Second-half rally comes up short in Canes' quarterfinal loss at North Oconee

November 30, 2024 Charles Wilson, BartowSportsZone.com

A thrilling second-half rally by the Purple Hurricanes came up just short Friday night as North Oconee won a Class 4A state quarterfinal duel in Bogart, 28-26.

The two unbeaten teams—both 12-0 entering the night—battled to the final possession, with the host Titans able to pick up two first downs in the final three minutes, run out the clock, and secure a two-point win.

North Oconee led 7-0 at the intermission as the two defenses controlled much of the opening half.

Cartersville had six possessions in the opening half, ending with four punts and a pair of interceptions. The Titans also had six possessions in the first half, punting four times. North Oconee scored once and was stopped at the Cartersville 3-yard line as time expired in the second quarter.

North Oconee’s first-half touchdown occurred early in the second quarter. The Titans drove 65 yards on just three plays. The big play was a quarterback scramble by Harrison Faulkner and a pass completion to Khamari Brooks for 54 yards to the Canes’ 11-yard line. Following another keeper by Faulkner, runningback J.T. Doster punched in a 6-yard run. Ollie Buckley’s PAT kick gave North Oconee a 7-0 advantage with 10:21 left in the half.

The Titans extended the lead on the opening drive of the second half.

Faulkner completed an 18-yard pass to Ben Blevins and had a 10-yard run to jump-start a 67-yard drive. Doster then finished the march with three straight runs, culminating with an 8-yard score and a 14-0 lead with 8:41 left in the third quarter.

The teams traded punts for most of the third quarter before the Titans added to their lead again with a 72-yard drive on eight plays.

Runs by Doster and Faulkner covered most of the yardage, and Faulkner added a 16-yard pass connection with Brooks. Maddox Brice finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run from a Wildcat formation direct snap. A successful PAT kick gave the Titans a 21-0 lead with 1:06 to play in the third quarter, but the Canes would rally to challenge the outcome.

Starting from their 28-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, Cartersville scored in four plays that took less than a minute. Nate Russell completed short passes to Brady Marchese and Jamauri Brice. He then picked up ten more yards with a quarterback scramble to the North Oconee 43-yard line. A quick strike again to Marchese finally had the Canes on the scoreboard with 0:20 remaining in the period. Ramsey Rowell booted the PAT to make the score 21-7 with a quarter to play.

The Canes defense promptly forced a three-and-out and started from their 41-yard line following a 33-yard Titans punt.

Russell went back to work with receivers Marchese and Brice. Long had a pair of short runs mixed into the eight-play drive that finished with a 24-yard reception by Brice to keep the drive alive on a 4th-and-12, followed by a 27-yard touchdown catch by Marchese with 8:30 left in the game. The PAT kick missed wide right, but the Canes had narrowed the margin to 21-13.

North Oconee answered with a 65-yard drive that needed only four plays and just over two minutes. Landon Roldan and Brody Taylor had runs for the Titans, with Roldan breaking free for a 46-yard scamper and scoring with 6:19 remaining. Buckley’s kick gave North Oconee a 28-13 lead.

Cartersville struck back on the first play of their next possession. Russell hit a racing Marchese for a 90-yard touchdown, and Rowell’s kick made the score 28-20 with 6:00 to play.

A fired-up Cartersville defense got the ball right back, forcing another three-and-out. The Titans’ punt gave the Hurricanes possession at their 23-yard line with 4:12 left.

Four plays later, Cartersville was on the scoreboard again. On a fourth-and-three at the 30-yard line, Russell connected with Adarrian Taylor-Wilson for a 70-yard touchdown strike and a chance to tie.

However, a two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete, leaving the Canes trailing 28-26 with 3:08 remaining.

The Canes' ensuing kickoff and a short return pinned North Oconee at their 17-yard line, but the Titans were able to pick up two first downs on eight consecutive running plays to milk the clock and finish the game.

Russell finished the night 19-for-31 passing for 352 yards (290 in the second half) with four touchdowns and two first-half interceptions. He also rushed for 29 yards on ten attempts.

Marchese had eight receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Brice caught seven passes for 80 yards, and Taylor-Wilson had a 70-yard scoring reception.

Long rushed for 29 yards on eight carries and had a 10-yard reception. Jacaiden Leonard added four carries for 24 yards.

Doster had 110 rushing yards for North Oconee on 16 carries with two touchdowns. Roldan added 71 yards on six attempts. 

Faulkner completed eight of 17 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 93 yards on twenty attempts.

North Oconee (13-0) advanced to the Class 4A semifinals for the third time in the past four years. On Friday, North Oconee will host Blessed Trinity (11-1) in a battle of two teams called Titans. Blessed Trinity defeated Benedictine 24-10 in the quarterfinals.

The other Class 4A semifinal will pit Creekside against Marist (13-0). Creekside (10-2) blanked Eastside 26-0, and Marist beat Cambridge 40-14.

Cartersville finished 2024 with a 12-1 record and a Region 7-4A championship. The Canes’ senior class had a four-year mark of 47-5 and reached two state semifinals with three total region championships.