The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes (7-0, 3-0) unleashed a high-octane offensive assault on Friday night, defeating the Cass Colonels (6-2, 3-1) 56-28 in a lopsided region clash that showcased the Canes’ explosive playmakers and left the Colonels scrambling to keep pace. Cartersville wasted no time asserting dominance, building a 35-14 halftime lead behind quarterback Nate Russell’s surgical passing and a balanced rushing attack. The Hurricanes added three more touchdowns in the third quarter to pull away decisively, while Cass managed three scores – two big-play bombs from QB Brodie McWhorter to WR Jah Anderson – but couldn’t mount a sustained comeback.
The Colonels received the opening kickoff but managed just a three-and-out, punting to Cartersville at midfield. Disaster struck immediately for Cass: On the Hurricanes’ first snap, cornerback Demarcus Balanger picked off a Cartersville pass, gifting Cass a possession. But the Colonels couldn’t capitalize, going three-and-out again. Cartersville regrouped quickly, forcing another Cass punt and taking over at their own 32. Russell then connected with Braylon Hill on a slick 12-yard wheel route for the game’s first score, putting the Hurricanes up 7-0 with 6:13 on the clock. The Canes’ defense forced yet another three-and-out, and Russell needed just four plays to find Cole Crawford for a touchdown strike, ballooning the lead to 14-0 with 1:15 left in the frame. Cass’s early possession woes were glaring – three punts in as many drives.
The Hurricanes’ momentum carried over as another Cass punt gave them the ball at the Colonels’ 29 early in the second. Hill capped the drive with a 9-yard scamper, extending the advantage to 21-0 at the 10:52 mark.Finally, Cass found some rhythm. RB Kalil Charles burst through for an 8-yard touchdown run, slicing the deficit to 21-7 with over six minutes remaining. But Russell answered with his legs, rumbling 9 yards for a score and a 28-7 lead at 2:29.Enter the fireworks: McWhorter aired it out to Anderson for a 64-yard bomb, igniting the Cass sideline and trimming the gap to 28-14 late in the half. Undeterred, Russell went back to the airwaves, hitting Kaiden Kent for 19 yards and a 35-14 halftime cushion with just 30 seconds left. The Hurricanes’ 21 unanswered points to close the half were a dagger.
Cartersville came out swinging post-intermission, as Russell lofted a 63-yard touchdown to Maddoxx Davis, pushing the score to 42-14 early in the third. After forcing a Colonels punt, the Canes marched into the red zone and RB Tripp Chatmon powered in from 9 yards out, making it 49-14 at 9:11.The mercy rule loomed as RB Tyon Coe broke free for a 53-yard house call, extending the rout to 56-14 with 8:29 to play in the quarter. Cass refused to fold, however, as Anderson hauled in his second massive score – a 46-yard strike from McWhorter – to account for all of the Colonels’ third-quarter output and close the gap to 56-21. Cass scored as time expired in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run by Elijah Slocum to bring the score to 56-28.
Cartersville will host the Allatoona Buccaneers next Friday night with kickoff set for 7:30. You can hear the game on WBHF with pregame coverage beginning at 6:00. Cass is off next week, but will travel to Dalton on Friday, October 17th. You