Football Fridays in Georgia presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

Reminding you, heads up, Georgia, parking your phone while.

You two historic Weinman Stadium in Cartersville, Georgia, where tonight the defending three state champion and number one ranked Calhoun Yellow Jackets take on the 4-A second ranked Cartersville Percy Purple Hurricanes.

And good evening, I'm Matt Stewart, joined by former Auburn Tigers All-American NFL first round draft pick and 15 year.

Pro Andy.

To get going.

Matt, I'm glad to be back here.

You've invited me I see, I see.

Yes, indeed.

And a lightning delay on top of that.

So we're not going to start on time here tonight because we do have lightning in the area.

But we're.

Hoping to.

Storm out as soon as possible and get some football underway in just a moment.

We also have a.

On right now at GPB.

And that's Walton at Norcross.

Unfortunately, that is also under a lightning delay.

So it looks like it's kind of problematic around the entire metro Atlanta area right now.

So let's talk a little bit about these two teams here tonight.

And we're going to bring in the third member of our team.

In just a few moments let's talk about Calhoun.

First of all, here they were a year ago.

They were one and three coming off a season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1999, things didn't look good for Calhoun, but since that time, they've won 13 in a row, including the three a state championship back in December.

The turnaround for Calhoun back to their glory days has been remarkable.

And they start off this season two.

And oh, and looking to come in here and test their mettle in a sense against a rivalry with Cartersville, who's three and zero.

And I think Coach Stephenson is not sure what he has in his hand.

He doesn't know which card to play, but I think they're going to have a great season.

And he knows that even with a slow start, they can go on and win a championship.

Yeah, I think they feel like they can possibly repeat as state champions, something they've never been able to do in program history.

Cartersville, I do believe, thinks they can win the state championship as well.

They've won 15 of their last 16 games.

Their only loss was to North Oconee on the road in the quarterfinals.

Last year.

They played North Oconee closer than anybody else the entire season.

Of course, the Titans went on to win their first state championship.

And get this this is a remarkable stat.

Calhoun defeated Cartersville here at Wyman Stadium.

The last time these two teams played here, 50 48 epic triple overtime game.

That's the only regular season loss for Cartersville since the 2011 season.

And you really feel like Conor Foster has a team, especially with that big offensive line with all five starters back and Nate Russell as his quarterback.

He has a lot of weapons to use and an aggressive defense.

Let me clarify that.

That's their only regular season home loss since 2011, but they've only lost three regular season games at all during that span as well.

Time now to bring in the third member of our team, John Nelson.

He's standing by on the field with special guest.

Because we have some Lehman brackets.

Tonight.

Evening.

Did all of this start when you were looking at clocks and all of this?

We'll get to that in a second.

We'll go back upstairs.

We'll figure the rest of this out.

But so 750 and then at 40 we're going from there.

Send it back upstairs.

So there you go.

You got the timeline right there from the Cartersville ad.

So we're looking at more like 830, hopefully a little bit earlier than that.

But 830 probably at the latest for us to get this game underway because of the lightning storm in the area.

We saw this last night in the NFL.

So it's not just high school football.

We saw it with the Eagles and the Cowboys last night as well.

You of course played football your entire life, including 15 years in the National Football League.

How difficult is it to sit in the locker room at this time, chomping at the bit you've been waiting all week to play this game, and now you got to wait a little bit longer?

Well, the best thing is the rules change.

They used to wait till the lightning was right on top of your head before they called the game.

Now it's about 8:10 miles out, but right now the game hasn't started, so the players are in a better situation than when you pause them.

When the action is already going.

So this is a benefit even though they're ready to get out of the stables and get the running, it's not going to interrupt when they get out on the field.

Yeah, they didn't start.

Then stop and have to restart.

So we're just waiting to start.

Let's send it back to John.

All right Matt.

Well let me run through the process here.

When did you guys start looking at the weather?

When did it turn into a problem?

Got a weather alert, a lightning alert at probably about 5:15.

And so we started watching it that it was telling me that it was 12 miles.

And then it started creeping on and creeping on.

And I kept looking at it all day, and it showed nothing.

So, you know, then once we started looking and once we got within the eight, eight mile, we our rule is eight mile radius.

You have to go out.

So at 8 miles, that's when we cleared the fields and everything.

And I think that was at about 5:45.

I believe.

This is one of these Main Street thunderstorms really.

It literally is just going on the strip here on Main Street.

It is nowhere else.

You look off to the sides.

Kenny Price, who's going to be with me down here in the sidelines tonight?

He'll look to the left.

You got blue sky, you look to the right, you got blue sky.

I mean, you look see down there.

You got blue, you got gray.

You have no precipitation.

You look up, you got precipitation.

And now you look that way.

You got precipitation.

So that's what we're staring at here right now with all of this.

And logistically for you as an athletic director, this was going to be and this traditionally is a packed house.

What about handling all of these folks here tonight.

So basically the protocol to that is that because everything that we've got coming now is coming from you, Harley.

So it's coming from the West straight across.

Probably going to be to us within about the next 10-15 minutes.

So we make an announcement and we let the we let people go in the visiting bands and everything can go in the cafeteria if there's lightning delays, the football team will be inside.

Of course, our band has already been sent back in to their room.

We announced to the to the fans.

They are welcome to leave.

Go back to their cars.

We also have places under the bleachers that they can go if they need to go under the bleachers.

If they decide to go back to their cars, just show their ticket and they come back in.

Last time that we were here for this game, it was nuts.

It was crazy.

It went three overtimes.

I think we ended it like 230, 3:00 in the morning.

By the time it was done.

For someone who has never seen this rivalry up close, how would you break it down?

It's probably one of our biggest rivalries because, you know, it's just it's Calhoun right down the street.

Our kids compete with one another.

They're in travel ball together.

You know, they're always.

