Colonels blank Dalton to remain in the state playoff chase
October 19, 2024
The Cass Colonels had no margin for error entering Friday night’s Homecoming game against Dalton and ultimately took care of business by winning 27-0 at Doug Cochran Stadium.
After starting the season 3-0, the Colonels lost four of their next five games, including three in the region. That left Cass needing victories over Dalton and Allatoona to reach the state playoffs for an unprecedented fourth straight year.
Step one of the process was accomplished Friday although it was messy at times.
The Colonels committed nine penalties for 85 yards, turned the ball over three times with interceptions, and the offense managed only 182 total yards. Despite the problems, it was enough for an important win due to the dominance of the Cass defense and special teams.
Ian Williams and Malachi Harris both blocked Dalton's punts. Izak Koep picked off two Dalton passes and had lengthy returns on both. Braylon Hill had two double-digit punt returns, and Ja’Kai Baldwin contributed a 50-yard punt return.
Meanwhile, the Cass defense limited the Catamounts to a mere 38 total yards (23 rushing / 15 passing) in the game. Colonel defenders forced eight negative-yardage plays and kept Dalton bottled up on their side of the 50-yard line for all but seven plays on the night. Both teams punted on their opening possessions, and Koep picked off the first of his two interceptions near the midpoint of the first quarter—his 45-yard return to the Dalton 5-yard line set up the game’s first score.
Braylon Hill ran between his center and left guard for a 5-yard touchdown that gave Cass a 7-0 lead with 5:57 remaining in the opening quarter. Mason Madrid drilled the first of his three PAT kicks. Dalton went three-and-out on their next possession, and Hill returned a punt 11 yards to the Catamounts’ 49-yard line. Six Cass running plays later, Dalton’s Adrian Gongora picked off an Elijah Slocum pass at the 15-yard line.
A third-down sack by Cass defensive end Sergio Ochoa forced another Dalton three-and-out. Hill followed with a 20-yard punt return to the Dalton 40-yard line.
Three consecutive runs by Hill covering 21 yards moved Cass to the 19-yard line. Jachai Delgado took over the rushing duties from there and made the score 14-0 on a 4-yard run with 8:00 left in the first half.
Dalton’s fifth possession of the first half included one first down, but following a sack by Williams of Cass, Dalton quarterback Caine Woods was picked off again by Koep — his 42-yard return to the Cats’ 25-yard line set up another Cass touchdown.
On first down, Hill darted straight through the middle of the Dalton defense for a 25-yard touchdown run and a 21-0 Cass lead with 3:15 left before intermission.
The Cass defense forced one more punt before halftime and went to the locker room with a three-score advantage. The Colonels went three-and-out to begin the second half, but their defense forced the same from Dalton. Malachi Harris blocked the Catamounts’ punt, and the Cass special team recovered to set up possession in plus territory.
Slocum completed an 18-yard pass to Koep to convert a third-and-ten. Hill also had a 14-yard run in the possession to move into the red zone. However, Dalton stymied the Cass drive when Kalem Staton picked off a Slocum pass at the 4-yard line and returned it to the 10.
Again, Dalton picked up one first down but was forced to punt from their 26-yard line near the end of the third quarter. Baldwin’s long punt return to the Catamounts’ 15-yard line set up the final Cass touchdown as the final period began.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Delgado punched in a two-yard run with 11:23 left in the game. The PAT kick failed, but the Colonels had a 27-0 lead.
Dalton did not earn a first down on either of their final possessions that sandwiched a lengthy, 13-play drive by the Colonels’ offense. Cass marched from their 11-yard line to the Dalton 30-yard line, but the drive ended on a fourth down interception in the end zone.
PHOTOS: (clockwise from top left) Braylon Hill gets a block from Peyton Graham; Elijah Slocum runs the zone read with Hill; Izak Koep looks for blocking on one of his interception returns; and Mason Madrid boots one of his extra-point tries.
Hill finished the night with 83 rushing yards on 11 attempts with two touchdowns. Delgado had 13 carries for 43 yards and two scores.
Slocum was 5-for-10 passing for 40 yards. He also rushed eight times for seven yards.
Chase Tatum caught two passes for 12 yards. Koep (18-yards), Delgado (8-yards), and Hill (two yards) contributed one reception.
Dalton (0-9, 0-5) has a bye week before hosting Woodland on November 1.
Cass (5-4, 2-3) visits Allatoona (4-5, 2-3) on Friday night. The winner will earn a state playoff berth.
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