Canes answer early challenge, roll past Dalton for fourth straight region title
November 1, 2026 Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com
Heading into Friday night’s game with 7-1 Dalton, one of the few questions remaining about Cartersville was how they would do if required to play all four quarters.
The Purple Hurricanes’ dominance through their first eight games left each one with a running clock in the second half due to a huge lead. That provided opportunities for backups to get playing experience and develop depth, but it also prevented the chance to see how the team would respond to a challenge.
The casual observer will look at the 53-14 final score and miss that Dalton took a 7-0 lead in the first 90 seconds of the game. When the Canes rebounded to go ahead 20-7, the Catamounts responded with a Caine Woods 36-yard touchdown run to pull within a score at 20-14 as the first quarter drew to a close.
“We had to grind it out,” said Canes head coach Conor Foster of his team’s securing their fourth straight region championship. “They have a really talented team and are a really well-coached program. I’m so proud of our kids for responding to a bit of adversity.”
The Canes defense was on the cusp of forcing a Catamounts three-and-out to start the game, but Woods slipped through the middle for a 57-yard gain to the Cartersville nine-yard line. The junior quarterback then found Akeem Cox on a quick pass into the left flat for the score that put the visitors up top 7-0 early.
Cartersville responded with a heavy dose of Tyon Coe on the ground. The senior running back carried the ball six times for 67 yards on the eight-play, 80-yard drive, setting the table on the first snap with a 23-yarder before capping it by bulling his way through the heart of the Dalton defense from 20 yards out. A two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 7-6 with just over four minutes gone in the first quarter.
Cartersville retained the momentum with an onside kick by Jayden Nevarez that was recovered by Noah Kearney at the Catamount 49. On the first play, Quarterback Harris Turner pitched a shovel pass to Kaiden Kent, coming from the left side, who tossed it back to Madoxx “Oxx” Davis, headed back in the other direction.
Davis’ scamper started down the home sideline before he changed direction back to the middle of the field. The junior slipped through several tackles, hit the brakes to let another slip by, then mashed the gas to jet down the opposite sideline into the north end zone of Weinman Stadium for a 13-7 Canes lead, after Nevarez’s extra point.
On Dalton’s following possession, Canes linebacker and Georgia Tech signee Cole Crawford knocked the ball down to force a punt. From there, Turner led the Canes down the field before a pass to Kent in the corner of the end zone drew a pass interference call. On the next play, Turner found Crawford alone for an eight-yard pass and a 20-7 lead.
Dalton (7-2, 3-2) was building momentum in the second quarter, having forced a Canes punt and converted a fourth down on their side of the field. Cooper Melvin’s interception though, ended the threat.
“It’s mostly watching film, knowing what they’re going to do before they do it,” shrugged Melvin on the right-place, right-time aura he’s developed this season.
Foster and his staff have preached winning the end of the first half and beginning of the second. Their team continued to respond on Friday.
Following a sack by Athens Davenport, the Canes forced a punt and took the ball on their own 47. The five-play drive ended with CJ McClendon’s seven-yard run for the score and a 26-14 halftime lead after the PAT was blocked.
Then, Cartersville received prime starting field position to open the second half at their own 46 by recovering an onside kick attempt by Dalton.
A motion penalty moved the offense back to the 41. Coe got those five yards back on first down. On the next play, Turner threw a quick out that Davis caught at the line of scrimmage before running through the defense for a 55-yard touchdown and 33-0 lead 36 seconds into the third quarter after Nevarez booted the extra point.
“They ran a man-free, cover-three look and so we were trying to find different ways to attack those,” said Turner. “It was close early, but we settled down a bit and ended up executing.
“Our success starts up front with the O-line. They’re protecting, so I can get the ball to those guys like Madoxx, 2K (Kent), Cole (Crawford) Tyon, and others. It’s nice having dudes like that.”
There aren’t many dudes like Davis, who ends up standing in the end zone every 2.5 times he touches the ball. On Friday, Davis finished with 137 total yards, 74 through the air and a touchdown with another 63 on the ground, plus a score.
Lance Tippet was another one of those dudes, recovering the onside kick by Dalton after halftime. The senior receiver’s diving catch with 1:43 to play in the quarter increased Cartersville’s lead to 39-14, prior to a blocked PAT. Brayden Doss added a two-yard run later to make the difference 46-14.
Cartersville’s final score of the night came after Canes long snapper Tucker Pelfrey recovered a muffed punt at the Catamounts’ 32-yard-line. Five plays later, Doss got stacked up at the eight before his line mushed him across the goal line with 3:23 remaining in the game. Nevarez’s kick provided the 53-14 final.
Turner finished with 139 yards on 12-of-16 passing, with three touchdowns. Coe had a season-high 135 yards on 14 carries, plus the score on the Canes’ first drive. Crawford had three receptions for 23 yards to go with his touchdown.
Cartersville bulldozed Dalton for 364 yards on the ground as part of a 503-yard night of total offense.
“I think we just kept wearing on them,” said Foster. “Credit to our strength and conditioning staff. Our kids are in good shape, and I think that was the question going into the night: Would we be ready for four quarters? I think we responded well tonight.”
A few defensive line starters got nicked up during the game as well, requiring added playing time for others.
“We talk about winning your job all week, whether you’re a starter or a second-team guy or a guy who’s giving us a scout look.” Foster said. “In order for us to be our best, everybody’s got to win his job daily, and I think that’s a reflection of those guys winning their Monday through Thursday.”
The Canes travel to Woodland next Friday, Nov. 6, in the final game of the regular season.
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