They're always battling back and battling back and forth, and, it's it's probably one of our greatest rivalries.

And, you know, I love their administration.

Coach lamb up there.

Coach Perkins, there.

And all of us get along fine.

It's just the kids that that compete back and forth with one another, you know?

So it's one of our biggest rivalries that we have.

Here with our resident meteorologist here in Bartow County, Darrell Demastus.

The ad at Cartersville.

We'll keep an eye on what's going on down here, Matt.

We'll send it back up to you, find out what else is going on around the state.

I know that Bartram Trail, I think, has an early lead on Ware County.

Scores will be on the bottom of the screen all night long.

We'll keep an eye.

Thanks a lot, Daryl.

All right.

Thank you.

Send it back upstairs for Matt and Wayne.

What else you got on your mind?

Yeah.

Thank you.

I do appreciate it.

And rivalry.

Indeed it is.

This is the 42nd all time meeting between these two rivals here in northwest Georgia, dating back to get this 1926.

That's when they started playing each other.

So they've been around a long time.

And it is a friendly rivalry.

You heard, coach Coach Damascus talking about Perkins the ad at Calhoun, his son Trey is a their left tackle.

And Coach Lamb, who's now the system ad for all of Calhoun schools and of course, was the legendary coach in Clay.

Stephenson was on his staff forever before Coach Lamb retired and Coach Stephenson took his place.

So there's just a lot of story lines here in the rivalry, of course, is one of them.

And when you look at both teams, I think it's a little relaxation because they're not in the same classification of 4-A or three A, and that gives them that chance to be able to play without feeling like a loss holds their season back.

Yeah, that's a great point.

Back in 2022, the last time they played here at Wyman Stadium and the aforementioned 50 48 triple overtime game, it was a region game.

They were in the same region.

Now, not only are they not in the same region, they're no longer in the same classification.

Calhoun is in three A and Cartersville is in 4-A so you're right.

The urgency of having to win the game is gone.

Now it's just about bragging rights and having fun.

Yeah.

Who can get first in line at the local bar?

It's what's up for right now, but great rivalry.

Two coaches, I think, have a lot of respect.

Two programs that really own this region of the state.

And we're expecting an exciting game tonight.

So there you go.

Calhoun and Cartersville.

We are in a holding pattern right now.

We're hoping to get this game started somewhere around 830, if not a little bit earlier.

Right now, going to step aside and take a break.

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Welcome back to Wineman Stadium in Cartersville.

Still waiting to get this game started.

We are in a weather delay, specifically a lightning delay, and that has things on pause.

The teams have not even come out to warm out warm up yet.

Matt Stewart, along with Wayne Gandy and they expect to come out here around 750, I believe, to warm up.

And then, you know, with all the timing and it goes into how much time you get to warm up and all that kind of stuff.

We're looking at probably 830, hopefully a little bit earlier to get this game kicked off as well.

We also have a stream game on gpb.org tonight, but unfortunately they're going through the same thing we are with the Walton Norcross game, and so you'll have the option of going back and forth between the two of us tonight to keep up with those games going on.

In the state of Georgia tonight.

But one of the things we talked about, right, we've covered a bunch of different things in here, but for 3-4 teams, we got a a large number of big time prospects in this game as well.

Yeah.

When you look at guys like Marchese and Cole Crawford and those guys just big name going to big programs, a lot of teams in this area and we know there are some huge names that have traveled to the NFL from these two teams.

So it's always great to come up here and watch the Purple Hurricanes play.

Yeah.

When you talk about guys that have gone from the NFL to here, Ronnie Brown, Trevor Lawrence, Robert Lavette, a bunch of different guys.

Let's take a look at the starting lineup.

So this gives us a little bit of opportunity to stretch our legs on the starting lineup a little bit.

Typically we don't get to spend this much time on starting lineups.

Let's start with this.

Cartersville Purple Hurricanes offensive line.

And the big story here.

Wayne is all five starters are back from last year.

And that rarely happens on any level where you can bring the same five guys up front.

This class right here, being a veteran group now, three seniors, one junior up front.

And it starts in the middle with Langston Hall, the big center really just 2 " away from being one of your top two or three centers in the country.

622 75 a little short for a center.

But what a player he is.

He holds down that Miller a little throwback era in his play.

Very physical and loves to finish blocks.

Yeah.

Langston Hogg is rated as high as the number two center in the country, and he is committed to the two lane green wave.

Looking at the rest of the offense on this list, you see Brady Marchese number one, the wide receiver.

He is rated as high as the number nine wide receiver in the country for 2026.

Committed to the Georgia Bulldogs over the summer and then Cole Crawford down here at tight end.

He is rated as high as the number four linebacker in the country.

He's a 2027 kid and Maddox Davis, a transfer from North Cobb.

Christian is a young man, already has a bunch of offers, and Kaiden Kent is just a sophomore and he's got some offers.

Explosive receiving corps.

When you talk about Marchese and you talk about University of Georgia, commit, that says it all right there.

As far as talent level, he's fast.

He's physical.

He's a great route runner.

And the thing about him that his coach loves is when the ball is in the air, he feels like his his Ball Cole Crawford offensively, they kind of limit his snaps.

But what a big target he presents at 6:03, 225.

And when you talk about two K Kaiden Kent on the other side, just a guy that needs the ball in his hand.

He is a big play, just waiting to happen.

Absolutely.

And Cole Crawford, by the way, will be at Georgia tonight.

He'll be visiting the Bulldogs for their game against Austin Peay.

And he told on three sports over the summer that the Georgia Bulldogs were his leader.

So let's take a look at the Calhoun defense.

They got a couple of guys up front.

Sager Quinn in particular, pushing 300 pounds.

Three star defensive lineman.

He's committed to South Florida Bulls.

Yeah, had to get him down a couple of pounds.

He's very active.

