The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes football team cruised to an easy 41-7 win over Ridgeland on Friday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs.

After turning the ball over on downs, Cartersville’s Devonte Ross recovered a fumble on Ridgeland’s ensuing drive. 49 yards later, Marcus Gary dove into the end zone from five yards out to give the Canes an early 7-0 lead. Ridgeland again turned the ball over on its second drive of the game as Marko Dudley came down with an interception. Just four plays later, Dadrian Dennis would truck a defender and get into the end zone to give the Canes a 13-0 lead following a missed PAT.

In the second quarter, quarterback Tee Webb threw a jump ball to Jackson Lowe on 4th and 10. The Tennessee commit hauled it into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown to extend Cartersville’s lead to 20-0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Cartersville would put 21 points on the board. Lowe caught a 24-yard strike from Webb on the offensive side of the ball, while Sunni Moorehead had a 50-yard pick-6. New Ridgeland quarterback Tanner Hill had the fourth Panther turnover of the evening in the third quarter, courtesy of Evan Slocum’s interception. Cartersville took advantage of the Ridgeland gift and extended its lead following Lowe’s third touchdown of the game from four yards out.

The Panthers would get on the scoreboard with a touchdown pass from Hill, but the damage had already been done.

Next up for Cartersville will be the Baldwin Braves, the No. 1 seed out of Region 3. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM in Milledgeville next Friday.