, and Jordan Thigpin contributed 10 digs. Cass (0-9) visits Etowah on Thursday and will also play River Ridge.

August 25, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com All four local high school softball teams were in action with region games on Tuesday. CARTERSVILLE 7, CEDARTOWN 0 Cartersville pitcher Presley Crabbe threw a seven-inning, two-hitter Tuesday night to shut out visiting Cedartown at Dellinger Park, 7-0. Crabbe struck out 14. The Lady Canes chipped away, scoring in five of their six offensive frames, while the Bulldogs committed nine errors on defense. Lakiaya Banks had two hits, including one double and one RBI to lead the Cartersville offense. Allana Williams (RBI), Izzy Tummins, Kenneday Crenshaw, and Sophia Harper each added one hit. Cedartown slipped to 3-5 overall and 0-4 in Region 7-5A. Cartersville (12-2, 7-0) hosts Rockmart on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., and travels to Villa Rica for a 7 p.m. start on Thursday. WOODLAND 11, ALLATOONA 1 Woodland pitcher Evelyne Tucker tossed a five-inning, two-hitter on Tuesday evening as the Lady Cats beat visiting Allatoona 11-1. The Wildcats pounded out 14 hits and scored 11 runs in their first three offensive frames to take control. Bella Kuykendall (two doubles, two RBI) and Gracie Korb (double, two RBI) each had three hits for Woodland. Bailey Ryan (double, RBI), Jarah Thorne, and Charlotte Petersen produced two hits. Lillian Hollis smacked a grand slam that put the Lady Cats up 9-0 and finished with five RBI. Kylee Poston added one hit and one RBI with a sacrifice fly. The Lady Buccaneers fell to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in Region 7-5A. Woodland (5-7, 2-4) hosts a non-region game with Trion on Wednesday at 5:55 p.m., and visits Cedartown on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. VILLA RICA 8, CASS 7 The Lady Colonels doubled the visiting Wildcats in hit production Tuesday night, but came up short on the scoreboard, falling 8-7 to Villa Rica at the Cass Athletic Complex. Cass outhit Villa Rica 10 to 5, but four defensive miscues led to six unearned runs, and the Lady Colonels couldn’t manage to overcome an early deficit. The Wildcats led 6-0 through three innings and added their two decisive runs in the fifth. Cass cut the lead to 6-5 in the fourth inning and scored single runs in the sixth and seventh, but came up one run short. Kylie Gentry (7 IP, 8R, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 8K) was tagged with the pitching loss for Cass, despite a complete-game effort. Abagail Nalls had three hits and two RBI to lead the Cass bats. Shyia Woods (two RBI) and Maci Walker each contributed two hits. Gentry (two RBI), Natalie Hughes, and MJ McFarlane each added one hit. Villa Rica improved to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in Region 7-5A. Cass (4-5, 3-4) returns to action next Tuesday at home against Allatoona at 5:30 p.m. HERITAGE-CATOOSA 14, ADAIRSVILLE 8 The visiting Lady Generals peppered the Tigers with 20 hits Tuesday night and defeated Adairsville 14-8. The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before Heritage built a 4-1 advantage by the middle of the fourth. Four more Adairsville runs in the bottom of the fourth gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead, but Heritage outscored Adairsville 10 to 3 over the final three innings. Chloe Hill (5.2 IP, 11R, 10ER, 15H, 2BB, 2K) and Heidi Rickett (1.1 IP, 3ER, 5H) split the Adairsville duties in the pitching circle. Eight Tigers had one hit each, including Ansley Powell (triple, two RBI), Ashlynn Durden (home run, two RBI), Sydney Satterfield (double, RBI), Madison Brookshire (RBI), Lillianne Gunter (RBI), Hynleigh Statham, Paislee Rooks, and Hill. Heritage improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Region 7-4A. Adairsville (8-4, 4-1) visits Kennesaw Mountain on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and hosts Calhoun for another region game on Thursday at 5 p.m.

