Colonels move to 3-0 with a 49-0 shutout of Adairsville
August 31, 2024
The Cass Colonels earned their second consecutive shutout and blanked the previously unbeaten Adairsville Tigers on Friday night at Cochran Stadium, 49-0.
The Cass defense has been stingy through three games. The Colonels allowed a late second-quarter touchdown to Callaway in the season opener on August 17 during a 42-7 win and shutout Model last week, 48-0.
Adairsville entered the game with wins over Allatoona (28-27) and Pepperell (31-14) but struggled in the loss to the Colonels.
Cass received the opening kickoff and aggressively went for a fourth-and-five near midfield but failed to convert. The turnover on downs gave Adairsville great field position in plus-territory. On the Tigers’ first down play, Cass defensive back Ian Williams intercepted a pass from Adairsville quarterback Ethan Long at the Colonels’ 45-yard line.
Following the Adairsville turnover, the Cass offense kicked into high gear.
The Colonels drove 55 yards in six plays for the night's first points. Three short passes by Cass quarterback Brodie McWhorter and two runs by Jachai Delgado marched the football down the field. Delgado scored on a three-yard run with 4:38 remaining in the quarter and Mason Madrid’s PAT kick put the hosts up 7-0.
Adairsville picked up a first down on a pass interference penalty on their ensuing possession and moved into Cass territory on an 18-yard pass from Long to Tre Winters. A personal foul penalty on Cass at the end of the next Tigers running play gave Adairsville possession at the Cass 28-yard line. Three plays later, an Adairsville swing pass was ruled a lateral fumble and rolled out of bounds at the 38-yard line. A short punt gave the Colonels possession at their 31-yard line.
A 41-yard pass from McWhorter to Elijah Slocum moved Cass deep into Adairsville territory, but five plays later the possession ended on downs at the Adairsville 17-yard line.
After forcing an Adairsville punt, Cass drove 51 yards on four plays to go up 14-0.
McWhorter ran for 11 yards and a first down on the initial play. He then connected with Chase Tatum who made a hard-nosed catch in traffic at the 25-yard line. After a personal foul penalty was tacked on, the Colonels were in position to score at the Adairsville 13-yard line. Braylon Hill found daylight and the end zone on the next play with a slashing run up the middle with 7:36 remaining in the second quarter.
Adairsville went three-and-out on their next possession and the Colonels’ Jeremiah Deroche’ blocked the Tigers’ punt. Tayvian McKibbons pounced on the loose ball at the five-yard line and the Cass offense entered to take advantage.
Delgado scored on the next play for a 20-0 Cass advantage but the PAT kick missed wide.
Adairsville’s next possession stalled after reaching the Cass 45-yard line and this time the Tigers tried a fake punt. The run by Tamarius Wilkey came up short and the Colonels again took over on downs.
Starting at their 43-yard line, Cass drove inside the Adairsville 5-yard line in the final seconds of the first half. Key plays on the possession included a shifty run by Hill, a pass to Slocum, and a swing pass to Hill.
The Colonels settled, however, for a 23-yard field goal by Madrid and a 23-0 lead as the first-half clock expired.
On Adairsville's opening possession of the second half, the Cass defense forced another turnover.
Tatum deflected an Ethan Long pass and McKibbons caught it and scored with a 25-yard interception return. The PAT kick failed but Cass held a 29-0 lead with 10:41 left in the third quarter.
Just over two minutes later, McWhorter connected with Naz Fluerine for a 27-yard touchdown pass that capped a three-play, 50-yard scoring drive. The Colonels’ extra point made the score 36-0.
Adairsville gained one first down on the next possession but a short punt gave Cass possession again at their 40-yard line.
A 45-yard run by Hill moved the Colonels into the red zone and four plays later McWhorter found Tatum in the front left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The point-after kick failed but Cass held a 42-0 lead with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers picked up just one first down again on the next possession and their punt gave Cass the ball at the Colonels' 40-yard line.
A 50-yard pass from McWhorter to Slocum set up the Colonels’ final scoring play. The junior quarterback finished off the drive with a 1-yard keeper. The eight-play, 60-yard drive made the score 49-0 with 8:14 left in the game.
McWhorter finished the game 16-for-22 passing for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Slocum caught five passes for 96 yards. Fleurine caught three passes for 48 yards with a touchdown and Izak Keop had two receptions for 31 yards.
Hill rushed for 112 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. Delgado followed with 53 yards on 10 attempts with two scores.
Next week, Adairsville (2-1) visits Woodland (1-1) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday.
Cass (3-0) will host Class 6A North Cobb (3-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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