Canes roll over Jackson with an opening-round rout
- Staff
- Nov 15, 2025
- 4 min read
November 15, 2025
Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com
A three-week layover since the last time CHS played showed no signs of rust. If anything, to head coach Conor Foster, his team’s dominating 53-0 opening-round playoff win only displayed what they are.
“Our kids handled the time off like pros,” said Foster. “We went through it last year, and we have a mature team. They were really focused the last couple of weeks, and I’m really, really proud of the work they put in. We had some great practices, so it wasn’t a surprise to me. “You can’t afford to make excuses for not being ready in the playoffs, and our kids didn’t make any tonight.”
CHS started the rout on their first play from scrimmage, as Braylon Hill exploded through the middle for a 68-yard touchdown. With the Canes lined up for the extra point try in a swinging gate formation, Maddox Davis caught the ball from long snapper Cole Crawford and ran in for two points and an 8-0 lead 16 seconds into the game.
Seven Canes’ first-half possessions brought seven touchdowns. Bryson Everett’s 45-yard catch late in the game from Harris Turner set up Jaden Navarrez’s 25-yard field goal for the final score.
Brady Marchese got a hat trick, as all three of his receptions from Nate Russell went for scores.
Hill found the end zone again on an 11-yard run late in the first quarter to make the difference 29-0. With Russell done for the night, Turner stepped up in the pocket on fourth down and dropped his best throw of the season past a defender and into Holden Hoopingarner’s arms. The 34-yard score on the final play from scrimmage in the first half for the 50-0 lead.
The highlight of the evening came midway through the first quarter. It looked like a torn meniscus during practice in Week Zero ended Jackson Montgomery’s senior season before it started. However, the Canes' sideline erupted with Montgomery’s 17-yard catch in the end zone that brought the lead to 22-0. He would add another ten-yard grab over the middle later.
“This meant so much to me,” Montgomery said. “I thank the Lord for this opportunity. I didn’t think I’d make it back on the field, but, God willing, I worked hard in physical therapy, and my team was always there to encourage me. I appreciate them so much. They helped keep my mindset focused on getting back. I was going to get back out there with my guys."
“I’m just blessed to be out there and do that under the lights in the playoffs. I love Cartersville.”
“That was a big, emotional catch for everybody,” said Foster. “He’s a guy we weren’t sure we were going to have back this year, so it was a blessing to have that opportunity.”
The Jaguars’ deepest field position came after a punt bounced off a Cartersville player and gave Jackson the ball at the Canes’ 28. Hoopingarner ended the threat on the next play, though, with an interception return from the 15 to the Cartersville 32. The visitors got as far as the Canes’ 34 in the first half, but were turned away two plays later on fourth down.
“Credit to their coaching staff. They threw a lot of different looks at us we hadn’t seen,” Foster said, “But our kids adjusted.”
“We knew they could do a lot of different things,” said linebacker Brayden Logan. “We thought they would run the ball more, and they came out early with some quick [passes]. But we defended that well and stayed sound. We just need to stay healthy and consistent and play with the same tenacity we’ve had the last 11 games.”
Logan entered the game leading the team in tackles with 54. He and Cole Crawford, who was recently named an Under Armour Next All-American, are the latest in a strong line of CHS middle linebackers.
“We work well together,” said Logan. “Sometimes he’s got to calm me down, and I’ve got to calm him down. But we’ve had a lot of good seniors in front of us, like Conor Brasfield and Luke McBride. Coach [Dawson] Mitchell also knows how to keep us under control.”
Logan and Kaiden Kent’s five tackles apiece paced the defense, with freshman Athens Davenport just behind with four. Logan, PJ Richards, Grayson Villar, Jared Cooley, and Adam Fernandes all had tackles for losses. Villar and Elijah Peeks each recorded a sack for the Canes. CHS also recorded two turnovers on Hoopingarner’s interception and Thomas Smith’s fumble recovery.
The Canes piled up 454 total yards of offense, 327 of that through the air. Nary a pass found the ground, as Russell (11-for-11, 236, 4 TDs) and Harris (6-for-6, 91, and a score) were perfect for identical 177.1 quarterback rankings. Marchese led with 88 yards receiving. Hill only needed two carries for his team-leading 68 rushing yards to go with a 12-yard reception.
His reputation as a deep threat is well-deserved, but Marchese’s first two scores showed his physicality as well. On the Canes’ second possession from 23 yards out, the Georgia commit took Russell’s pass near the 12 and was hit just inside the 10 before dragging the defender the rest of the way into the end zone.
His most impressive catch came early in the second quarter from the Jackson 19. Lined up on the right side, Marchese cut in on the snap and had to reach behind himself to snag Russell’s throw. He then pirouetted, regained his footing, and hit the gas to run through tackles and in for the score.
Davis continued making the ridiculous look routine with his two catches for 76 yards. The first came on a spinning, one-handed museum piece near the sideline for 33 yards on the Canes’ second drive, followed by a 43-yarder on the next possession. Davis wasn’t in position for the catch, but timed his jump to elevate over the defender. Two plays later, Montgomery’s catch and Ramsey Rowell, who was 6-for-6 on PATs, made he score 22-0.
The Canes will face Warner-Robins, who moved to 7-4 in their 28-14 opening-round win over Eastside, next Friday in Weinman Stadium.
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