August 24, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Adairsville softball scored four runs in the top of the first inning Monday evening at Mount Zion-Carroll and never trailed on their way to an 8-1 win. The Lady Tigers pounded out 15 hits, and pitcher Chloe Hill limited the Eagles to a single run on four hits and two walks. Hill struck out seven. Sydney Satterfield led the Adairsville bats with three hits, including one double. Hynleigh Statham (double, RBI), Lillianne Gunter (RBI), Hill (double, RBI), and Ansley Powell had two hits. Paisley Rooks (double, two RBI), Cadey Evans (RBI), Ashlynn Durden (double, RBI), and Lily Brookshire (double, RBI) each added one hit. The loss dropped Mt. Zion-Carroll to 7-2. Adairsville (8-2, 4-0 Region 7-4A) hosts Heritage-Catoosa on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and travels to Kennesaw Mountain on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start. HIRAM 5, WOODLAND 3 Hiram scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab the lead and held on to defeat visiting Woodland in a Region 7-5A contest, 5-3. The Lady Cats scored two runs in the third and one in the fourth to tie the game 3-3, but the host Lady Hornets took advantage of a one-out double, two errors, and a passed ball in the sixth to gain the lead for good. Woodland committed five errors, leading to four unearned runs. Lady Cats’ pitcher Bella Kuykendall suffered the pitching loss. She gave up five runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. Jarah Thorne had two hits for Woodland, including one double and one RBI. Bella Kuykendall contributed a double and one RBI, and Bailey Ryan added one hit and one RBI. Hiram improved to 5-2. Woodland (4-7, 1-4 Region 7-5A) returns to region action on Tuesday at home against Allatoona. The Lady Cats will also host Trion on Wednesday at 5:55 p.m. before visiting Cedartown on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

August 22, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Cass Colonels overcame a back-and-forth first half and pulled away after halftime Friday night, defeating Flowery Branch 46-27 at Falcon Field. The season opener featured four lead exchanges during the first half as both teams battled through a competitive opening two quarters. Both teams entered the season after finishing as runners-up in their respective regions in 2025. Flowery Branch went 7-4 last season before falling to Ware County in the first round of the state playoffs, while Cass finished 9-3 and defeated Mays in the playoffs before falling to eventual state runner-up Benedictine in the second round. Cass coach Steve Gates and Flowery Branch coach Michael Perry both entered Friday night's opener with retooled lineups after each team lost key starters to graduation and college football. Flowery Branch struck first, with junior transfer quarterback Rex Greene connecting with Tyler Robinson for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 10:35 remaining in the first quarter. The five-play drive covered 55 yards, and Daniel Noriega added the extra point for a 7-0 Falcons lead. Cass answered on the first play of the second quarter. Jeremy Barrett fielded a high bounce of a Flowery Branch punt and raced 52 yards up the sideline for a touchdown. Anthony Quijada's extra point tied the game at 7-7. The Colonels took the lead after Landen Nelson recovered a fumble near midfield. Five plays later, Kalel Charles scored on a 12-yard run up the middle. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Cass ahead 13-7 with 9:36 remaining in the half. Cass added to its lead with 6:33 remaining after a five-play, 69-yard drive. Quarterback Noah Rogers connected with Jah Abdullah-Kortey for a 7-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal. The PAT failed, making it 19-7. The Falcons quickly answered after a long kickoff return gave them possession at the Cass 40-yard line. Three plays later, Greene found Dara Bledsoe for a 37-yard touchdown up the left sideline. The PAT missed right, cutting the Cass lead to 19-13. Flowery Branch then regained the lead after another Cass turnover. Defensive lineman Eli Poole batted a Rogers pass into the air and made a diving interception at the Colonels' 12-yard line. Two plays later, Greene found Robinson for a 9-yard touchdown, putting the Falcons ahead 20-19 with 4:25 remaining in the half. Cass answered once again, marching 49 yards in five plays. A 31-yard Rogers-to-Barrett completion helped set up Kalil Charles' 22-yard touchdown run with 2:38 left. The PAT failed, but the Colonels carried a 25-20 lead into halftime. Cass took control after the break. The Colonels opened the second half with