Woodland-Cass region tilt highlights this week's local high school football matchups

This Friday night will be the first time this season that all four local teams will be in action, yet there will only be three games. Cass travels across town to challenge Woodland as both teams open their 2019 region slates. Meanwhile, Cartersville looks to extend its 50-game regular season win streak as the Hurricanes host McNair and Adairsville opens the 2019 Region 6-AAA schedule with a trip to Whitfield County to face the Coahulla Creek Colts.

CASS COLONELS (1-1) at WOODLAND WILDCATS (1-1)

County rivals Woodland and Cass square off Friday night along the “banks of the Etowah” in Wildcats’ Stadium as the two teams kickoff their region schedules in 7-AAAAA. After dropping its season opener at Adairsville two weeks ago 14-7, Cass took advantage of three first-half turnovers by Forsyth Central on their way to a 15-7 win to even their season record. The win by the Colonels surprised many. The Bulldogs were a state playoff team in 2018 in the state’s largest classification. Woodland meanwhile had a surprising loss. After whipping East Hall 55-6 a year ago and coming off a dominating 35-7 win over Southeast Whitfield in their opener, the Wildcats fell behind 20-0 early and lost at East Hall, 34-28.

With statewide powers Rome, Carrollton, Kell, and even East Paulding in this region, Woodland and Cass will be looking for as many wins as possible against the region opponents outside that top group. That makes this a potential trend-setting game for the two local squads. Cass leads the all-time series between the two programs 9-6. The series dates back to 2000. Woodland won three of the first four games played 2000 to 2003, but Cass won eight out of the next nine matchups between 2004 and 2016. Woodland has won the last two games — winning 20-6 and 17-7 the past two seasons.

The two teams did not play one another in 2006 and 2007. They also did not meet up in 2012 or 2013. The Colonels were a state playoff team in Class AAA in 2006 finishing 7-4 in 6-AAA. Cass lost at 1-seed North Hall 17-14 in the first round that season. In 2007, Cass was officially 4-5 but had a big lead over Southeast Whitfield wiped away when the game was stopped due to lightning. As for 2006 and 2007 for Woodland, the Wildcats were in Region 5-AAAA and played a nine-game region slate. Their only non-region game both years was with Cartersville — who was in the same region with Cass. Woodland was 2-8 both seasons. In 2012 and 2013, Woodland and Cass were again assigned to separate regions. Woodland was in 5-AAAAA which included 11 schools. That meant a 10-game region schedule and zero non-region games. The Wildcats were 2-8 and 4-6 in those two seasons.

Cass was in a sub-divided Region 7-AAAA in 2012 and 2013 and finished 5-5 and 4-6 in the final two seasons under coach Rick Casko.

Cass head coach Bobby Hughes is 3-2 against Woodland. Wildcats head coach Tony Plott is 2-2 against the Colonels.

Series:

2018 — Woodland 17, Cass 7

2017 — Woodland 20, Cass 6

2016 — Cass 31, Woodland 7

2015 — Cass 38, Woodland 21

2014 — Cass 34, Woodland 24

2011 — Woodland 39, Cass 26

2010 — Cass 42, Woodland 12

2009 — Cass 18, Woodland 7

2008 — Cass 17, Woodland 13

2005 — Cass 13, Woodland 7

2004 — Cass 16, Woodland 14

2003 — Woodland 20, Cass 18

2002 — Cass 13, Woodland 10

2001 — Woodland 40, Cass 29

2000 — Woodland 27, Cass 13

CalPreps — Cass by 7 Massey — Woodland by 4

Maxwell — Cass by 3

McNAIR MUSTANGS (0-2) at CARTERSVILLE HURRICANES (2-0)

The Class AAAA top-ranked Hurricanes defeated Luella last week 47-0 to win the program’s 50th consecutive regular season game. Devonte Ross returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Cartersville led 40-0 by halftime. Ross added a 57-yard touchdown reception and quarterback Tee Webb was 10-for-11 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The regular season win streak for Cartersville is only eight games shy of the state record held by Camden County that was ended in 2006. Macon County won 56 in a row in a streak that ended in 1997 and Lincoln County had a 53 game streak end in 1980. The next-longest active streak behind Cartersville is 22 by Athens Academy. McNair was 3-7 last season and 1-6 in Region 6-AA. Head coach Johnny Burdette is in his first-ever head coaching job and in his initial season at the helm of the Mustangs. The last winning season for McNair was a 6-4 campaign in 2008.

Cartersville leads the all-time series 2-0.

Series:

2018 — Cartersville 70, McNair 0

2005 — Cartersville 31, McNair 13

Projections:

CalPreps — Cartersville by 62

Massey — Cartersville by 48

Maxwell — Cartersville by 42

ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS (1-1) at COAHULLA CREEK COLTS (1-1)

A pair of 1-1 teams square off in Whitfield County in both teams Region 6-AAA opener. Coahulla Creek lost its opener at Northwest Whitfield 21-7, but bounced back last week with a 34-31 win at home over Southeast Whitfield. Adairsville is coming off a bye week. The Tigers were shutout in their opener at Chattooga 20-0, but defeated Cass two weeks ago 14-7. This is the third season for head coach Caleb Bagley at Coahulla Creek where the Colts are 2-20 under his guidance. The varsity program dates back to 2012 and has never won more than two games in a season while experiencing three winless campaigns.

Adairsville is coming off a 4-6 campaign in 2018, but prior to last season the Tigers had reached the state playoffs in six of seven seasons.

Adairsville head coach Eric Bishop is 42-27 in his seventh season in the top position.

The Tigers lead the all-time series 5-0.

Series:

2018 — Adairsville 41, Coahulla Creek 10

2015 — Adairsville 49, Coahulla Creek 3

2014 — Adairsville 63, Coahulla Creek 3

2013 — Adairsville 42, Coahulla Creek 16

2012 — Adairsville 49, Coahulla Creek 7

Projections:

CalPreps — Adairsville by 20

Massey — Adairsville by 18