Second quarter onslaught moves Canes to 2-0
- Staff
- Aug 23
- 4 min read
August 23, 2025
By Scott Barkley
CanesAthletics.com
Nate Russell's first half against Rockmart Friday night went about as well as a quarterback could want. With the Canes leading 39-7, the senior went into the locker room with 185 yards and more than twice as many touchdowns (5) as incompletions (2).
A running clock in the second half allowed Russell only a single drive in the eventual 39-14 win. That one finished with two throws he would like to have back – high ones to Brady Marchese on a slant and Braylon Hill down the sideline. Both would’ve gone for scores.
“We had a really good game plan coming in,” he said. “I felt really calm and relaxed. We were excited for this game because it’s an old rival.”
Both teams came in ranked, Cartersville at No. 5 in 4A and Rockmart No. 2 in 2A. Each also had a big win last week after the Canes took out Columbia 44-0 and the Yellow Jackets pounded Cedartown 56-7 after losing to their rival last year.
With tensions high, even a 30-minute lightning delay did little to quell a chippy first half.
“If you don’t keep your emotions in check, everything goes to crap,” said Russell. “So we had to try and make sure we’re worried about our guys and not the outside noise.”
Lightning had also disrupted practices this week and affected preparation, said head coach Conor Foster. Whatever the case, there is room for improvement despite a 25-point win.
“It’s two communities that love their teams and respect this rivalry,” head coach Conor Foster said afterwards. “Our kids were amped up. Our coaches were amped up. This means the world to us, and sometimes those things are going to happen.
“We played good, but there is also a little bit of a bad taste in our mouth because we know we left some opportunities on both sides of the ball.”
The game opened with Rockmart recovering a fumbled Cartersville kickoff return that had gone deep into Yellow Jacket territory. After a three-and-out, Reed Ezell returned the punt to Rockmart’s side of the field. Three plays later, Marchese caught up to a Russell bomb at the goal line for a 40-yard strike and 6-0 lead after Ramsey Rowell’s kick clanged off the right upright.
Rockmart answered with a drive aided by a personal foul against the Canes that moved the ball to near midfield before the game was delayed due to lightning.
On the first play back, the Canes’ defense tallied a two-yard loss on an end-around by the Yellow Jackets. Grayson Villar followed by jarring the ball loose from Rockmart quarterback Tucker Parson for a big loss that forced a punt. The junior tackle’s fourth-down stick for a four-yard loss also ended the Yellow Jackets’ next drive.
“I felt like that changed the tone,” said Villar, whose helmet had been ripped off in an earlier scuffle. “As a leader on this team, I want to be able to keep my composure and make sure all the other guys keep theirs as well. You can’t chirp back because you have to play for something more than that.
“We’re looking at playing 15 weeks, and you don’t want to get kicked out of a game. That’s not something you want, so we need to keep our heads.”
The Canes took every opportunity in the second quarter, scoring five times to knock the game out of reach. Two drives lasted one play, with the longest taking three snaps.
After the defense’s fourth down stop, Russell hit Marchese for seven yards to cross midfield. Tripp Chatmon then took the handoff and darted through the middle, stepping out of tackles for a 46-yard score and 12-0 lead after a two-point attempt failed.
The defense set up the next drive as Kaiden Kent picked up a fumble and darted to the Rockmart 23. On first down, Russell looked left to a wide-open Davis Waddel for the touchdown and 20-0 advantage after Rowell’s kick with 5:51 remaining in the half.
Starting from their own 36 on the next possession, Russell connected with Marchese again for 20 yards to cross midfield. A Cole Crawford reception added six more yards, before Russell rainbowed a touch pass down the right sideline to a streaking Hill into the end zone for a 26-0 lead.
The defense held again, with Ezell tacking on a 26-yard punt return for good measure to the Rockmart 19. Russell looked to Madoxx Davis this time on a quick screen as the speedster raced back to the middle and into the end zone to push the advantage to 32-0 after the point-after kick missed.
Rockmart scored on its first play after receiving the ball, a 65-yard bomb down the middle with a minute to play. But a Davis 48-yard kickoff return set the Canes up on the Yellow Jacket 27.
On second down, Russell delivered a quick throw to Chatmon. A crushing pancake block by Davis along the sideline sprung the sophomore for the touchdown and 39-7 lead after Rowell’s kick.
Hill finished with 55 yards on the ground on only five carries and was one of four Canes whose lone reception of the night went for a score. Marchese, the Georgia commit, hauled in three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Official stats will be added to MaxPreps.
“Our guys are elite,” said Russell, “Tripp and Braylon both had an outstanding night. I wish I could get everyone more touches. Our O-line had a freak night as well. I think I hit the ground twice, and both of them were my fault, so I can’t thank them enough.”
Cartersville (2-0) returns to Weinman Stadium next Friday, Aug. 29, to face Hapeville Charter. Kickoff is at 7:30.
Photos: Russell Andrews, Sports Furnace Athletics
Clockwise from top left: (30) Reed Ezell -- (3) Brayden Logan, (25) Kylen Pope, and (24) Grayson Warmack presnap on defense -- (95) Ramsey Rowell with the kick --- Braylon Hill (5) hits the hole created by (55) Jorian Bailey.
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