Colonels fall at Hiram but playoff hopes remain alive
The Cass Colonels could not keep pace with the high-scoring Hiram offense Friday night in Paulding County in a 50-20 Region 7-5A loss to the Hornets.
Hiram, who leads Class 5A in scoring at almost 44 points per game, led Cass 19-7 at halftime before blowing the game wide open in a turnover-plagued third quarter for the Colonels.
The Hornets trailed Cass 7-3 late in the first quarter but took advantage of field position and Cass's mistakes to score 30 unanswered points in just over a 15-minute stretch of the game clock. Two fumbles, a blocked punt, and a failed onside kick attempt by Cass enabled Hiram to build a 33-7 advantage less than two minutes into the third quarter. The Colonels had also fumbled early in the first quarter to set up the Hornets' first field goal.
Hiram running back Kendarius Brown rushed for four touchdowns for Hiram. He had short scoring runs of 1- and 3-yards in the first half and found the end zone with runs of 23- and 2-yards in the third quarter.
Da’Shaun Williams had a 4-yard touchdown run for the Hornets in the third quarter. Jamarion Whatley hit paydirt with a 6-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter while UGA commit Oliver Castaneda booted three field goals. Castaneda’s kicks were good from 48-, 21-, and 42-yards. He did miss a pair of mid-range attempts in the first half and had one PAT kick blocked by the Colonels’ Kaden Ellis.
Cass took a 7-3 lead less than four minutes into the game by driving 80 yards in six plays. Quarterback Brodie McWhorter hit Sacovie White on a tunnel screen pass that White took to the end zone from 21 yards out. Austin McArthur converted the PAT kick.
After falling behind 33-7, the Colonels drove 83 yards on nine plays to score with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter. A long reception by Chase Tatum from McWhorter took the Colonels to the 3-yard line where Kevin Henderson punched in a short run. The PAT missed leaving the score at 33-13.
After the Hornets had built a 50-13 lead, Cass drove 93 yards in just five plays. A 49-yard reception by White from McWhorter moved the Colonels into Hiram territory. Braylon Hill then got loose on a 34-yard scamper to put Cass in scoring position. McWhorter found Tatum on a slant route to culminate the drive from the 5-yard line. That made the score 50-20 and with a running clock, Hiram ran out the clock with their final possession.
Hiram (7-2, 2-2) plays at Woodland on Friday night in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Cass (4-5, 1-3) can still make the state playoffs following Calhoun’s 28-21 loss Friday night at Dalton. The Colonels, who host Calhoun Friday night in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, can claim Region 7-5A’s final playoff spot with a win over the Yellow Jackets (6-3, 2-2).
Comments