Tigers claw past Wildcats in 36-30 thriller

September 6, 2025

Barrett Fuller (6) scored Adairsville's opening touchdown Friday with a 12-yard run.

The Adairsville Tigers broke into the win column with a heart-stopping 36-30 victory over the Woodland Wildcats in a Friday night shootout at Tiger Stadium. 

The game, marked by big plays, a lightning delay, and multiple momentum shifts, kept fans buzzing as Adairsville outlasted its intra-county rivals in a high-scoring affair.

The Tigers struck first, capping a 6-play, 38-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run by Barrett Fuller at the 9:02 mark of the first quarter. Cooper Souders’ PAT kick gave Adairsville a 7-0 lead. 

Woodland responded swiftly, as quarterback Sammy Ray connected with Korbyn Jarrett for a 65-yard touchdown pass just 1:37 later, tying the game at 7-7 after Hunter Limbaugh’s extra point.

Adairsville’s offense roared back with a 7-play, 83-yard drive, finished by a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Braxton Elrod to wide receiver Colt Sanford. Souders’ kick pushed the Tigers ahead 14-7 with 4:49 left in the first. But before the quarter could continue, lightning forced a one-hour delay, sending both teams to the locker room.

Solomon James (6) protects Woodland passer Sammy Ray.

When play resumed, Woodland seized momentum. Preston Sorrells electrified the crowd with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, though Limbaugh’s PAT attempt failed, leaving the score at 14-13. 

Late in the first, a fumble by Elrod deep in Tiger territory set up a quick two-play drive for Woodland, with running back Solomon James plunging in from 5 yards out and adding a two-point conversion run to give the Wildcats a 21-14 lead with 21 seconds left in the quarter.

The second quarter saw Adairsville regain control. A 3-play, 80-yard drive, sparked by a 77-yard pass from Elrod to Sanford, ended with Jay Carson’s 2-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 21-21 after Souders’ kick. 

Later, with 2:01 left before halftime, Westin Crisp punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to cap an 8-play, 62-yard drive, giving the Tigers a 28-21 lead at the break.

Woodland battled back in the third quarter. James scored his second touchdown on a 5-yard run, finishing a 10-play, 71-yard drive, but a blocked PAT by Adairsville’s Max Hatch kept the score tight at 28-27. 

Colt Sanford looks for running room in Friday's win over Woodland.

The Wildcats’ ensuing kickoff return set up a 45-yard field goal by Limbaugh, giving Woodland a 30-28 lead with 1:14 remaining in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to Adairsville’s Crisp, who broke free for a 77-yard touchdown run with 6:15 remaining, shifting the momentum one final time. Elrod then found Sanford for a two-point conversion, securing a 36-30 lead. 

The Tigers’ defense held firm from there, thwarting Woodland’s final possession to seal the victory.

Both teams now head into a bye week. Adairsville (1-3) opens Region 7-AAA play at LaFayette on September 19, while Woodland (0-3) faces Cartersville at Weinman Stadium in a Region 7-AAAA matchup on the same date. ~~ Larry Gardner and Stuart Morse contributed to this story.