He can line up at the nose tackle position.

He has the penetration that they need.

Big time motor.

And Alec Upshaw on the other side.

Really coming into his own first time really being down on the line last year.

Stacked linebacker.

But he's progressing greatly and bringing that pressure off the edge.

Yeah.

Upshaw was a all state performer as a stacked linebacker.

But now they've moved him to that boundary.

Defensive end.

And he has nine offers Georgia Southern most recently offered him as a boundary defensive end.

And Cam Jackson right there finally finding position.

Yeah.

Coach said he's moved around.

But what a great athlete he is.

He looks the part.

He brings that physicality and those four guys up front, along with Parish who just has to hold.

They have a task tonight against this offensive line.

Let's look at that second level in the linebackers.

Blake Hammett been battling injuries here in the preseason.

He came back last week in their victory against Westminster.

Hudson Chadwick is going to go both ways.

He's a running back and a linebacker.

He's actually their leading tackler through the first couple of games.

16 tackles, one sack.

And when you look at that combination of Chadwick and Hammack, big physical linebackers.

Hammock at 235 on that 511 frame.

Able to get downhill and cause some chaos.

And then on that back line Hunter White at their stinger position.

That's a spur position, a safety position, if you will.

He's maybe one of the best athletes on the team.

Moved to defense last year from offense because he had some shoulder injuries, but he's had a really nice start to this season.

And the cornerbacks, you see two of them right here with Jackson and Kenneth Hudson and Jaden Perkins will roll in there as well.

Those three corners are going to have their hands full here with this Cartersville star studded wide receiver corps tonight.

Especially when you talk about with Huff and nails and those guys having to play double duty and then flip over and try to cover this secondary and Hunter White as you mentioned, playing that spur position, the toughest position on this defense, a guy that has to be able to play in the box and then get back and play out in space.

But this secondary has his hands full tonight with this receiving corps of Cartersville.

Let's send it down to Jon Nelson.

He's standing by with Coach Conor Foster.

Thank you very much Matt and Wayne, someone who is intimately impacted by what's going on in and around us.

Have you and the team like, just collectively blown air off to the to the west there?

Yeah.

You know, we love hurricane weather, but this is this is a little much you know.

So hopefully we get some good news shortly and we'll get ready to roll.

When you're in a weather delay like this.

How do you keep everything on an even keel?

You know you've got a clock, but now the clock has been disrupted.

How do you stay on a clock even though the clock has been off?

Yeah, we talk a lot in our program about refocusing through the good or the bad.

So this is, you know, this is just another piece of it teaching them about life and teaching them how to respond to whatever life throws at you.

And I know that you get to, to escape from four walls here for a little bit.

Being out here, you were just with a presentation with one of the great baseball players, one of the great two way stars here on campus.

What was it like to be out here with Kyle for that?

Oh, it's an honor to get to recognize our canes community captains, pregame.

Such a special community because of people like Kyle Tucker who come back and serve their community as their coaches and teachers.

Now, you mentioned what it means to be a part of this community.

You're a legacy.

For those that may not know, your dad coached here for for decades, you're now taking over in footsteps of a long line of folks, whether it's Barden or Earwood or King.

And now you.

What is it mean to you personally as you crack a smile about all this?

To be a part of this and to be the head coach in all of this, knowing that you grew up in it.

I mean, I'm very, very blessed.

Blessed beyond measure.

Just thank you to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for all that he's done for me, my family, for this community.

And I'm just very, very honored to get the opportunity to be a very small part of what makes this place so special, to get to serve all these people and their children that we love so much.

I see myself in so many of them.

It's it's a joy to get to see my children running around somewhere back here.

Tonight, just like I did.

So very thankful for all the people that poured into me.

And I hope that that I can do the same.

When you now are coaching, I would imagine you're coaching youngins of folks that you played with.

What's it like having those conversations with those teammates that are now parents?

That's a that's a unique challenge.

You know, I love all those guys and love their kids and try to raise them just like I would my own.

And those guys know my heart and know what I stand for and know what our program stands for.

I should say.

So it's just a blessing to get to pour into them and love them just like I was loved.

You look behind you and there's a lot of crowd here that have come down from Calhoun for this rivalry.

We've been here before.

We know what it means.

You know what it means for those jumping in here for the first time.

How would you break down Calhoun and Cartersville for folks.

To two great communities, two communities that love their school system and support their school system?

And expect excellence not just in football, in the classroom, in the community, and certainly two football programs that embody that excellence.

Looking forward to it tonight.

Thanks for hanging out with us and making sure that we see what's coming.

And if we could direct it like one way or the other, that'd be great.

Go shield yourself.

Yes, sir.

Go Kent.

Conor Foster, head coach at Cartersville.

He's one half of the equation.

We'll see if Clay comes out.

We'll grab him too.

But right now, one coach down.

And, Kenny, you want to show them what's coming this way?

You want to.

You want to show them that that's coming from you, Harley.

That's what Coach Demastus was talking about in our last weather report.

I swear, Matt, it literally is just this one strip that we're seeing here to the north.

We're fine.

To the south we're fine.

That is staring right at us.

And frankly, I don't like it.

That's why I have this down here this evening to take care of things.

Let's send it back up to you where you have a roof and some air conditioning.

So, Nelly, you need to explain to our folks around the state.

You say you, Harley, and they might not know what you're talking about.

It's not a motorcycle gang trucking down I-75.

You Harley is a town.

If you are you Harley.

Yeah, there you go.

I think that is my Georgia spelling bee.

I don't quite think I had to remember that one as a county seat for Georgia history, because when we were students, you had to pass Georgia history to get your your diploma in high school.

You had to know all 159 county seats.

To the best of my memory, you, Harley, is not a county seat, but it is where the rain is coming from.

And I'm not a fan.

Yeah, and hopefully it will be out of here very soon.