a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended when Kalil Charles scored. Rogers then connected with Barrett on a short crossing route for a two-point conversion, extending the lead to 33-20 with 6:27 remaining in the third quarter. Cass struck again with 3:15 left in the quarter after six consecutive running plays by the Charles twins. Kalil Charles finished the 58-yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed, leaving Cass ahead 39-20. The Colonels' defense then forced two key turnovers late in the third and early in the fourth quarters. Andrew Williams intercepted a pass, while Codey Dean recovered a Flowery Branch fumble. The Falcons trimmed the deficit with 4:40 remaining when Greene connected with Robinson for a 50-yard touchdown pass. The score completed a three-play, 56-yard drive, and Noriega's PAT made it 39-27. Cass responded immediately. Kalil Charles broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run with 3:21 remaining, and Diaz added the extra point to put the Colonels ahead 46-27. Gates praised his team's effort in the season opener. “You can’t coach attitude and effort; you can encourage it, but those two things come from the players themselves, and our players played their tails off last night,” Gates said. “We were tired, it was muggy, a great away game atmosphere, and the boys manned up. Flowery Branch is a good football team, well coached and will be a playoff team, so it was a good win to start the season.” Gates also credited Cass' receivers, offensive line and defense while highlighting several individual performances. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad and proud of an OL group in my career,” Gates said. “We got whipped up front most of the night, but in the 4th quarter when they were dead tired, they actually got better.” Among the players Gates singled out were Kalil and Kalel Charles, Abdullah-Kortey, Barrett, tight end Raymond Woodard and Rogers. “Jeremy Barrett is the next Sacovie (White-Helton), mark it down,” Gates said. “But one player stuck out, Raymond Woodard; he is new to the tight end position and absolutely blocked his butt off last night. He is going to be a problem for defenses this season.” Gates also praised his defense, pointing to Andrew Williams, Xzavion Turner, Amari Williams, Zach Stiles and Tyson Beauford. “The entire defense played extremely hard,” Gates said. “I believe we created four turnovers.” Cass opens the season 1-0 and will welcome Sprayberry to Cochran Stadium on Friday. Flowery Branch falls to 0-1 and will travel to Cherokee Bluff on Friday.

August 23, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Lady Cats won twice on Saturday at Dellinger Park in Cartersville, defeating Mount Paran Christian 10-4 and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 4-2. Woodland scored eight runs in the top of the third inning to break open a 2-2 game with Mount Paran, and pitcher Evelyne Tucker kept Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe’s bats in check in the Lady Cats’ second win on Saturday. Bailey Ryan (two doubles, four RBI) and Lillian Hollis (two doubles, two RBI) each had three hits in the doubleheader. Cat Sneed had two hits and one RBI on the day. Jarah Thorne (triple, three RBI), Bella Kuykendall (double, RBI), Gracie Korb (RBI), Kylee Poston (RBI), and Charlotte Petersen (RBI) each added one hit. Kuykendall collected the pitching win against Mount Paran (7-5). She allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in five innings. Tucker was the pitching winner against Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (2-7). She gave up two earned runs on five hits and one walk, while fanning three. Woodland (4-6, 1-4 Region 7-5A) travels to Hiram on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. start, hosts Allatoona on Tuesday at 5:55 p.m., welcomes Trion on Wednesday at 5:55 p.m., and visits Cedartown on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

August 24, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com PGA Champions Tour competitors and members at Cartersville Country Club -- Jason Bohn and Boo Weekley -- had successful weeks in Canada. Bohn picked up his first top-ten finish of the year, and Weekley maintained his top-ten position in the season-long Schwab Cup standings. In professional baseball, Mason Barnett was optioned by the MLB Athletics back to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. MLB / MiLB MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators; 5th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … the 25-year-old right-hand hurler was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas on August 18. The