Adairsville rallies, but Cedartown has final answer

September 12, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Adairsville appeared to have pulled off a dramatic comeback Friday night at Bulldogs Stadium, but Cedartown answered with a late touchdown to defeat the Tigers 34-28.

The loss dropped Adairsville to 3-1, while Cedartown also moved to 3-1.

Cedartown struck first, driving 91 yards in six plays before Jakobe Dorsey broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run with 9:17 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldogs' PAT attempt was no good, leaving Cedartown with a 6-0 lead.

Adairsville answered immediately.

On the Tigers' first play from scrimmage, Braxton Elrod connected with Torron Hale for an 80-yard touchdown pass. Alex Ochoa's PAT was good, putting Adairsville ahead 7-6 with 9:02 left in the opening quarter.

Cedartown regained the lead later in the quarter when Dorsey capped a nine-play, 78-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. The PAT gave the Bulldogs a 13-7 advantage with 3:42 remaining.

Neither team scored in the second quarter, and Cedartown carried the six-point lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs extended their advantage early in the third quarter when Bryant Waddell intercepted an Elrod pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. The PAT made it 20-7 with 11:13 remaining in the quarter.

Cedartown added another touchdown with 2:09 left in the third. The Bulldogs marched 88 yards in 12 plays, with Wyatt Mosley connecting with Jaylen Johnson on a 35-yard touchdown pass. The PAT pushed the lead to 27-7.

Adairsville responded with a furious fourth-quarter rally.

The Tigers opened the quarter with a 13-play, 72-yard drive that ended when Elrod found Hale for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 10:23 remaining. Ochoa's PAT cut the deficit to 27-14.

Adairsville scored again just over two minutes later.

The Tigers drove 81 yards in nine plays, with Elrod again finding Hale for a touchdown, this time on a 4-yard pass. The PAT made it 27-21 with 8:17 left.

Then the Tigers' defense and special teams produced the go-ahead score.

With 2:33 remaining, Adairsville blocked a Cedartown punt, and Clay Hilburn scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown. The PAT gave the Tigers a 28-27 lead.

Cedartown, however, had one final answer.

The Bulldogs drove 62 yards in seven plays, with a 44-yard pass from Mosley to Johnson setting up the decisive score. Rohan Kent finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:12 remaining. The PAT put Cedartown back in front 34-28.

Adairsville couldn't answer in the final minute.

Elrod completed 15 of 27 passes for 182 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Hale finished with seven receptions for 106 yards and three touchdowns.

Ezequiel Carter rushed for 48 yards on 12 attempts, while Javion Carson had 40 yards on 11 carries.

“It was a tough, physical game where we had a lot of opportunities to win,” said Adairsville head coach Jon Cudd on Saturday. “I’m proud of our young men. After falling behind 27-7 going into the fourth quarter, we really battled back with plays from all three phases to take a 28-27 lead. We have to give credit to Cedartown for making plays in the last couple of minutes to get the win. They were every bit as big, physical, and fast as we thought, but we still gave ourselves a chance to win.”

Cudd then turned his attention to the Tigers’ next matchup

“We will regroup and get ready for Pickens. It will be a special night as we have our first Hall of Fame Induction, and we will recognize each of the eight inductees. There will also be a ceremony for them at lunch. We are really looking forward to a big crowd and getting back home.”

The Tigers will host the Pickens Dragons (1-3) on Friday night. Pickens has a win over Fannin County and losses to North Cobb Christian, Lumpkin County, and East Forsyth.

~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report.