So, Nelly appreciate the update down there.

See if you can get Coach Clay Stephenson for us here in just a couple of moments.

Going to step aside and take another break as we are still waiting to get Football Fridays in Georgia underway at Cartersville here tonight.

Kylen Pope sophomore Edwards.

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And welcome back to Weinmann Stadium.

We are in a weather delay, specifically a lightning delay here as we await the 42nd all time meeting between the Calhoun Yellow Jackets and the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes Matt Stewart and Wayne Gandy with you upstairs and Jon Nelson downstairs.

You just pointed as we were going to the break.

We got storms coming in from the the north and the west.

I believe you, Harley is the name of the town that they keep referencing, but it's pretty black behind us here with some big heavy clouds and hopefully maybe they'll circumvent us and miss us all together.

But right now, we're still looking.

At last I heard the team still have not come out yet, and they were projected to come out at 715.

It looks like we're a little bit past that now.

And when the teams come out, Wayne, that doesn't mean we start right then.

With that, we're still 40 minutes away from really getting things started.

Once the teams come out.

And the big thing too, Matt, now you start talking about you push the game back, either further.

When was the last time I ate as a player.

You start.

Really.

Thinking, I know you're not talking about yourself, you're talking about them.

You start thinking, my last meal, it starts burning off.

Now we're still talking about high school players, distracted, things like that.

These two coaches are going to have their hands full right now.

If it started at 8:30, we're cool.

We're still in that framework.

You start pushing it back.

Now I'm trying to get kids that were up at 630 this morning to focus for a game that might start around 930, and that's a hard thing to do.

Yeah, and it's funny that you mentioned that because again, referencing the NFL game last night in Philadelphia that went in a weather delay with about 4 minutes to play in the third quarter, rather lengthy lightning delay there in Philadelphia.

And one of the Dallas Cowboys came out of the locker room.

He, he he started walking to the suites where the, you know, the on field suites, they're looking for food.

Yes.

Look, because they were hungry, they were hungry in the locker room.

And they did.

They brought some deli sandwiches, I believe, into the locker room, I'm sure, for both teams.

But I heard the story specifically about the Dallas Cowboys.

You're right.

You're playing.

You need fuel to fuel to feed this engine.

Because you've you've eaten precisely enough food to get through a four hour period of time.

When you have pregame meal, even though it's two or 3 hours ahead, you're still you didn't get full.

You just ate enough to get that energy, that oatmeal, that long lasting grits, things like that.

Potatoes that can get you a couple hours.

But a long day ahead for these young men.

If the game gets pushed back any further, and you might see them at the concession stand, I don't know if they have anything.

We might have to run this game off of sneakers and and candy bars and things like that.

If it goes any further.

But both coaches, I'm sure, in the locker room trying to get a solution to that, or at least have something at halftime that might be able to replenish those nutrients.

Absolutely.

That's another factor that comes into play when we get into these lengthy delays.

Now, one thing I did want to talk about with Nelly down there, talking to Connor Foster, you know, Connor Foster and Clay Stephenson, you and I know them very well.

We've we've talked with them many times over the last couple of years.

And then again, just a couple of days ago, getting ready for this ball game.

Both those guys stepped into great situations.

They had been long time assistants at Cartersville and Calhoun respectively, stepped into great situations.

These are tremendous jobs.

They're plum jobs in the state of Georgia, but they're not without pressure.

And they both stepped in, following in the footsteps of very successful coaches.

Connor here with Joey King and Clay with Hal Lamb.

So the expectations that these places are very high, and even if you're ultra successful, if you don't win the whole thing, then you start, you know, it's, you know, people start talking a little bit.

But I mean, both these guys have done a great job with it.

Connor.

They got to the state finals in 2020.

And since 2020, their season has ended with a loss to the team that either won the state championship or played in the state finals.

So Cartersville has been there, but they haven't won the state title.

Calhoun finally broke through and won that state title last year.

Yeah, when you look at Cartersville, you have to feel like with the talent on the field that they have this year, a lot of pressure for them to deliver on the Coach Foster.

This is one of those years.

You have to go ahead on and make that mark and win the state championship.

All right.

Let's send it down to John.

Okay.

We have a weather update and I will use those words for the moment.

Get caught up with Darrell Demastus for a second.

You see the players are coming out on the field.

It looks like.

And this is Darrell looking at radar, that what was coming from you Hali might miss us to the north.

Fingers crossed.

Whatever body part you want, it may miss us to the north.

You're going to get this warm up period.

Then they're going to do another 10-15 minutes of preparation, all the pregame and stuff.

So we're looking at a start time close to 9:00.

If everything locks in place from this moment forward.

So warm up happening right now.

Then another 10-15 with pregame materials and getting that gassed up so close to what, 9:00 kick?

That's what we're staring at right now.

And like I said, I'm going to chase after the Calhoun side of things and come back with more in a bit.

But that's the latest weather report we have down here on the field from those of us at GPB Weather.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Do appreciate that.

And what's extraordinary here is we've sat now through what is now a 30 minute delay, because this game was supposed to kick around 730 and we're approaching 8:00 and the place is packed.

Yeah, yeah.

Nobody left.

Nobody said, oh, forget this, I'm going to go home.

The place is packed.

Yeah.

It's giving everybody a chance to get in, get settled.

You can look at over at the Calhoun side.

It's going to be a great environment when this game does start.

And the clock still hasn't started.

For the players.

So you got to time up your preparation.

You don't want to get too much energy warming up for a second time.

And both teams look like they're ready to engage this game.

I'm looking for an exciting battle.

Yeah.

I mean, so the other thing that's really cool about this rivalry is both these cities Cartersville.

And then, of course, Calhoun's a little bit further to the north, of course, than Cartersville are on the edge of the city of Atlanta.

So whatever you want from the big city, you're close enough to get.

