Colonels win high-octane showdown at North Cobb

September 6, 2025

Brodie McWhorter

The Cass Colonels outlasted the North Cobb Warriors in a thrilling 35-27 victory Friday night, showcasing quality quarterback play and capitalizing on critical North Cobb turnovers at Emory Sewell Stadium in Acworth.

The game was an exciting quarterback duel, with Mississippi State commit Brodie McWhorter of Cass and Notre Dame commit Teddy Jarrard of North Cobb trading blows. 

McWhorter completed 14 of 19 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns while adding 31 yards on the ground in nine carries. Jarrard kept pace, tossing three touchdown passes, but North Cobb's four fumbles—compared to the Colonels' clean sheet—proved costly.

North Cobb defeated Cass last year at Cochran Stadium 43-14, but the Colonels turned the tables on Friday.

"They were faster than us last year; they were more physical than us last year, the score showed that," said Cass head coach Steve Gates on Saturday. "We preached all week to the kids that if we can match their speed, play as physically as they do, and do both of those with better discipline, we would be in the game in the fourth quarter. Ironically, that’s precisely what happened."

Cass struck first with 0:21 left in the first quarter. McWhorter capped a 7-play, 70-yard drive with a 43-yard touchdown pass to Zeke Helton, and Anthony Quijada's first of five extra points on the night made it 7-0. 

North Cobb, showing their resilience, responded in the second quarter. Jarrard connected with Sebastian Easley on a 6-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 after Michael Hill's PAT.

The Colonels regained the lead at 3:08 in the second when McWhorter hit Jah Anderson for a 38-yard touchdown, finishing an 80-yard drive. 

Moments later, disaster struck for North Cobb. Jarrard fumbled on a handoff attempt, and Cass's defensive lineman Tremon Buckner scooped it up and ran it back for a 19-yard 'scoop and score,' pushing the lead to 21-7. 

North Cobb clawed back just before halftime, with Jarrard finding Jace Caldwell for a 14-yard touchdown pass as time expired, making it 21-14 at the break.

The second half opened with another North Cobb miscue—a fumble on the kickoff, recovered by Cass at the Warriors' 32-yard line. 

McWhorter capitalized, hitting Kennesaw State commit Chase Tatum for a 5-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 28-14. 

North Cobb answered with a 6-yard touchdown run by Zach Belyeu, but a missed PAT kept the score at 28-20.

In the fourth quarter, Cass's ground game took over. 

Kalil Charles, who carried the ball 23 times for 92 yards in the game and had one reception for five yards, capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up 6:30 off the clock with a 7-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 35-20. 

Jarrard and Caldwell connected again for a 9-yard Warriors' touchdown to cut the deficit to 35-27, but North Cobb's hopes faded after turning the ball over on downs in the final two minutes. 

Cass sealed the win with two kneel-downs.

"Our coaches had a great game plan," added Gates. "They made some incredible halftime adjustments, and our kids played fearlessly. I am super proud of the players, coaches, and community."

North Cobb's four fumbles, including the critical kickoff miscue, were too much to overcome despite Jarrard's heroics. For Cass, McWhorter's accuracy and the team's balanced attack with their late-game rushing success proved decisive. Buckner's defensive touchdown and Charles's late rushing score helped seal the win.

Anderson caught five passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. Slocum had eight receptions for 22 yards, and Naz Fleurine added a five-yard reception. Tatum's five punts for Cass averaged just over 40 yards, including a 52-yarder, with no returns.

The Colonels (3-1) move forward with momentum and travel to Hiram next Friday to open play in Region 7-AAAA. 

The Warriors (2-2) look to clean up their ball-security issues in what promises to be a competitive season. North Cobb hosts Walton on Friday in their Region 5-AAAAAA opener.