Canes topple Catamounts to remain unbeaten
September 14, 2024
The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes dominated the visiting Dalton Catamounts Friday night with a 43-13 Region 7-4A victory. The win moved Cartersville to 13-10-1 all-time against Dalton and marked the Canes’ third consecutive win over the Catamounts.
The series between the two schools dates back a century to 1924.
Although Cartersville punted on its first possession, the Hurricane offense soon gained traction. Tyon Coe found daylight on the Canes’ second possession for a 25-yard touchdown run. Ramsey Rowell’s PAT kick put Cartersville ahead 7-0 with 4:14 remaining in the opening quarter.
On the next possession for Cartersville, quarterback Nate Russell finished off a scoring drive with a 1-yard keeper. Although the kick failed, the Canes held a 13-0 lead with 0:15 left in the period.
Most of the second quarter saw possession exchanges but the Canes added 10 points in the final minute of the half.
Russell connected with Ja’mauri Brice for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 0:42 remaining, and Rowell nailed a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the half. A blocked Dalton punt set up the late Cartersville field goal for a 23-0 lead.
Cartersville added to its margin early in the second half by scoring on the third quarter’s opening drive.
Cayden Aleman caught a 10-yard shovel pass from Russell to culminate the drive just over three minutes into the third quarter. The extra point failed, but Cartersville held a 29-0 lead with 8:30 left.
Coe electrified the crowd with a 77-yard scamper with 0:57 remaining in the period. Rowell’s kick made the score 36-0.
Dalton cracked the scoreboard on the Catamounts' next possession.
Caine Woods connected with Kendrix London for an 81-yard strike to narrow the margin to 36-7 with 0:29 left in the quarter.
In the final quarter, Cartersville’s Kaden Baldwin returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown and a 43-7 Hurricanes lead.
The Catamounts (0-5, 0-1) closed out the scoring with a 4-yard run by Woods with 3:57 left in the game.
Dalton plays at Allatoona next week.
Cartersville (5-0, 1-0) visits Woodland on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
~~ Kevin Pate and Matt Santini contributed to this report.
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