Tigers' successful season ends with a playoff loss at North Hall

November 14, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Adairsville’s football season ended Saturday afternoon in Gainesville as the Tigers fell to North Hall, 49-21, in the opening round of the GHSA Class 4A state playoffs.

The Tigers finished the season 7-4 after North Hall used a big second-quarter scoring surge and an explosive second-half performance to pull away.

Adairsville won the coin toss and elected to defer, but North Hall quickly established momentum. The Trojans opened the scoring with a five-play, 65-yard drive capped by Colton Steele’s 26-yard touchdown run. Walker Vining added the extra point, giving the Trojans a 7-0 lead.

North Hall threatened again late in the first quarter, but Vining’s 26-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. Adairsville had a chance to respond, but Kasyn Haynes intercepted Braxton Elrod’s pass, ending the Tigers’ ensuing possession.

After both teams traded punts to open the second quarter, Adairsville’s defense delivered a pivotal play. Jake Barszcz and Joe Harrill combined for a strip-sack of North Hall quarterback Alex Schlieman, and Hunter Gilley recovered the fumble at the six-yard line.

The Tigers capitalized on the turnover. Elrod scored on an 11-yard run with 4:19 remaining in the first half, and Alex Ochoa’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.

North Hall responded with a nine-play, 62-yard drive, reclaiming the lead on Steele’s nine-yard touchdown run with 1:27 left before halftime.

The Trojans then delivered another major blow just 31 seconds later. On the first play of their next possession, Schlieman connected with Steele for a 69-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave North Hall a 21-7 advantage heading into the break.

Adairsville opened the second half with an impressive scoring drive. The Tigers covered 82 yards in eight plays, with Ben Wilson providing a key 33-yard halfback pass to extend the possession. Elrod finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown run at the 7:27 mark, and Ochoa's extra point cut the deficit to 21-14.

However, an unsuccessful onside kick attempt gave North Hall possession at the Trojan 49-yard line. The Trojans needed just two plays to reach the end zone, with Schlieman scoring on a seven-yard run to restore the two-touchdown advantage.

North Hall continued to build on its lead as Steele broke loose for touchdown runs of 28 and 26 yards during the remainder of the third quarter. The Trojans carried a commanding 42-14 advantage into the fourth.

Adairsville's first possession of the final quarter ended with Elrod's second interception of the night, again recorded by Haynes. North Hall moved 44 yards on its ensuing drive but turned the ball over on downs.

The Tigers continued to compete and put together a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive late in the game. Elrod connected with Jay Carson on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:43 remaining, and Ochoa added the extra point to make it 42-21.

North Hall answered with one final scoring drive, covering 63 yards in seven plays. Kamryn Keller scored on a three-yard run with 29 seconds remaining to account for the final 49-21 margin.

Tigers' head coach Jon Cudd reflected on his team's successful season and the playoff loss on Saturday, "I'm proud of the way our guys played this year. Today was tough. We played hard but give credit to North Hall. They have a really good team that really puts pressure on you from sideline to sideline. They were really good up front and controlled the line of scrimmage."

Steele was a major difference-maker for the Trojans, scoring four rushing touchdowns and adding a 69-yard touchdown reception.

For Adairsville, Elrod accounted for all three of the Tigers' touchdowns, scoring twice on the ground and connecting with Carson through the air.

North Hall (9-2) travels to No. 4 seed Sandy Creek (11-0) on Friday. The Patriots blanked Heritage-Catoosa in the first round, 56-0.

The loss brings an end to an 8-3 season for the Tigers.

~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report.