Canes' season ends with quarterfinal loss at Kell

Staff
2 minutes ago
3 min read

November 30, 2025

Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com

Cartersville's Cooper Melvin wraps up Kell running back Moonie Gipson. Photo: CanesAthletics.com

Cartersville answered an opening-drive touchdown by Kell with one of their own to tie the game, but from there it was all Longhorns as the Canes’ season ended with a 48-21 loss on Nov. 28.

With the ball at their own 47 and down 7-0, Brady Marchese took in a Nate Russell pass on a short crossing route. The packed visitors’ stands of purple and gold erupted when Marchese shrugged off a would-be tackler near midfield and sprinted for the 53-yard score two-and-a-half minutes into the game.

Kell would score 27 unanswered points, though. Cartersville got as close as the Longhorn 35 on a shanked punt, but would go backwards five yards on the possession before punting themselves.

A short touchdown run and a 40-yard field goal by Kell pushed the lead to 17-7. The score remained until the Longhorns added 17 more points in the final 2:38 of the first half, significantly shifting the momentum.

Nate Russell looks downfield for an open receiver vs. Kell in the state quarterfinals. RANDY PARKER / DTN

It began after a Kylen Pope sack placed Kell in a third-and-28 from their own 38. On the next play, Grayson Villar had Kell quarterback Kaleb Narcisse in his arms when Narcisse flipped the ball to running back Moonie Gipson, who then ran 62 yards for the score.

The Canes’ Tyon Coe, fighting for extra yards on the ensuing kickoff return, was stripped of the ball. Moments later, a 14-yard touchdown pass pushed the difference to 31-7.

On the Canes’ next drive, Russell looked for Marchese deep down the sideline, but was picked off with 38 seconds left at the Kell 24. A Longhorn run on first down put Kell at the Canes’ 32. After some shots to the end zone and a run by Narcisse, a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the half made the score 34-7.

Cartersville’s offense continued to struggle, going three-and-out to open the second half. Kell responded with a 77-yard drive, highlighted by a 35-yard reception by Gipson and a 36-yard run for the score by Jacob Carroll for the 41-7 lead with 7:31 to play in the third quarter.

Grayson Villar (13) takes Kell QB Kaleb Narcisse to the turf. RANDY PARKER / DTN

Gipson, a 4-star junior and the 8th-ranked running back in the nation with offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, and others, finished with 158 yards rushing and 116 receiving for 274 all-purpose yards.

Russell connected with Marchese for a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make the difference 41-14. After a Kell touchdown, Cartersville’s Athens Davenport ended the scoring with a 45-yard fumble return for the 48-21 final.

Russell was sacked three times and threw two interceptions on the evening as the offense finished with 132 total yards and only six on the ground.

Cole Crawford led the Cartersville defense with 13 tackles, ten of them solo. Reed Ezell followed with 10 tackles, nine solo.

The Canes entered the game No. 2 against the fifth-ranked Longhorns. Cartersville finishes its 12-1 season with a 7-4A region championship. Kell (11-2) will face top-ranked Creekside in the semifinals next week.