But when it comes to Friday night, it's small town again.

And I love how you come down Main Street and kind of drive into the stadium.

It almost looks like the set of a movie.

If you wanted to shoot a movie about high school football, that's the scene you built.

The city around the stadium and the football around the football stadium.

Basically.

Right?

It looks just like that, and it's just a great environment that's set up here from the weight room and the facilities, to the field.

So just both programs have to tip their hat to the alumni for investing their communities, for investing, to bring them to such prominence.

So we are still counting down to the opening kickoff.

And as you heard Nelly tell you just a few moments ago, that might be closer to 9:00 now because of the storm that hit around 515, started raining about 4:30, and around 515 we started getting the pops of lightning in the area.

And so that's why we are in delay right now, waiting for things to clear up and play some football here tonight.

We'll step aside once again and come back in just a moment.

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So.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

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Koger Chick-Fil-A Lakepoint.

And welcome back to historic Wineman Stadium here in Cartersville, Georgia.

We are still in a weather delay and we're waiting looking like a 9:00 start for Calhoun and Cartersville here.

As we start off another season of Football Fridays in Georgia.

And I'm shocked somewhat a that they actually allowed you on this sideline here wearing those colors.

But you know, you are well protected.

This is Hal Lamb, the legendary head coach from Calhoun.

And 233 and 37 couple of state titles and nine gazillion region championships in a row.

I think that is the actual term.

What's it like to come back here and watch this rivalry up close and personal?

Well, I think this is one of the best rivalries, not only in northwest Georgia but in the state of Georgia.

You know, we there's two quality programs going at it.

You know, I had the pleasure of coaching against Trevor Lawrence and some blowout losses that we had.

So this is a, you know, I spent eight years of my life here as an assistant coach here at Cartersville.

And obviously Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

It's a great rivalry.

Monday.

Tuesday.

Wednesday.

Thursday, Friday.

Referee.

Mike check.

12345.

It is.

Take up the fencing.

Everybody grab a spot.

This is one of those focal points for the early part of the year.

Two towns get to come together.

Yeah the best thing about it is Non-region game.

Three game tonight.

Game three.

And referee Patrick.

Tuesday I look for both teams to make a strong run as state champions.

Once ranked top of the charts in one poll, one is number four and another poll.

I mean, this game has a lot of early impact.

It shows you where you can be going up.

Against quality competition out of the box.

Non-region a lot of people in the state of the.

Valley, football.

Officials Association, obviously at the top of the 4-A and we're at the top of Three-a.

So a lot of people got their eyes on this game.

What are you up to these days?

Well, I'm the executive athletic director at Calhoun City Schools, so I'm.

All right.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received word that we are under a lightning delay.

Why, yes, you are.

Well, what's your handicap these days?

Right at zero.

Whoa.

Yeah.

Wait.

I thought you were going to tell me that your handicap was like, your long irons or something.

Well, when I when I turned 55, you know, that's just you.

You can play in the senior division.

Yeah.

So you can play as many tournaments as you want when you turn 55.

I see how this works.

Yeah.

See, and I got to get my pointers from this guy since he faces the other way than I do.

There's a coach on the sideline for Calhoun.

I think you know him all the way back to his time with Upson Lee, and he came up to shorter to play on a golf scholarship.

When you look at what Clay has been able to do when he took over for you on the sidelines at Calhoun, what does it mean to see Clay continue this excellence?

Well, I think he's he's still growing.

And obviously the the job that he did last year after going 1-3 and winning the state championship, that was phenomenal because nobody really saw that coming.

And I thought they he and the staff did a tremendous job coaching those kids.

And I just think he's done a phenomenal job.

You know he's one of he played for me at Upson.

Lee played played receiver for me.

And then you know my first chance to hire him when I could you know I got him on staff and he's he's really done a great job.

What's your best Clay Stephenson story.

Who.

Got a lot of them I can't.

One that one that can be said on the air, sir.

Well he and I are very competitive on the golf course, and we haven't played in a while because he don't.

Once he became the head coach, he don't play as much as anymore.

But we're very competitive.

He doesn't like to lose to me, and I don't I don't like to lose to him.

All right, so when the two of you play golf, this is my follow up question.

As a resident golfer.

So what what what is played for on the 19th hole when the two of you are out there playing 18 holes, what is the end of the day?

Well, the key here is what tees I get to play.

Okay.

So if I can play the up tees versus him playing the back tees, I think I got a good shot at it.

Okay.

I'm taking a little bit of money from him.

Oh see now now I got to ask Clay about what his handicap is.

So yours is at a zero, huh?

His is about a one or two now.

He's good too now.

Well, it's great to see you.

I'm glad you're here tonight.

And it's great to catch up with you and find out what's going on up there at Calhoun.

What else do folks need to know about going up there at Calhoun City Schools?

Well, we got a lot of things going on.

Our volleyball teams got a good chance to win a state championship.

I, you know, to make a run anyway.

And obviously we feel good about our football team, which is our fall sports.

And then a lot of these kids on the football team play basketball.

So we feel good about our total athletic program.

I think we were fifth in the Director's Cup last year.

So we're looking to improve on that.

Hal Lamb, Grand Exalted Poobah, and Calhoun City schools these days.

Matt, it's great to catch up with legends like this down here on the sideline.

And he's actually standing on the purple part wearing Calhoun Yellow Jackets gear.

Let's send it back up to you where you got a roof?

Yeah, Nellie.

That's lamb.

That's lamb.

As in royalty.

The entire football family of the lamb, starting with Ray at Commerce, his dad, and then Hal, his brother Bobby, who was the coach at Mercer, now the head coach at Anderson.

Trey, who played at Calhoun as a quarterback and is now the head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

So, I mean, football is in the blood of the lamb family.

Apparently, so is golf.

And I'm doing the calculations.

37 losses in 20 years.