roster move marked the fifth time this season he has been moved between the MLB Athletics and the Aviators. Barnett made a 3-2/3 innings start for Las Vegas on Sunday and received no decision in an eventual 10-8 Aviators win at the Albuquerque Isotopes. Barnett faced 22 batters and allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks before being lifted. In 11 appearances at the MiLB level, he is 3-1 with a 4.93 ERA across 49-1/3 innings with 42 strikeouts. With the MLB Athletics, he is 1-4 in 18 appearances across 40-2/3 innings. He has two saves, a 7.08 ERA, and 38 strikeouts with the A’s. Las Vegas hosts the Sugar Land Space Cowboys for six games this week through Sunday. The Aviators began the week with a 71-53 overall record and have clinched a postseason playoff berth by winning the first-half West Division standings in the Pacific Coast League. LOGAN MARTIN — Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants Double-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a one-inning relief appearance on Tuesday, August 18 with no decision in the Flying Squirrel’s 7-2 loss at the Chesapeake Baysox. Martin walked one, but retired the other three batters he faced in the sixth inning. The 25-year-old right-hand pitcher is 5-1 with one save in 23 appearances this season, covering 53 innings. He has 62 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA. Richmond is 27-23 in the Eastern League’s second half standings and 70-48 overall. The Flying Squirrels host six games this week with the Portland Sea Dogs. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Boston Red Sox (MLB; 9th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … appeared in only one game last week and did not have an at-bat. Seigler, 27, has a .252 batting average with three homers and 12 RBIs in 139 official at-bats in the Majors this season. The Red Sox (71-59) trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 6 games in the American League East, but entered the week holding a 6-game advantage over the Cleveland Guardians and Texas Rangers for the second Wild Card playoff spot. They have a six-game homestand this week against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants. The Red Sox play at the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees this week. PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS Jason Bohn JASON BOHN — 34-year pro; Acworth resident; Cartersville Country Club; University of Alabama … shot 67-65-66 (198, 12-under par) and tied for ninth this past weekend at the Rogers Charity Classic held at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Steven Alker won the championship in a playoff over Y.E. Yang. Those two were tied after 54 holes at 16-under par. The top-ten finish helped Bohn climb 12 spots to 87th in the current Schwab Cup standings, where the top 72 players will qualify for the playoffs. The next PGA Tour Champions event is The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Michigan this weekend (Aug. 28-30). BOO WEEKLEY — 29-year pro; 52; Cartersville Country Club member; Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; Jay, Florida resident — carded rounds of 70-66-66 (202, 8-under par) and tied for 30th place this past weekend at the Rogers Charity Classic hosted by Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Steven Alker won the championship in a playoff over Y.E. Yang. Those two were tied after 54 holes at 16-under par. Weekley is currently sixth in the year-long Schwab Cup standings with six regular season events remaining through mid-October. The next PGA Tour Champions event is The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Michigan, this weekend (Aug. 28-30).

August 23, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Cartersville girls’ and boys’ cross country teams competed on Saturday at the Pickens Preview at Roper Park in Jasper. The Cartersville girls finished 10th of 26 teams, with Creekview winning the race that included 127 runners. North Hall was runner-up, and River Ridge was third. The Cartersville boys were also 10th of 29 teams, with Lakeside-DeKalb winning the title in a race that included 123 runners. Westminster was second, and Creekview was third. Sydney Burris (19th, 21:07) led the Lady Canes, followed by Kylie Ham (38th, 21:46), Sofia Burns (42nd, 21:48), Kyla Poole (90th, 23:15), and Adalin Empie (102nd, 23:43). Ethan Empie (8th, 16:22) was the top runner for the Hurricanes, followed by Carson Robinson (13th, 16:41), Ben Russell (63rd, 18:01), Brock Morris (81st, 18:15), and Knox Matthews (101st, 18:42). The Cartersville teams will be back in action on Saturday at the Bob Blastow Invitational in Douglasville.

