Tigers win overtime thriller; Canes, Wildcats earn dominant victories

Three of the four local teams came away with home victories Friday night as the community enjoyed a full slate of high school football action.

The Woodland Wildcats and new head coach Brandon Haywood earned their first win of the year in a 34-0 blanking of Coosa.

No. 1-ranked Cartersville started slowly, but cruised to a 38-16 win at Weinman Stadium over the Jonesboro Cardinals.

Adairsville and Cherokee Bluff Bears battled back-and-forth through the evening and went to overtime before the Tigers squeaked out a dramatic 51-50 victory.

Cass was the only local team to fall on Friday. The Colonels dropped a 30-21 decision to the visiting Rockmart Yellow Jackets.

WOODLAND 34, COOSA 0

Brelace Williams looks for an opening Friday night in the Wildcats' 34-0 home win over Coosa.

Isaiah Livsey scored on a pair of touchdown runs Friday night as the Wildcats blanked the visiting Eagles 34-0. Woodland scored all 34 points in the first half.

Quarterback Brelace Williams tossed a touchdown pass to Jay Walker and defensive lineman Kwadrus Wilson returned a fumble for a touchdown for the second week in a row as the Wildcats built an early 21-0 lead. Ray Glover also added a touchdown run for Woodland.

The Wildcats (1-1) host Woodland next Friday, September 2 in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will be broadcast on BartowSportsZone.com with pregame coverage scheduled for 6 p.m.

CARTERSVILLE 38, JONESBORO 16

Paul Gamble tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for a score as the Hurricanes overpowered the Jonesboro Cardinals, 38-16.

After posting only three points in the first quarter Friday night on a 22-yard Jesus Gutierrez field goal, Cartersville scored on all four second quarter possessions to build a 31-0 halftime lead over the Cardinals.

Canes’ quarterback Paul Gamble tossed second quarter touchdown passes to Ja’mauri Brice, Romo Pace (52-yards), and Collin Fletcher (32-yards). He also scored on a two-yard keeper as the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes took control.

Luke McBride also scored a touchdown for Cartersville on a two-yard run putting the Canes up 38-0.

Jonesboro added two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions in the second half on an 18-yard touchdown run and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Gamble, who was 6-for-9 passing also rushed for 55 yards. Kristian Lando (34 yards), McBride (50 yards), and Jachai Delgado (31 yards) contributed to the Hurricanes’ 178 rushing yards.

Next for Cartersville (2-0) is a road test at Allatoona next Friday at 7:30 p.m.

ADAIRSVILLE 51, CHEROKEE BLUFF 50 (OVERTIME)

Adairsville runningback Ethan Blome sprints to daylight in the Tigers 51-50 overtime win over visiting Cherokee Bluff.

The Tigers opened the 2022 season with a thrilling 51-50 overtime win Friday night over visiting Cherokee Bluff. The deciding points came on a courageous two-point conversion play that sealed the opening win for Adairsville and new head coach Jon Cudd.

The Bears and Tigers traded scores much of the night with Adairsville leading 28-16 at the end of the first quarter.

Cherokee Bluff scored on an intercpetion return for a touchdown in the second quarter to make the score 28-23 at halftime. Following a scoreless third quarter, the Bears grabbed a 29-28 lead with a short rushing touchdown with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

Adairsville quarterback Jonathan Gough responded on the Tigers next possession with a 76-yard touchdown pass. Chris Roper then tossed a two-point conversion pass to Charlie Ray as Adairsville took a 36-29 lead.

Perry Haynes broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown run for the Bears with approximately four minutes remaining. The PAT kick tied the score at 36-all.

At about the two minute mark, Caden Copeland put the Tigers up again with a 76 yard touchdown scamper. Cooper Souders PAT kick gave Adairsville a 43-36 lead.

The Bears answered in the final minutes to send the game into overtime. Max Eubanks hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass and the PAT kick knotted the score again at 43-all.

In overtime, the Cherokee Bluff quarterback scored on a two-yard run and kicker Michael Arbour made the point after for a 50-43 Bears advantage.

Adairsville answered again however. Chris Roper scored on the Tigers’ overtime possession with a 15-yard run and that set up the game winning two point conversion — also a run by Roper.

The Tigers (1-0) travel to Rabun County Friday, September 2 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

ROCKMART 30, CASS 21

Runningback Mac Nelson takes a handoff from quarterback Devin Henderson.

Trailing 27-21 at home in the fourth quarter Friday night, the Colonels reached the red zone but could not capitalize in an eventual nine point loss to Rockmart.

After stopping Cass, Rockmart’s Lanear McCrary broke loose on a 78-yard run deep into Colonels’ territory to set up a 33 yard field goal by Jose Alegria that sealed the Yellow Jackets 30-21 win.

Dennis Sims scored two touchdowns for Rockmart. The first was a 95-yard opening kickoff return and the other was a 62-yard pass reception from J.D. Davis.

Cam Ferguson had a two-yard touchdown plunge late in the first quarter that gave the Jackets a 13-7 lead and McCrary scored on a 23-yard run midway through the second quarter as Rockmart built a 27-14 halftime lead.

Devin Henderson, who started at quarterback, scored on a two-yard keeper in the first quarter to make the score 7-7.

Following a long kickoff return by Sacovie White to the Rockmart 23 yard line, Cass went ahead 14-13 on an 11-yard touchdown run by Mac Nelson.

Coach Steve Gates inserted freshman quarterback Brodie McWhorter in the second half and he responded with the first touchdown pass of his high school career. With 7:06 to go in the third quarter, McWhorter found White on a crossing route and the junior receiver weaved his way into the end zone. That narrowed Rockmart’s lead to 27-21.

The Colonels had opportunities in the final 18 minutes, but failed to score again.

Rockmart, ranked No. 6 in Class 2A, improved to 1-1.

Cass (0-2) hosts Drew next Friday in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.