Yeah.

Oh how impressive is Coach Lamb.

It was very impressive.

No doubt about it.

233 wins just 37 losses three state championships 18 region titles in a row.

And he's very modest about it all.

All right, we're going to step aside, take another break and come back here to Wineman Stadium.

As we continue to wait for the start of Football Fridays in Georgia.

Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by Cigna Healthcare.

Cigna Healthcare is a proud partner of Georgia Public Broadcasting and Football Fridays.

Cigna Healthcare mission is to improve the health and vitality of those we serve.

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Com to learn how you can support your physical and emotional well-being.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man.

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Back at Weinman Stadium in our season debut of Football Fridays in Georgia.

Unfortunately, we are in a weather delay and we're looking about like 9:00 hopefully, maybe a little bit earlier than that to get this game started.

Matt Stewart Wayne Gandy with you up top and John Nelson down there on the sideline tracking down guests.

And of course, we talked already a little bit briefly about the great history of all the tremendous players that have come out of these two programs.

And with Cartersville, of course, Trevor Lawrence.

But also before there was Trevor Lawrence, there was Ronnie Brown, the incredible Ronnie Brown, who played at Auburn, played with the Miami Dolphins, tremendous NFL career.

You spoke to Ronnie today?

Yeah.

Talked to him today.

He was coming back in town from Tallahassee.

He was going to try to make this game because I always let him know when we're coming up to to Cartersville and play.

But what a great running back he is.

And part of that 2004 Auburn team that went undefeated, that I felt like should have been crowned national champions, but lost out on that.

Nowadays he's money managing with Morgan Stanley.

For him and doing things like that, trying to work with some of the young guys with the Nil preparation and handling their money at a young age.

But what a talent.

And really part of what introduced him and Ricky Williams, that Wildcat to the NFL.

And a lot.

Of people.

Have used, since then.

So isn't it funny how college football has changed so much in a short period of time?

But going back to when you played, I mean, Ronnie Brown is helping guys manage their money because they're making they're getting some serious coin and how to deal with it.

Don't blow it.

Invest it back.

When you play, you just hope to have enough money to buy a pizza.

Didn't you?

You were hoping to be able to take someone to the movie.

If you asked her out on a date.

I remember telling your young lady I hadn't eaten outside of the dorm in three years.

I ate all my meals, were free.

I didn't have that kind of money.

But yeah, it's very important for guys like Ronnie and other NFL players and anyone with that experience to help some of these young guys, because even though the Nil component is there doesn't stamp you to go to the NFL.

So some of some people are going to need to use this moment and really build their life and can't just waste it thinking, oh, I still have an NFL career.

Yeah.

So tremendous.

It's a new era in in college football.

And of course that trickles down to the high school level as well, because the players that will go on to play college football here, some of them next year, will now be dealing with those issues.

And we think of them as just high school kids.

But, you know, life comes at you fast sometimes.

And in this case it will be for some of those guys.

Yeah.

And when you look at the landscape of the Nil, at least for right now, a guy like Cole Crawford has a lot of decisions to.

Make in his life.

In the next couple of months, based on Nil dollars.

So what we're going to do here is we're going to step aside, going to have going to send it back to GPB for some alternate programing, and then we will be back once we get closer to the start of this game.

Don't worry.

GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia will kick off tonight between Calhoun at Cartersville.

Just not right now.

After buying all the time in the war, that was Nori Thompson, the running back who was there at the 32 yard line getting him out of trouble.

Nice job.

By Christian Peacock just moving around, dodging and weaving that Norcross defense and able to hit Thompson for the first down.

They'll give it to Thompson again.

Gets about three before getting stacked up as Joshua Burks right there on the tackle.

Number two for Norcross.

Nori Thompson 59175, 170 pounds.

Senior.

On this team, he plays a little defense.

They'll let him play some cornerback as well.

But doing it all, he's been a central part of this offense so far.

They'll give it to him again.

But again he's brought down Miles Davis middle linebacker and driving through there.

Davis, the senior captain on this Norcross team, makes it third down and eight.

Miles Davis Peacock able to pass his way out of trouble earlier in this drive.

We'll see what they can do on third down here.

They'll have four wide receivers spread out.

It's Thompson to Peacock left.

Try to draw him offsides.

They'll relax and get the call in from the sideline.

Third and eight on their own 35 Peacock going to throw one deep.

Great coverage right there.

And no chance it was Jason Jones on the coverage.

And Ethan Baker was the man they were trying to get the ball to there.

But no chance he was stuck to him like Velcro was Jones.

So Walton going to have to punt.

4:21 to go in the first quarter.

Gunnels punt for the Raiders.

It's Bryant Gunnels taking care of the punting duties for the Raiders.

Jason Jones and it is Jones still back there.

The sophomore they're trusting to return the kicks here.

A lot of sophomores on this Walton team.

More senior heavy Norcross team.

We got a man jumping offsides.

Going to be 5 yards.

Not the end of the world.

There.

But it just looked like Jayden Clermont ready to get going.

He was already jamming that gunner and just a little too early.

Mario Dixon the gunner there on the near side so they'll give him five yards.

Not going to change things for Walton.

They're still going to punt, maybe change a little field position as he put the ball down on the 40 Bryant Gunnels get ready to kick once again.

Can't do it again though, right?

You get a first down.

If we do it again.

Good snap punts away and it's heading towards Jason Jones.

He'll take it about the 13 yard line and was off balance.

Fell out of bounds.. Jason Jones.

They'll give him to the 14.

And that's where Norcross will take over for the second time.

Had to punt on their only possession so far in the game 4:13 to go.

First quarter Walton leading 3-0 Appreciate you being with us here at Keith G. Maloof Field at Blue Devils Stadium.

It's a mouthful now.

Used to just be Blue Devil Stadium here in Norcross.