August 23, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Woodland, Adairsville, and Cass cross country teams competed Saturday (Aug. 22) at the Rome Invitational held on the Rome campus of Georgia Highlands College. Paulding County won the boys team title, followed by East Paulding and Hillgrove. Thirty-one boys teams competed, including 239 runners. Woodland finished 15th, and Adairsville was 26th. Cass did not field a full boys roster, but had individuals to compete. Pace Academy won the girls championship, followed by Hillgrove and North Cobb Christian. Woodland placed 11th of 21 girls teams, including 170 runners. The Lady Tigers and Lady Colonels did not field full rosters, but had individual competitors. Cass’ Booker Gearhart (20th place, 17:38) had the best time of the Bartow County runners. Charlie Hennington (34th, 18:11) led the Wildcats. He was followed by teammates Julian Medina (61st, 19:22), Logan Marr (78th, 19:50), Anderson Bridges (95th, 20:15), Forrest Stein (135th, 21:26), Grant Davenport (144th, 21:46), Andy Parker (172nd, 22:30), Dakota Keane (175th, 22:42), and Zane Beavers (178th, 22:54). Aaron Souders (119th, 20:48) was the top Adairsville runner, followed by Jaxson Stanfield (127th, 21:13), Jackson Steele (154th, 21:57), Canyon East (171st, 22:28), Benjamin Dixon (198th, 23:30), and Aiden Viktora (201st, 23:43). Mario Corpus (162nd, 22:15) and James Wilson (204th, 23:58) represented Cass, along with Gearhart. Rylee Maxwell (26th, 22:09) paced the Woodland girls, followed by teammates Tatum Currier (35th, 23:08), Allison Snead (57th, 24:10), Isabel McCafferty (72nd, 24:55), Ariel Salter-Bigger (132nd, 28:31), Caroline Holt (150th, 30:25), and Ava Eppers (156th, 32:25). Fernanda Singer (63rd, 24:25) had the Adairsville girls’ best time, followed by Bella Smith (90th, 25:50), Reese Fuller (119th, 27:17), and Kelsie Crosby (123rd, 27:52). Annabel Leon (79th, 25:16) led three Lady Colonels runners, followed by Charley Doyle (80th, 25:18) and Alejandra Cuesta Llorento (89th, 25:50). Adairsville will compete at the North Georgia Five Star Stride in Ringgold on Saturday. Woodland will host the 20th annual Run at the Rock on September 5, where Cass will also compete.

August 23, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Sophia Harper (20) makes a defensive play as Izzy Tummins (7) and Presley Crabbe look on. Photo: Sports Furnace Photography The Lady Canes won two of three games this past weekend as they hosted the Canes Classic at Dellinger Park. Cartersville dropped a 6-1 decision to Lambert on Friday night, but bounced back on Saturday to blank Pace Academy 13-0 and Northwest Whitfield 8-0. Lambert Longhorns’ pitcher Faith Doolen limited the Lady Canes to just one run on five hits and two walks on Friday night. Zoie Shiflett had two hits and one RBI for Cartersville. LaKiaya Banks, Izzy Tummins, and Avaree Sellers had the Lady Canes’ hits. Shiflett (5 IP, 5R, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss. Presley Crabbe (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 3K) also pitched for Cartersville. Crabbe tossed a four-inning no-hitter to beat Pace Academy. She struck out eight and issued two walks. Tummins threw a five-inning one-hitter to defeat Northwest Whitfield. She walked four and fanned two. In the two wins, the Lady Canes totaled 17 hits, led by Allana Williams with four, including two doubles and two RBI. Banks followed with three hits, including two homers, one double, and five RBI. Sellers (triple, four RBI) and Shiflett (double, RBI) each had two hits. Taryn Bradley (double, RBI), Carder Brock (RBI), Sam Porter (RBI), Tummins (RBI), Sam Evans, and Emma Miller each added one hit. Cartersville (11-2, 6-0 in Region 7-5A) hosts Cedartown on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., welcomes Rockmart on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., and travels to Villa Rica for a 7 p.m. start on Thursday.

