High-octane Canes power past Colonels

October 4, 2025

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

 The Cartersville defense wraps up Cass ball carrier Kalil Charles during the rivalry game between Cass and Cartersville Oct. 3. Randy Parker/DTN

The No. 3-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes delivered a commanding performance Friday night at Doug Cochran Stadium, defeating the No. 10-ranked Cass Colonels 56-28 in a Region 7-4A showdown. The Hurricanes’ high-octane offense, led by quarterback Nate Russell, scored touchdowns on eight of their first nine possessions, building a 35-14 halftime lead and cruising to victory with a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Despite an early setback when Cass’s Demarcus Balanger picked off Russell’s first pass, the Cartersville quarterback rebounded impressively from his first interception of the season. Russell completed 9 of 16 passes for 187 yards and four touchdowns while adding 42 yards and a touchdown on three rushing attempts.

Cartersville head coach Conor Foster signals to his defense on the field in the Canes' game at Cass Oct. 3. Randy Parker / DTN

The Hurricanes struck first with a lightning-fast four-play, 61-yard drive, capped by Russell’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Hill at 6:13 in the first quarter. Ramsey Rowell’s extra point gave Cartersville a 7-0 lead. 

Late in the first, Russell connected with tight end Cole Crawford for a 13-yard touchdown, finishing a nine-play, 59-yard drive to make it 14-0.

Cass struggled to gain traction, pinned inside their own 10-yard line after a kickoff. A three-and-out and a short punt handed Cartersville excellent field position at the Colonels’ 29. Three plays later, Braylon Hill scored on an 8-yard run early in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 21-0.

The Colonels responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, sparked by three completions from quarterback Brodie McWhorter to Elijah Slocum for 46 yards. Kalil Charles finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, and Anthony Quijada’s PAT made it 21-7. 

Cass quarterback Brodie McWhorter drops back to pass during the Colonels' home game against Cartersville Oct. 3. Randy Parker / DTN

Cartersville answered immediately with a 10-play, 58-yard drive, highlighted by Tripp Chatmon’s 27-yard run and capped by Russell’s 9-yard touchdown scamper, extending the lead to 28-7.

Cass fought back with a quick three-play drive, as McWhorter found Jah Abdullah-Kortay for a 65-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 28-14. But Cartersville’s two-minute drill proved devastating, with Russell hitting Kaiden Kent for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left in the half, sending the Hurricanes into the break up 35-14.

The third quarter saw Cartersville’s offense extend the Canes’ advantage. On the second play of the half, Russell connected with Madoxx Davis for a 63-yard touchdown pass, making it 42-14. 

Another poor Cass kickoff return and a three-and-out gave Cartersville a short field at the Colonels’ 12, where Chatmon scored on an 8-yard run. Following a Cass punt, Tyon Coe broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run on a single-play drive, pushing the score to 56-14.

Cartersville's Braylon Hill pulls in a touchdown pass in the Canes' game at Cass Oct. 3. Randy Parker / DTN

Cass managed a 75-yard, five-play drive, with McWhorter and Abdullah-Kortay connecting for a 46-yard touchdown pass, but the deficit for the Colonels was too significant. 

The fourth quarter, played with a running clock, saw Cartersville’s Melvin intercept a pass in the end zone to halt a Cass drive, before the Colonels added a late score with 25 seconds remaining. McWhorter found Slocum for a 10-yard touchdown pass, finalizing the score at 56-28.

Cartersville’s balanced attack featured three different running backs and four different receivers scoring.

Tyon Coe rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on six carries for Cartersville. Tripp Chatmon had 62 yards and a score on eight attempts. Braylon Hill carried five times for 33 yards and one rushing touchdown, and P.J. Richards added 25 rushing yards on six attempts. 

Madoxx Davis had two receptions for the Hurricanes for 72 yards and one touchdown. Cole Crawford caught two passes for 31 yards and a score. Cooper Melvin caught two balls for 53 yards. Kaiden Kent caught an 18-yard touchdown. Brady Marchese hauled in a 13-yard reception, and Hill caught two passes for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Cass kick returner Kalel Charles looks for daylight vs. Cartersville Oct. 3. Randy Parker / DTN

McWhorter completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 306 yards and three touchdowns for Cass. He threw one interception. Slocum hauled in 14 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. Abdullah-Kortay had four receptions for 131 yards and two scores. Chase Tatum caught two balls for 10 yards, while Zeke Helton and Jeremy Barrett had one catch each for eight and six yards, respectively.

Kalil Charles, who entered the game as the state’s leading rusher in Class 4A, was limited to 51 yards on 16 carries.

Cartersville (7-0, 3-0) hosts Allatoona on Friday.

Cass (6-2, 3-1) enters a bye week before traveling to Dalton on October 17.