But we get Keith Maloof and we got to get the middle initial in there.. And he's earned it.

Right.

Coach Maloof 210 wins for this Norcross program.

He is in attendance tonight, too.

Ran into Coach Maloof earlier tonight.

It was good to see him.

All right, here comes that Norcross offense.

PJ Wolfe back there with Kendall Edwards sending a man in motion, they'll give to Edwards first contact came from number 12.

Mario Dixon flying in there from his cornerback position.

Edwards did get a few yards here.

Bring up second down.

Yeah, the interesting thing.

So you got Keith Field and then Georgia high school football fans will know that St. Pius plays at George Maloof field, which is of course, Keith's father, late father George Maloof, legendary coach at St. Pius I, said no pressure for Tyler Maloof, your son, who's coaching over there at Lanier.

And that's the reason Keith Maloof is here tonight, he said.

Lanier is off.

He usually likes to go see his son, coach PJ Wolfe going to throw it, and a long way to throw that ball from the far hash and Titus Travis the man.

They're trying to get the ball to.

But the coverage right there from looked like Noah Lavallee was there.

But it was also Achilles Brown number 31 on the coverage here.

Ball just took a long time to get there.

Nothing doing.

So it'll bring up third down for Norcross, third down and seven.

We'll see what they can do.

We're able to convert one third down on the last drive.

Failed on the second one they got, they found the man at the top of your screen.

Number 13 Titus Travis got three receivers.

Top side here.

Wolfe looking that left side now looking at Kendall Edwards checking.

Oh and he ran out of time.

And he's brought down in the backfield for a big sack.

That is number 88.

Christian Beard the 61, 240 pound sophomore getting in there.

Came in with 14 total tackles.

He's now got a sack on the season 61240 pound sophomore.

And Norcross will have to punt after going three and out.

Mario Dixon.

So defensive struggle.

Here is what this game's turned into.

After Walton was able to drive down the field on their first drive of the night.

Dixon back to catch this punt, which will come from his own goal line.

Gets it away.

Does Frey and Dixon does call fair catch this time.

Does not try to run it.

It's at the 32 and Walton will get the ball one more time 2:37 to play first quarter here.

Norcross.

14th annual Peachtree Corner Festival is happening Saturday, September 12, 20th and Sunday, September 21 on the town green in the far future quarter Circle event features over 100 arts and dress.

Beautiful slide second weekend classic Car show days, kids activities again the festival Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21.

So Walton back out on the field Christian Peacock sophomore gunslinger in there.

But Nori Thompson has been the featured running back so far in this game.

Norcross going to show blitz.

They'll send Thompson out.

Still got time.

Does Peacock stands in the pocket, throws it's tipped and picked off going the other way.

It's Eric Pitts the third.

He's still going down the right sideline.

Mighty scored no.

Taken down at the two.

But Eric Pitts with the interception.

Six four.

Junior almost got that one in there.

And maybe a poor decision right there from the sophomore quarterback Christian Peacock double coverage ball got tipped up.

And just a tip drill for Eric Pitts who almost had a pick six.

But he set up Norcross in great field position.

They say he's down at the one.

So defense leading to some offense here.

And did we see a flag on the return.

That baby pushing that ball back a little bit.

But Eric Pitts going to get the interception.

Came in with eight tackles in his last game.

Had a tackle for a loss.

But showing some hands on the tip drill.

There.

In the back on the return.

So Peacock with the interception.

His third of the season.

And Norcross will see where they put this one down.

They're going to mark it off from the 15 is where they say the block in the back happens.

So they'll put it at the 25 yard line.

But starting on the plus 25 not a bad thing for this Norcross offense, which hadn't really hit on all cylinders so far tonight.

See if this jump starts things for PJ Wolfe and then the quick change situation for that Walton Raider defense, which has done a good job so far.

Wolfe going to give it to Kendall Edwards left side.

He's got a huge hole.

He's Edwards going to find the end zone.

He will.

Touchdown Norcross one play after the Eric Pitts interception, the Blue Devils find paydirt.

25 yard rushing touchdown for Kendall Edwards.

The senior running back pays off the interception for Eric Pitts, and Norcross takes their first lead of the night.

Exactly what you want to do.

And he had a huge hole.

He went untouched all the way down there.

We'll see if we get the extra point from Elijah Frey.

It is up and it is good.

Norcross seven Walton three 2:14 to go in the first quarter here on GPB.

Cody Chaffins with you in Norcross where the home Blue Devils have just taken their first lead of the night 7-3 They now lead Walton and it was sophomore quarterback Christian Peacock who throws into coverage.

Ball gets tipped intercepted by Eric Pitts had a long return but the ball got placed at the 25 after a block in the back and just one play after that.

It was the senior running back for Norcross Kendall Edwards who found the end zone to make it 7-3 Now that's the kind of drives you like to see.

If you're Corey Richardson, the head coach, one play 25 yards as the kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.

And that gets going.

So the Norcross defense had been punt, punt.

And then they get the ball there and able to cash it in.

So Walton sends back out there your sophomore quarterback.

Give him a word of encouragement and say let's go get him.

And again, this Norcross or this Walton team has been in some fights, so far this year.

Most notably that game against Roswell a week ago where Roswell hits a field goal at the buzzer to get the 30-28 win.

So we'll see how the Raiders respond here.

2:14 to go in the first quarter again.

Had a 55 minute lightning delay off the top of the Knight.

Neither team had even they'd warmed up.

But not had we not started the game at that point.

Peacock going to give to Nori Thompson.

He'll get about three or four on first down.

Thompson on the carry brought down.

Tackled by Antoine Lewis.

Antoine Lewis with a tackle, second down and six.

So call it a four yard gain.

Second down and six here.

Question is if you're Levi Brown, the offensive coordinator, do you let Peacock throw it again?

Do you find a way to build him some confidence.

