Tigers tame Panthers for a Homecoming win

Staff
Oct 12, 2024
2 min read

October 12, 2024

The Adairsville defense limited Ridgeland to only 106 total yards.

The Adairsville Tigers led 27-0 by halftime and cruised to a 34-7 Homecoming win Friday night over the visiting Ridgeland Panthers.

The Tigers’ defense kept the Panthers bottled up most of the night while quarterback Ethan Long threw for three touchdowns, including two to Xavious Nalls.

Jamarian Pullum opened the Adairsville scoring with a one-yard touchdown plunge on the Tigers’ first possession. The scoring run capped a 60-yard drive that took six plays. A two-point conversion pass attempt failed, but Adairsville held a 6-0 lead with 8:11 remaining in the first quarter.

Following a Ridgeland three-and-out, Adairsville scored again. A Tigers’ 67-yard drive took only three plays and culminated with a Tre Winters quick slant pass reception that he raced 38 yards to the end zone with 4:11 left in the opening quarter. Cooper Souders added the PAT kick to give Adairsville a 13-0 advantage.

The two teams traded possessions until late in the second quarter when Adairsville struck for two more scores in the final 3-½ minutes of the first half.

Ezequiel Carter rushed for 62 yards in Adairsville's win over Ridgeland.

Ezequiel Carter cashed in a lengthy drive by the Tigers with a five-yard touchdown run. The scoring march took 12 plays and covered 60 yards to put Adairsville ahead 20-0 with 3:26 left in the second quarter.

To end the first half, Adairsville drove 62 yards on six plays. Long connected with Nalls for a 35-yard touchdown play with 0:56 remaining in the half. Souders’ third extra point gave the Tigers a 27-0 lead at the intermission.

Adairsville returned the second-half kickoff to the Ridgeland 48-yard line to set up their final scoring drive of the night.

Carter had two nice runs of 11 yards and 17 yards in the possession, ending with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Long to Nalls. The seven-play drive and Souders’ kick put the Tigers up 34-0 with 8:43 left in the third quarter.

Adairsville QB Ethan Long passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers Homecoming win over Ridgeland.

Ridgeland mounted its only scoring drive late during a running fourth-quarter clock. The Panthers drove 81 yards in 12 plays to get on the scoreboard with 2:30 left to play. Bryson Donald capped the march with an 8-yard touchdown run, making the final score 34-7.

Long was 13-for-16 passing for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Nalls finished with five catches for 131 yards and two scores. Winters had four receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown.

Carter, a freshman back, led the Tigers’ rushing attack with 62 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown.

The Adairsville defense limited the Panthers to only 106 total yards (71 rushing).

Ethan Brown had 13 tackles for the Tigers, including three for loss. Colton Sanford contributed six tackles, including one sack, while Righley Worthington and Winters added five tackles each.

The loss dropped Ridgeland to 1-7 on the season and 1-3 in Region 7-AAA.

Adairsville (5-2, 2-1) travels to Tunnel Hill on Friday to face the Northwest Whitfield Bruins (6-2, 2-2).

~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report.