Canes fall to Blessed Trinity in state title game, 23-9

Blessed Trinity successfully defended their GHSA Class 4A state championship by defeating Cartersville Wednesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 23-9. Blessed Trinity who knocked off Cartersville in the second round in 2017, finished the 2018 season 15-0 for back-to-back championships. Cartersville, who finished this season 14-1, won the state title in 2015 and 2016 and the Canes' only two losses in four years have been to the Titans. The Hurricanes scored first on a 37-yard field goal by Oscar Hernandez, but the Titans took a 7-3 lead to the intermission following a nine yard, second quarter touchdown pass from Jake Smith to Ryan Dupont. Hernandez added a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter that cut the Blessed Trinity lead to 7-6, but the Canes would get no closer. A high snap on a punt attempt from its own end zone bounced out of play for a Titans’ safety to make the score 9-6 and then Smith connected with Ryan Davis for a 54-yard touchdown pass that built a 16-6 advantage for Blessed Trinity. On the Hurricanes’ next possession Tee Webb found Dadrian Dennis on a slant, but Davis stripped the ball and Blessed Trinity delivered the knockout blow when Smith would punch the ball in from one yard out giving the Titans a 23-6 lead. Hernandez kicked his third field goal of the game to make the score 23-9 with 2:41 remaining, but an onside kick attempt failed and the Titans ran out the clock. For Blessed Trinity, Steele Chambers rushed for 98 yards on 22 attempts. Quarterback Jake Smith was 10-for-18 for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Davis caught seven passes for 135 yards and one score. Dupont had the other touchdown reception on his nine-yarder. Quinton Reese, Alex Poma, Davis, and Chambers all had five tackles apiece for the Titans. Marcus Gary (photo) finished with 175 rushing yards on 26 attempts for the Purple Hurricanes. Tee Webb was 12-for-26 for 149 yards. He had two throws intercepted. Jackson Lowe hauled in four receptions for 29 yards. Devonte Ross caught two passes for 49 yards. Marquail Coaxum had two receptions for 40 yards and Dadrian Dennis had one catch for 18 yards. Bobby Harris, Harrison Allen, Sunni Moorehead, and Tristan Carlton had six tackles each. Cartersville ends its season with a 14-1 record. The Cartersville senior class closes their careers with a 55-2 record, two state titles, and four region championships.