Tigers suffer 42-6 setback at Allatoona

August 16, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

On Friday night, running back Ethan Corpus effectively stepped in for Allatoona star and Georgia Tech commit, Xavier Rucker, as the host Buccaneers triumphed over the Adairsville Tigers with a score of 42-6.

Corpus ran for three touchdowns, and the Bucs’ defense forced three turnovers to keep Adairsville at bay in both teams’ season opener.

Allatoona set the tone early in the first quarter with Corpus capping a crisp 5-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. Bucs’ kicker Wilson Perry added the first of five extra points for a 7-0 lead.

On their next possession, an Allatoona drive stalled when Perry’s 36-yard field goal attempt was swatted away, keeping the score 7-0. Adairsville failed to take advantage, however, and with 1:04 left in the quarter, quarterback Braxton Elrod’s pass was picked off by Bucs’ corner John Arnold.

Another Tigers’ turnover led to the next Allatoona scoring play. Elrod fumbled at his 17-yard line, and the Buccaneers pounced, needing just three plays to cover the short field. Corpus punched in a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:04 remaining in the half, stretching the hosts’ lead to 14-0.

Adairsville mounted a late drive before the half, moving 31 yards in eight plays, but Cooper Souders’ 38-yard field goal attempt with 0:42 remaining before the intermission sailed wide.

The Bucs continued their offensive success in the second half.

Corpus scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to cap a 7-play, 67-yard drive, pushing the score to 21-0 with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter. On their next possession, quarterback Frank Young connected with wideout Rhys Rooney for a 38-yard touchdown pass, capping a 6-play, 63-yard drive. Perry’s PAT made the score 28-0 through three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Hunter Griffin sprinted 11 yards for a Bucs’ touchdown with 10:35 left in the game. The drive covered 72 yards in eight plays and extended the Allatoona lead to 35-0

Adairsville got on the scoreboard with its ensuing possession. Elrod tossed a 58-yard touchdown pass to Colt Sanford to complete a 9-play, 80-yard drive, but a two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 35-6.

Allatoona responded swiftly, with a third quarterback, Jacob Wan, dashing 8 yards for a fifth Buccaneers’ touchdown with 6:17 remaining. The quick, 3-play drive covered 66 yards and made it 42-6.

Adairsville had one final possession that ended with 1:44 remaining when Elrod threw his second interception of the night.

Allatoona (1-0) plays at South Paulding next Friday.

Adairsville (0-1) will look to regroup before hosting Pepperell on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report.