August 23, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Lady Tigers split two games on Saturday at Banks County, defeating East Hall 15-0 before falling to the host Leopards, 14-0. Sydney Satterfield led the Adairsville offense with three hits and one RBI in the win over East Hall. Ansley Powell (two RBI), Hynleigh Statham (double, two RBI), and Ashlynn Durden (RBI) each had two hits. Lily Brookshire (double, sac fly, two RBI), Madison Brookshire (RBI), and Heidi Rickett (double, two RBI) added one hit. Rickett pitched the four-inning shutout for the Tigers, scattering three hits and two walks. She fanned three. In the loss to Banks County, the host Leopards scored eight runs in the first inning and limited Adairsville to only two hits by Chloe Hill. Hill (1.2 IP, 8ER, 7H, 3BB, 1K) and Rickett (1.1 IP, 6ER, 3H, 4BB) pitched in the Lady Tigers’ loss. Adairsville (7-3, 4-0 Region 7-4A) visits Mt. Zion-Carroll on Monday at 5 p.m., hosts Heritage-Catoosa on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., travels to Kennesaw Mountain on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and hosts Calhoun on Thursday at 5 p.m.

August 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Adelynn England makes a play at the net. Photo: CanesAthletics.com Cartersville volleyball swept home matches Thursday evening (Aug. 20), defeating North Paulding (25-19, 25-15), Newnan (25-13, 25-19), and Calhoun (25-21, 25-16). Amara Ejieke had nine kills and seven digs in the victory over North Paulding. Blakely Morris totaled six kills and five blocks. Holly Dufrene also finished with six kills. Mckenzie Wilkie contributed 11 digs, and Brooke Belarmino dished out 13 assists. Against Newnan, Ejieke amassed 16 kills, and Adelynn England had eight kills. Dufrene contributed three blocks. Wilkie produced 11 digs. Belarmino totaled 15 assists, and Emma Wall added 10 assists. Dufrene had six kills and two blocks in the win over Calhoun. Ejieke and England finished with eight and five kills, respectively. Belarmino and Wall each had 11 assists. Cartersville (11-1) hosts North Cobb Christian and Cedartown on Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. WOODLAND COLLECTS WIN The Lady Cats picked up their second win of the season over Gordon Central Thursday night (Aug. 20) in straight sets, 25-20, 25-12. Ava Lawler had two kills, four digs, and 12 assists. Bella King had three kills and two aces. Reese Martinak totaled six kills and four digs, Emily Guin produced five kills and seven digs, and Dayana Jaimes finished with nine digs. Earlier in the evening, Woodland lost 14-25, 20-25 to Model. Lawler had nine digs, seven assists, and two kills. Martinak contributed three kills and nine digs. Kourtlyn Gorham had four digs and two aces, and Jaimes totaled eight digs. Woodland (2-7) hosts Haralson County and Villa Rica on Tuesday, starting at 5 p.m. In other local volleyball action on Thursday (Aug. 20), Cass lost straight-set decisions to Rome (15-25, 16-25) and host Pepperell (20-25, 17-25). Adairsville fell to host LaFayette (9-25, 9-25) and Gordon Lee (13-25, 15-25). Cass (0-8) visits North Murray on Tuesday and will also play Christian Heritage starting at 5 p.m. Adairsville (2-7) travels to Ridgeland and will also face Dade County starting at 5 p.m.

