Woodland edges Rockmart in OT; Canes, Tigers add one-sided wins
Woodland snapped a 17-game losing streak Friday night with a 31-30 overtime victory at home over Rockmart.
The Wildcats had not won a game since September of 2015, but ended that streak with an overtime, two-point conversion completion from Titus Jones to Zach Pitner.
Rockmart scored in their overtime possession on a 12-yard run by Markus Smith to go ahead 30-23 with an extra point.
Woodland responded with an OT score of their own that came on a 6-yard Demarcus Williams run.
Woodland, who had lined up in a “swinging gate” formation on extra point attempts the entire night, did not shift this time to kick. Instead, the direct snap went to Jones who found Pitner with a high lob for a game-deciding two point play.
The two teams traded 63-yard touchdown runs in the games’ first minute. Z.J. Whatley scored on the Yellow Jackets first play from scrimmage and Woodland’s Justice Carter returned the favor on the Wildcats first play from scrimmage. Michael Campuzano made his PAT kick for Woodland to take a 7-6 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Woodland took a 14-6 lead with an 84-yard, 9-play drive capped on a 15-yard touchdown run by Demarcus Williams.
Rockmart scored a safety midway through the second quarter when a low snap was fielded in the end zone by Woodland quarterback Brody Williams. He was swarmed under by pursuing Yellow Jackets to narrow the Wildcats’ lead to 14-8 at halftime.
On the Yellow Jackets’ first possession of the third quarter, they marched 89 yards in four plays to grab a 15-14 lead. Quarterback Dylan Bailey connected with Reed Couch on a 49-yard touchdown pass and Hunter England converted the point after.
Woodland regained the lead with 0:45 remaining in the third quarter. on a 30-yard field goal by Capuzano. The field goal culminated a 50-yard, 13-play drive.
Rockmart went back on top with 8:55 remaining in the game 23-17. The same combination — Bailey to Couch — hooked up for the scoring play that wrapped up a 9-play, 49-yard drive and gave the Yellow Jackets a 23-17 lead.
Woodland responded with an 89-yard, 9-play drive that ended with a 1-yard scoring plunge by Brody Williams.
The snap and hold were bobbled on the extra point attempt but holder Titus Jones scrambled long enough to find an open receiver in the end zone for an apparent two-point conversion. Flags negated the conversion, however, and Woodland would ultimately miss a lenthy PAT kick to send the game to overtime tied 23-23.
Woodland (1-1) travels across town next Friday to face county rival and Region 7-AAAAA foe Cass in a 7:30 pm kickoff.
The game will be the Johnny’s New York Style Pizza - Bartow County Game of the Week - available online via BartowSportsZone.com. Pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m.
ADAIRSVILLE 49, MODEL 14
Adairsville took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of touchdown runs by Mason Boswell and pushed their advantage to 28-0 in the second quarter on a pair of scores by Travon Branch.
Boswell scored on runs of 3- and 5-yards. Branch had a scoring run of 21-yards and scored on fumble recovery the he took 40 yards for a score.
Model made it 28-14 at the half with a pair of second quarter scores.
Blue Devils’ quarterback Jackson Couch found Kwalic Dublin for a 16-yard scoring pass and then connected with Kiron Ford on a 44-yard play.
Boswell added his third TD in the third quarter when he found Ethan Belcher for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Christian Steele added a 65-yard touchdown run and Derrick Simmons scored on an 80-yard scamper.
Adairsville (2-1) is idle next Friday and will travel to Ringgold on September 22.
CARTERSVILLE 58, CALHOUN 6
Class AAAA No. 1 Cartersville pounded Class AAA No. 4 Calhoun Friday night at the Canes’ Weinman Stadium, 58-6.
The victory runs Cartersville’s current win streak to 33 straight games including back-to-back state titles.
Cartersville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four four touchdowns and ran for one more as the Canes took a 58-0 lead in the first half.
Lawrence had TD passes to JKobe Orr, E.J. Turner, T.J. Horton, and Rico Frye. He also ran for a 6-yard touchdown.
Frye also added a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs and Marcus Gary had a 21-yard rush for a touchdown.
Cartersville (3-0) plays at Westlake next Friday. The game will be carried live on WBHF (100.3FM / AM1450) with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m
SONORAVILLE 14, CASS 13
Cass took a 13-0 lead in the first half and limited the host Phoenix to only 14 yards rushing and three first downs in the first 24 minutes, but Sonoraville rallied in the second half for a come-from-behind non-region win.
The Colonels scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rett Moore to Malik Grimes in the first quarter and a 60-yard run by Thomas Gilliam in the second quarter to take a 13-0 advantage into the intermission.
A blocked punt set up Sonoraville’s first touchdown in the third quarter.
Patrick Moore scored for the Phoenix on a 6-yard run to narrow the Cass lead to 13-7.
A Cass fumble was returned 35 yards for Sonoraville’s second touchdown in the third quarter. The extra point gave the Phoenix a 14-13 lead that would hold up over the final period.
Cass (0-2) will host Woodland (1-1) in both teams’ Region 7-AAAAA opener. The game will be broadcast live via BartowSportsZone.com as the Johnny’s New York Style Pizza Bartow County Game of the Week. Pregame coverage will begin at 6 p.m.
