Big second-half lifts Canes; Cass and Adairsville also earn region wins
In a game that was a tale of two different halves Friday night, the 4th-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to win at 6th-ranked Calhoun 21-17.
Calhoun led 3-0 after one period on a 29-yard field goal by Carlos Lopez with 1:37 remaining in the quarter.
The Yellow Jackets added a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to go up 17-0 at halftime. Caden Williams scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with 5:16 left in the half and quarterback Trey Townsend connected with Kam Penny on a 55-yard scoring pass with 1:30 remaining in the second quarter.
It took almost nine minutes into the second half before the Canes got on the scoreboard.
Cartersville quarterback Nate Russell hooked up with Connor Brasfield, who also had a key second-half interception, for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 3:02 to go in the third. Ryan Johnson, who made all three PAT attempts, converted for a 17-7 score.
Cartersville pulled to within three points with an early fourth-quarter drive. Khristian Lando punched in a one-yard run that made the score 17-14.
Late in the final period, Cartersville drove 98 yards for the win. Lando again dove in from three yards out with only 0:14 left in the game to give the Canes the lead and the win.
Calhoun slipped to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in Region 7-5A.
Cartersville (6-0, 1-0) hosts Cass next Friday, October 6. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
CASS 42, WOODLAND 12
Devin Henderson ran for four touchdowns and caught one touchdown pass Friday night as the Colonels celebrated a 42-12 Homecoming and Region 7-5A victory over Woodland.
The game was fiercely competitive into the third quarter before Cass put the visiting Wildcats away with 28 unanswered points.
Cass fumbled on its opening possession giving Woodland good field position. The Colonels’ defense halted the Wildcats and forced a field goal attempt that was blocked.
From there, the Colonels drove for a 7-0 lead on Henderson’s first touchdown run from 22 yards out. Kicker Austin McArthur, who made all six attempts on the night, added the PAT.
Woodland responded by driving into scoring position again. This time their drive stalled inside the 10-yard line and a second field goal attempt was blocked by Cass.
The Wildcats' defense came up big on the ensuing possession and forced a Cass punt.
Woodland again drove into the red zone but was turned away and gave up the ball on downs with 5:44 left in the first half.
When the following Cass possession was stopped, the Colonels’ punt was partially blocked giving the Wildcats a short field at the Cass 29-yard line.
Woodland quarterback Brelace Williams immediately responded with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Heath Tatum to make the score 7-6. A penalty on Woodland backed up the PAT attempt and — for the third time on the night — the Woodland kick was blocked.
Cass drove back down the field on their next possession. Brody McWhorter’s pass connection with Chase Tatum moved the ball deep into Woodland territory and a facemask penalty on the play gave the Colonels a first down at the Wildcats’ 23-yard line.
Two plays later, McWhorter tossed a screen pass to Henderson that turned into an 18-yard touchdown with 0:15 left in the first half. The PAT had Cass leading 14-6 at halftime.
Woodland scored on the opening possession of the second half and drew within two points.
Williams tossed a 46-yard scoring strike to Jay Walker just 39 seconds into the third quarter but the Wildcats’ two-point conversion pass attempt failed leaving Cass ahead 14-12.
That would be as close as it would get, however.
The Colonels returned the ensuing kickoff to the Woodland 47-yard line and went to their power-rushing attack. Four consecutive runs by Henderson culminated with a 13-yard touchdown scamper. Cass led 21-12 with 10:10 left in the third quarter.
After the Cass defense forced a Woodland punt, the Colonels came right back down the field. Key runs by Henderson set up a 32-yard touchdown pass from McWhorter to Sacovie White with 5:29 remaining in the period. That touchdown gave Cass a 28-12 advantage.
Another Cass defensive stop set up a third straight scoring drive for the offense.
A pair of long pass plays from McWhorter to White moved the Colonels into scoring position. Runs by McWhorter and Henderson moved Cass to the Woodland 3-yard line where Henderson punched it in with 0:59 left in the third quarter and a 35-12 lead.
Cass added the only points scored in the fourth quarter.
Henderson’s 65-yard jaunt with 6:00 left in the game made the score 42-12.
Woodland (2-4, 0-1) hosts 12th-ranked Dalton next Friday, October 6 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Cass (4-2, 1-0) makes the short trip to 4th-ranked Cartersville.
ADAIRSVILLE 44, LAFAYETTE 14
Four different Tigers had touchdown runs Friday night as host Adairsville derailed the LaFayette Ramblers 44-14.
Jonathan Gough had touchdown runs of 67- and 3-yards. Tamarius Wilkey scored on touchdown runs of 12- and 10-yards.
Ethan Blome had an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Jamarian Pullum added a 34-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as the Tigers built a big first-half lead.
Cooper Souders, who made five of six PAT kicks, also made a 34-yard field goal with 0:04 remaining in the half. The kick gave the Tigers a 37-0 lead at the break.
LaFayette scored touchdowns in each of the final two periods. Khalas Finley had a 27-yard scoring run in the third quarter and Brayden Jones finished off a late Ramblers’ drive with a 4-yard run.
The Ramblers fell to 1-5 on the season and 0-3 in Region 6-AAA.
Adairsville (4-2, 3-0) hosts Ridgeland on Friday, October 6 in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
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