Cartersville (8-1, 4-0) defeated Calhoun 31-14 on Friday night to claim no worse than the second seed in the GHSA Class AAAA playoffs.

Both teams traded early interceptions in the first quarter, but Cartersville would be the first team to put points on the board with a 23-yard field goal by Oscar Hernandez late the game’s first period.

Cartersville then scored on an 85-yard drive, which was capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Quante Jennings to give the Canes a two-score lead. Then some late half madness. Calhoun scored with 45 seconds left in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Christian Lewis. Just 38 game seconds later, Cartersville drove 80 yards that ended with a 26-yard touchdown toss from Carlos Del Rio-Wilson to Devonte Ross. At the half, Cartersville held a 17-7 lead.

Calhoun scored first in the second half on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jerrian Hames to put the game within three points. Then Cartersville scored 14 unanswered.

Jennings scored on a 12-yard screen pass from Del Rio-Wilson and then the Cartersville special teams recovered an onside kick. Del Rio-Wilson scored on a 12-yard touchdown run with 2:29 left in the game to seal the victory for Cartersville.

Cartersville does not have a game set for next Friday night, but will instead wait to see who their playoff opponent will be at Weinman Stadium on Friday, November 27th.