Cadets ground Colonels in defensive battle, advance to AAAA quarterfinals

November 22, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

On a warm November night with temperatures lingering in the upper 60s at Chatham County Memorial Stadium, the fourth-ranked Benedictine Cadets leaned on a punishing ground game and timely defense to turn back Cass 21-7 in the Class AAAA second round Friday night.

The Cadets rushed for 272 yards, controlled the clock in the second half, and advanced to host Central-Carroll in next week’s quarterfinals.

The game could not have started more explosively.

Cass received the opening kickoff and needed just eight plays to march 63 yards. 

Quarterback Brodie McWorter found Elijah Slocum for a 44-yard touchdown strike, the ball tipped by a Cadet defender at the last moment before Slocum snatched it out of the air. Anthony Quijada’s PAT made it 7-0 with 8:08 left in the first quarter.

Benedictine answered in four plays. Texas Tech commit Stephen Cannon, the 6-3, 200-pound quarterback, took a designed draw 39 yards untouched for the tying score at the 6:32 mark. Parker Lewis tied it 7-7.

Two minutes later, Notre Dame commit Bubba Frazier changed the game. 

After a Cass three-and-out, Frazier fielded the punt between the hashes, cut right, and sprinted 56 yards down the sideline for a touchdown and a 14-7 Benedictine lead that would stand until halftime.

The Colonels’ defense stiffened the rest of the half. Starting six first-half possessions inside their own 25, Cass managed only one threat, reaching the Benedictine 44 before McWorter’s first interception. The Cadets crossed midfield four times in the second quarter, including four trips inside the Cass 40, but came away empty each time. Cam Beauford’s end-zone interception and a missed 28-yard field goal kept it 14-7 at the break.

Benedictine seized control on the opening drive of the third quarter. 

Starting at their own 48 after a solid kickoff return, the Cadets covered 52 yards in six plays, capped by Cannon’s 6-yard keeper around left end. Stephen Smart’s 25-yard burst and Eron Mallard’s 13-yard run set the tone. Lewis’ kick made it 21-7 with 9:44 remaining in the third.

From there the defenses took over. 

Over the final 21 minutes the teams traded eight possessions. Cass crossed midfield twice and reached the Benedictine 35 – once after Zach Stiles recovered a Cannon fumble – but the four second half possessions ended with two punts, an interception, and a turnover on downs.

Benedictine never threatened to score again but never needed to. Pinned inside their own territory for most of the fourth quarter, the Cadets milked the final four minutes with a 13-play drive that forced Cass to burn all three timeouts. Cannon took a knee at the Cass 19 as time expired.

Benedictine rushed 46 times for 272 yards and held Cass to 183 total yards. 

Smart led the 4th-ranked Cadets with 125 yards on 18 carries. Cannon added 86 rushing yards and both rushing touchdowns on 13 attempts while completing 7 of 15 passes for 75 yards.

McWhorter finished 12-of-24 for 102 yards with one touchdown and two picks, adding 33 yards on the ground. Kalil Charles was limited to 22 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Elijah Slocum hauled in four passes for 55 yards and the Colonels’ lone score. Chase Tatum also caught four balls for 47 yards. Jeremy Barrett had two catches for 28 yards, and Jah Abdullah-Kortey had 23 yards on three receptions.

Benedictine (9-2) will host Central-Carroll next Friday night in the state quarterfinals, while Cass closes a strong 9-3 campaign.

NOTE: Game photos will be attached to this story soon.