Doss, Davis, defense run Canes to 2-0
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- 5 min read
Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com
Two first-half takeaways from Cartersville’s defense paired with a renewed middle school connection as the Purple Hurricanes overran Mt. Zion Friday night at Weinman Stadium by a final score of 49-14.
Junior quarterback Brayden Doss split time with starter Harris Turner in last week’s Hiram win. But with Turner out due to injury, Doss took all the snaps with the starting offense through the first drive of the third quarter, by which time CHS had built a 49-0 lead.
“He played great,” said head coach Conor Foster. “Brayden was kind of thrown into that position, as we had an injury late in the week. It just speaks volumes about his attention to detail and daily preparation. He’s the guy we expected him to be.”
Doss connected 10 times on 13 attempts for 129 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 56 yards on four carries. The 278 yards of total offense came through a balanced attack of 131 through the air and 147 on the ground.
Madoxx Davis caught only four passes on the night, but three of them went for scores from Doss.
“We played at Walton Middle School together, so we kind of have a connection,” said Doss. “Our guys out there give me the confidence to just get the ball to them, and they’ll take it to the crib.”
One particular play near the end of the first half bore that out.
The 5A top-ranked Canes (2-0) were up 35-0 when Davis returned a punt 30 yards into Mt. Zion territory. On first down from the 41, Doss dropped back, scrambled, evaded a sack by ducking under the arm of a defender, and wheeled around to roll right. Meanwhile, Davis broke off his route to circle back near the home sideline.
The junior receiver took in Doss’ throw at the 15 and darted across the goal line, pushing the lead to 42-0 after Jaden Nevarez’s extra point kick.
“We’re both instinctive players and click like that,” said Davis, who finished with 82 yards receiving. “Going back to middle school, when I saw him roll out, I knew he was going to scan the field. He looked and found me down the field, and it was money.”
Doss credited his coaches with his performance.
“They do a really good job in practice of getting us ready,” he said. “Everyone is prepared, so any of our quarterbacks, if we go in, can execute and make plays.”
The visiting Bulldogs managed 36 yards in the first half and two first downs. Those came on their third possession, the first after a roughing-the-passer call on third-and-long and the second on fullback Mikhail Walker’s second effort on third-and-1.
That drive ended on the next play, though, with Grayson Villar’s hit on Mt. Zion quarterback Arthur Holt IV that jarred the ball loose for Elijah Peeks’ fumble recovery near midfield. Late in the half, Cole Crawford’s interception, also near midfield, set up a Canes possession highlighted by a 39-yard run from Doss to inside the five. AJ Townsend’s 2-yard run up the middle moments later pushed the score to 35-0.
“Coach Foster keeps our intensity up in practice,” said Peeks. “He’s hard on us to stay consistent, so that’s the main goal for us. Grayson and I have been on the line for three years now, and our chemistry and energy make both of us want to make a play.”
The Bulldogs got on the board twice with a running clock in the second half. The first came on a 65-yard pass play after a busted coverage by the Canes defense, and the second with five minutes remaining after a 9-yard run by Walker and a 2-point conversion by Holt for the final score.
A sack from Villar and Cooper Melvin ended Mt. Zion’s first possession, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. The kick, however, went into the offensive line to give the Canes the ball on the Mt. Zion 18.
After a penalty on the first offensive snap pushed the Cartersville offense into first-and-20, Doss found Davis for a 19-yard gain to the Mt. Zion 9-yard line. On the next play, Davis received a jet sweep toss from Doss, reaching the edge for a 7-0 lead with 8:35 left in the first quarter.
A Kylen Pope sack pushed Mt. Zion behind the sticks again, leading to another punt to set CHS up on the visitors’ 39-yard-line. Seven plays later, Tyon Coe carried around left end for a 14-0 advantage.
The Canes’ third score started with Davis fielding a punt at his team’s 47 and dodging three tackles before losing the ball in a crowd. Grayson Warmack picked it up near the 37 and raced to the right side of the end zone for a 21-0 lead after Nevarez’s kick with 7:14 to play in the half.
Another Doss-to-Davis jet sweep flip, this time from left to right, covered 13 yards for a 28-0 cushion. The Canes’ final score came on the first drive of the third quarter, as CJ McClendon burst up the middle for a 31-yard touchdown.
The Canes travel to Woodstock next week. The 6A Wolverines moved to 1-1 on Friday with a 38-20 win over Cambridge.
The evening began by naming Brett Opaleski as Cartersville City Schools’ Teacher of the Year as well as recognizing the Cartersville 2016 state champions.
“Big thanks to Trotter, Deems and King law firm for putting on our pregame tailgate. It was incredible,” said Foster. “Thanks to Bryce Wilkins and Jonathan Cruz for organizing our anniversary of the 2016 team. It was so much fun to see all those guys and so many coaches. Ms. Opaleski was my daughter’s teacher last year, so it was really cool to see her win that award.
“Our community is so supportive, and it’s a great example that it takes so many people to make this place its best. Thanks to the band, the cheerleaders, athletic trainers – the football team is just a small part of the production on Friday night.”
The popularity of that tailgate certainly received a boost from a Conor Foster bobblehead giveaway. His observation suggested someone more comfortable deflecting praise and attention elsewhere.
“I wasn’t loving it, but it generated some excitement,” he said. “I got quite a few messages this week from people giving me a hard time about it, but I can handle it. I’m glad everybody got a good laugh about it.
“Apparently, they had a good turnout, but I told them next year to go with an Edgar Moore bobblehead.”
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