August 22, 2026 Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Madoxx Davis advances the ball deep into Hiram territory on the Canes' opening drive Friday night. The senior receiver finished with 93 yards receiving and a touchdown on four catches, in addition to 114 return yards. Photo by Braxton Hayes/Instagram @purplehayspics The Cartersville defense allowed Hiram across midfield only once while the Canes offense scored touchdowns on each of its seven first-half possessions to build a 48-0 halftime lead on the way to a one-sided season-opening road victory Friday night, Aug. 21. It began with special teams, as Madoxx Davis returned the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Hornet 38. "It was an open field," he said. "When I see green, I'm heading to the end zone." It wasn't as easy as Davis makes it sound, with the junior breaking a couple of tackles to get the ball into Hornet territory. Nine-yard runs by Tyon Coe sandwiched a 14-yard pass from Harris Turner to Davis to get the ball to the six-yard-line, setting up Coe's touchdown run less than two minutes into the game. A Hiram punt to cap its first possession once again gave the ball to the ever-dangerous Davis, who slipped out of three tackles during a 54-yard return to the 11-yard-line. On the next play, tight end Cole Crawford, released on the right side of the line, collected Turner's pass and jogged into the end zone untouched for the 14-0 lead after Landon Trevino's extra point kick. With CHS pulling most starters after halftime, Davis finished with four receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown to go with 114 return yards. Turner completed eight of 10 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns, while Brayden Doss connected on all four of his pass attempts for 66 yards alongside seven yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Kaiden Kent was the game's leading receiver, with 71 yards on four catches and a touchdown. Crawford's lone catch went for the 11-yard score, while Cooper Melvin had two receptions for 32 yards. Coe's 31 yards on five carries and a touchdown led the ground game. Lightning in the area delayed the game until a little after 8 p.m. "That was a little bit of adversity we needed to handle, and I felt they did that well," said head coach Conor Foster. "You want to see them respond and show some maturity, some leadership, and I'm really proud of our guys for doing that. "We played really fast on offense. Our defense put us in great position. We played four quarterbacks tonight, with all of them contributing in different ways. We got ourselves into the right place and with the right tempo." With a running clock in the second half, the Canes only received the ball once, and that in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, sophomore quarterback Brody Jones completed a 16-yard pass to Elijah Garrett in addition to ripping off a 33-yard run on third down. Freshman Brock Crawford completed one of two passes for 12 yards to JB Nichols. The Canes finished with 317 total yards of offense, 225 of them through the air. After Crawford's touchdown, Hiram lost 13 yards on a fourth-down attempt to give Cartersville possession at the Hornet 12. Two runs by Coe and three more from McClendon punched the ball across with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter and gave the Canes a 21-0 advantage. Four minutes later, Davis caught Turner's pass and was hit at the 12. Keeping his feet, he dove over a would-be tackler at the three before nose-diving into the end zone for another Canes score, making the difference 27-0 after a failed conversion. A Hiram miscue set up the Canes' next score. Attempting to punt from their own 15, a low snap forced the Hiram punter to fall on the ball at the two-yard-line. Doss bowled over the goal line on the next snap behind defensive linemen-turned-blockers Grayson Villar and Elijah Peeks. The Canes' final scores of the half, and the game, came on a 26-yard touchdown throw from Turner to Kent, who lost the ball stretching for the score, but recovered past the line. With a little over a minute to play, Davis somehow snagged a tipped pass out of the air and broke away from one tackler before deking another for a 37-yard play down to the one. Doss found the edge on the following play to give CHS a 48-0 lead after Trevino's kick with 1:06 in the half. The half ended with Henry Abernathy's second-down fumble recovery on Hiram's next possession. Foster said he has seen steady improvement in his team, with a nod to Dan Mullins, inside linebackers coach and director of performance, as well as Corey Gochee, strength coordinator, after the Aug. 7 scrimmage with highly-regarded McEachern. "When you scrimmage an opponent like them, you see the size, speed, and physicality, and our kids were up for it. Any time you play an opponent like that, it's going to make you better," Foster said. "I'm proud of our kids, and Coach Mullins and Coach Gochee did a fantastic job in the weight room and from a conditioning standpoint over the last two weeks." CHS (1-0) enters Weinman Stadium for its first home game of the season next Friday, Aug. 28, against Mt. Zion, who lost to Callaway on Friday, 22-12. The evening will honor the Teacher of the Year as well as celebrate the Canes' 2016 state championship team. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.