Hurricanes blank Heritage-Conyers for fifth straight win; Tigers dominate Warriors
September 15, 2023 Charles Wilson / Bartow Sports Zone
In a game dominated by the Cartersville defense, the Canes put 45 points on the scoreboard in the first half and cruised to a 45-0 shutout of visiting Heritage-Conyers.
The Hurricanes’ defenders picked off three passes, recorded a safety, and did not yield a Patriots’ first down until the 5:09 mark of the second quarter.
The Canes’ defensive unit has now gone four straight weeks without allowing a score.
Cartersville struck first Friday on the game’s opening drive although it looked like the drive might stall inside the ten-yard line. As the Canes lined up for a field goal attempt, Heritage jumped offside moving the ball to the 4-yard line. Cartersville head coach Conor Foster sent the offensive unit back on the field for a 4th-and-goal play and was rewarded with Khristian Lando’s 4-yard touchdown run.
Logan Shrewsbury then connected with Connor Brasfield for a 2-point conversion pass that gave the Hurricanes an 8-0 lead with 8:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Early in the second period, Lando scored again on a 7-yard run. Ryan Johnson added the PAT kick and Cartersville was ahead 15-0 with 11:26 to go in the opening half.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Patriots were pinned inside the 10-yard line and a couple of plays later Luke McBride and Cooper Moon were able to drop a Patriots’ runner in the end zone for a safety and a 17-0 Canes’ lead.
The free kick that followed turned into one of the night’s most exciting plays.
A’Darrian Taylor Wilson gathered in the kick at the 30-yard line and raced 70 yards for a free kick return for a touchdown. Johnson’s kick gave Cartersville a 24-0 advantage with 10:09 to go in the second period.
After stopping Heritage again, Baylon Long finished a Canes’ possession with a 6-yard touchdown run making the score 31-0 with 7:21 left in the half.
Reed Ezell picked off a Heritage pass on the Patriots’ next possession and returned it 26 yards for a pick-six. The PAT put the Canes up 38-0 with 6:28 remaining in the second quarter.
Ezell then intercepted another pass — his third of the season — to set up another Canes score.
Long cashed in his second touchdown run from three yards out with 3:01 to go in the half making the score 45-0.
A running clock in the second half abbreviated the number of possessions for both teams, and the Hurricanes were able to play a number of reserves and preserve their shutout.
Heritage-Conyers falls to 1-3 with the loss.
Class 5A fifth-ranked Cartersville (5-0) has a bye week prior to visiting 8th-ranked Calhoun on September 29 to begin play in Region 7-5A.
TIGERS DOMINATE LFO FOR REGION WIN
Tamarius Wilkey ran for three touchdowns Friday night as the Adairsville Tigers overwhelmed visiting Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe at Tiger Stadium, 49-13.
The Tigers led 35-0 at halftime and built a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter on Wilkey’s third TD run.
LFO scored twice in the fourth quarter on Darian Keefe short passes to Jared Mitchell and Grayden Johnson to cut the Adairsville lead to 42-13 but Easton Elrod closed out the scoring in the game with 1:48 remaining for the Tigers’ 49-13 win.
Jonathan Gough connected with Tre Winters for 45 yards and the first Adairsville touchdown with 9:59 remaining in the opening period. The scoring drive also included a 20-yard run by Jamarian Pullum.
Pullum then had a 15-yard touchdown run at the 6:32 mark that gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead. That was followed by a big punt return by Xavious Nalls setting up the Tigers' next 52-yard scoring drive. Wilkey finished off the third scoring drive with a 2-yard run. Gough added a 19-yard touchdown scamper early in the second quarter building a 28-0 Adairsville lead.
Wilkey had a 13-yard touchdown run to complete a 45-yard drive later in the second quarter and Wilkey added the sixth Tigers touchdown with a 4-yard run.
Adairsville kicker Cooper Souders was 7-for-7 on PAT kicks.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe slips to 1-3 on the season and 0-1 in region play.
Adairsville (2-2, 1-0) has a key Region 6-AAA matchup at Ringgold next Friday (September 22).
~~ Larry Gardner contributed to the Adairsville report.
