Colonels dispatch Cavaliers to open '24 campaign

August 18, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The Cass Colonels opened the 2024 season on Saturday night at Cochran Stadium with an impressive 42-7 win over the Class 2A 4th-ranked Callaway Cavaliers.

The game site and starting time were shuffled around at least five times in recent days but eventually kicked off Saturday night on the Cass High campus.

Cass junior quarterback, Brodie McWhorter, tossed three touchdown passes and ran for one more as the Colonels offense enjoyed a productive and efficient night.

The Cass defense also performed well and even added to the scoring with a pick-six in the second quarter.

The Colonels’ offense set the tone for the night with an opening drive that took almost 10 minutes off the game clock. The 65-yard, 16-play march included three, fourth-down conversions including the scoring play. McWhorter found receiver Elijah Slocum on the goal line for a difficult catch in traffic and a 4-yard touchdown. The PAT kick attempt failed, but Cass held an early 6-0 lead with 2:22 remaining in the initial period.

After the Cass defense forced a punt, the Colonel offense added another long scoring drive.

Junior running back, Braylon Hill, culminated a seven-play, 93-yard drive with a 46-yard touchdown scamper. This time Mason Madrid converted the PAT kick for a 13-0 Cass lead with 9:46 left in the second quarter.

Following the ensuing kickoff, Cass defensive back Jakai Baldwin intercepted a Cavalier pass and returned it 50 yards for a pick-six. The Colonels tried a two-point conversion pass that failed but held a 19-0 advantage with 9:27 remaining in the first half.

Callaway’s next possession resulted in a turnover on downs at the Cass 46-yard line and the Colonel offense rewarded the defensive unit by driving for another score.

The 11-play, 54-yard drive included key runs by McWhorter and Hill. It was completed when McWhorter scored on a 5-yard keeper with 2:45 left before the intermission. Madrid converted the extra point and the Colonels had a 26-0 lead.

The Cavaliers scored their only points of the night on their next possession.

Callaway quarterback Blake Harrington did a lot of the damage on the ground by calling his own number. The 58-yard, 10-play drive was also aided by a pass interference call in the end zone. The scoring play was a 4-yard pass from Harrington to Xae Anderson with 0:21 remaining in the half. Noah Hart booted the Cavaliers’ PAT and the two teams went to the locker room with Cass leading 26-7.

Callaway’s offensive success continued on the first possession of the second half.

The Cavs started at their 30-yard line and drove 61 yards before stalling with miscues and penalties. The 10-play drive reached the Colonels’ 9-yard line but ultimately turned the ball over on downs at the Cass 14-yard line.

Cass then marched 86 yards in nine plays to extend the lead.

A 40-yard pass from McWhorter to Baldwin was the biggest play of the drive. Jachai Delgado caught a 1-yard swing pass for the Colonels’ touchdown. Madrid’s kick made the score 33-7 with 1:04 left in the third period.

A bad punt snap set up the Colonels’ final touchdown. Ian Williams tackled Callaway’s punter at the 15-yard line giving Cass a short field early in the fourth quarter.

Three plays later, McWhorter found Izak Koep open at the right-side front pylon for a 12-yard touchdown. Madrid’s fourth PAT kick put Cass up 40-7 with 9:47 remaining.

The Colonels’ reserve defense added a safety on Callaway’s next possession to make the score 42-7 with 8:28 left.

Reserves for both teams played out the remaining running clock time.

McWhorter was 9-of-10 passing for 114 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for 51 yards on nine attempts.

Hill had a game-high 131 rushing yards on 17 carries with one touchdown. Delgado totaled 34 yards rushing on seven attempts.

Baldwin led the Colonels receiving corps with 67 yards on three receptions. Slocum hauled in four catches for 34 yards and one touchdown.

The Colonels offense produced 378 total yards on 54 plays. The team rushed for 264 yards in 44 attempts.

Callaway (0-1) has a bye week to make adjustments and will travel to face Opelika (Ala.) on Friday, August 30.

Cass (1-0), ranked 10th in this week's Georgia High School Football Daily Class 4A cumulative poll, hosts Model on Thursday in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Cochran Stadium.