The Adairsville Tigers (1-1) were down but never counted themselves out. After falling behind 15-0 in the second quarter, the Tigers would put up 29 unanswered points and defeat the Cass Colonels (0-1) Friday night by a score of 29-15.
Defenses reigned supreme in the game’s first drives, but Cass was able to hit the end zone with quarterback Rett Moore hit receiver Cameron Gonyea for a 28-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown pass in the first quarter. The Adairsville offense would immediately struggle and was forced to punt after running three plays. To make matters worse, the snapper sailed the ball over the head of Josh Honea and out of the end zone for a touchback to give Cass a 9-0 lead with just four seconds left in the first quarter.
The Adairsville and Cass defenses traded possessions, but a big 55-yard punt return by Malik Grimes would set Cass up at the Adairsville 33-yard line. A few plays later, Ahijah Blackwell would run 18 yards into the end zone to give Cass a 15-0 lead and with less than three minutes left in the half.
Adairsville didn’t plan to go quietly after the Colonel score. Quarterback Bryce Burgess hit Cody Henderson for a 54-yard completion to set Adairsville up at the Cass 10-yard line. Mason Boswell would take a handoff from the 3-yard line and punch it in to give Adairsville its first score of the ballgame with 1:05 left in the first half and that’s how it would be going into halftime.
In its first possession of the second half, Cass would fail to move the football, and Adairsville continued its momentum for the end of the first half. Adairsville would score on a 53-yard drive with 4:47 left in the third quarter to cut within two of the Cass lead. The Tigers would try the two-point conversion after a penalty by the Colonels following the Adairsville score, but Gonyea would intercept the pass in the end zone.
Cass again failed to drive on its second possession of the second half and the Tigers would take the ball looking for a chance to take its first lead of the ballgame. Again, Boswell would find the end zone for his third score of the ball game and would convert the 2-point play to give Adairsville a 21-15 lead with four seconds left in the third quarter.
Last season, Cass would have leads but would have trouble finishing games and it appeared that Friday’s game would be no different in 2017. Rhett Moore would then hit Gavin Young for a 55-yard gain to set up first and goal at the Adairsville 7-yard line. The Colonels would only advance the ball two yards and would not convert a 4th and goal, which would set Adairsville up to extend its lead. And extend it they would. Boswell would hit Daylon Bailey for a 90-yard touchdown and one 2-point conversion by Travon Branch later Adairsville would have put up 29 unanswered points and have a 14-point victory.
Adairsville will host Model next Friday night at 7:30, while Cass will hit the road against Sonoraville in search of its first victory of 2017.
Local football returns to WBHF on Saturday, August 25th when the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes play host to Bartram Trail (Florida) at 7:30 PM. The game will air on ESPN2.