He's got four receivers to the top side.

They'll send a man in motion.

That's Thompson back into the backfield.

And they are going to let him throw it a little screen pass.

Maybe that was the spot to try and earn some confidence back.

Tried to get Thompson on the screen, but sniffing out out the whole way was Miles Davis.

So be third down now.

6 yards to go for Walton.

Don't want to make another mistake here.

Punting is not the worst thing with the way his defense has played.

Again, just the short field leading to the touchdown for Norcross.

Peacock going to throw looking to the right side.

Pump fakes.

Pulls it down.

Gets away from a man.

He's taking off.

He'll have the first down and more.

And he is elusive.

That is the one thing we have seen from Christian Peacock so far tonight.

He knows how to get out of trouble.

Slippery some Norcross blue devil had him in the grasp, but he gets away and scrambles for the first down on the season 23 carries for 170 yards.

So Peacock can do that kind of thing.

About 56 yards a game.

He will run the ball, gets out of trouble there, gets him up to the 42 yard line, and it's a first down for Walton.

I'll do a little window dressing here.

Sending another man in motion and give it to Thompson right side eaten up by Davis Miles Davis 14 tackles in their last win over Mill Creek.

And he is right there in the middle of things.

Five foot eight, 190 pounds.

But a senior who's seen a lot of football.

Second down, they'll say he got a yard.

Call it second down and nine.

Wilson Thompson out.

Blitz coming from Norcross.

But Peacock gets it away.

It's complete to Thompson.

Complete to.

But he slides down right at the line of scrimmage.

Peacock had to stand in there and face that rush because Norcross was coming that time.

So it'll bring up third down and nine.

We'll see who they go to here.

Peacock has not found his brother Jordan.

In this game did find Ethan Baker number 24 earlier for a long gain.

They'll just give it to Thompson on third and nine.

Maybe content to punt the ball here.

Davis tackling Thompson is going to be something we'll repeat over and over.

They try to get Thompson on the outside and get him going.

It'll be fourth down and three, but that's the end of the first quarter.

Seven three Norcross leading on a football Friday in Georgia.

Tonight's game is sponsored by Susana's Kitchen.

Peachtree corner, back to church.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Wherever you go, there we are.

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That's a polyester fiber made of oil, by the way.

Where's your dressing room?

And we're back with a fourth down and three for the Walton Raiders.

And they've got the offense out there.

So right near midfield is where that ball is.

They're going to trust Christian Peacock here.

They'll send a man in motion.

And we got some movement.

It looks like they were trying to draw Norcross offside and kind of backfired.

As one of the Walton offensive linemen jumped.

And they'll move it back five yards and this will likely bring out the punt team for coach Daniel Brunner seventh time we've seen this Cobb County, Gwinnett County showdown between Walton and Norcross.

Norcross leads the series four games to two, including a win last year at Raider Valley, 41 14.

Norcross won that one.

Also played in the Corky Kell three times.

2019, 2016 and 2009.

And in 22,006.

2010 played in the first round of the playoffs.

So these teams, no stranger to one another as this punt is low and bouncing and down to about the 19 yard line is where Norcross will take over.

And a punt is down at the Norcross 19.

Norcross leading 7-0 The offense benefiting from an interception and a short field there last time only had to go one play, 25 yards to get that first touchdown on the board.

That was from Kendall Edwards.

Getting things done out of the backfield.

So Walton their two wins came in.

Those quirky Kell games against Norcross back in 2009 and 2019.

All right, hand off again.

They'll go Edwards finds some room up the middle.

Gets about six.

Brought down by Noah Lavallee, six foot, 220 pound senior leading tackler on this Walton Raider team.

Again committed to Florida State.

That's where his brother Caleb is.

His brother Caleb, starting off his career at North Carolina but now at FSU, Seminoles have had a pretty good week.

Second down and three for Norcross.

It's PJ Wolfe the quarterback Edwards has been the back all night long and he'll get another tote, but he's swallowed up by the defense that time.

Edwards on the carry out to the 26.

Lavallee in there.

But Jack Klim in there as well.

We also Christian Lavette number 34 in there.

So it'll be third down and three.

For this Norcross offense.

Walton defense playing without one of their stars, M.J. Burnett, the junior safety injured in the opening game of the season, has not seen action since.

They'll give it to Edwards on third down.

He charges across for the first down.

And that is a.

Big block up front.

Looks like Nasir Mitchell.

Jumping on a man.

Run game is working right now for Norcross.

We'll see if they test him.

Catch him sleeping on the outside.

Titus Travis is the man.

If they do, nope.

They'll give it.

And that is DeAndre Newsome in there spelling Edwards.

And he falls down in his first carry of the night.

So they say they'll try something different.

And they send Josh Burks out there to carry the ball.

Burks has a rushing touchdown this season.

He plays mostly defense.

PJ Wolfe looked like he was trying to throw a screen and then a little confusion just has to throw that one away.

As he was getting tracked down by Todd Haley and also William Ruddell from that Walton defense, we've seen a couple miscommunications with Wolfe so far.

Tonight.

Again, looked like it was a screen.

Maybe it wasn't there and he just lives to fight another down, which is not the worst thing in the world, but going to be third down and 12 here for Norcross.

No back in the backfield this time.

Five wide for PJ Wolfe looking left side throws over the middle.

He's got a man.

It's first down and more.

Is that Zheng Goodwin.

Number 86 Kahlil Talley.

O Kahlil Talley the senior catching that 186 982 Norcross is moving on.

Talley gets his first catch of the night.

First down at the 47 for Norcross.

They'll give it this time.

Up the middle.

We've got flags all over the place.

And let's.

See what the call is.

There.

Number two, Josh Brooks.

On the play.

Josh Burks sorry.

With that carry.

Let's see what the flag is.

Face mask against Walton.

So they're going, other way.

Norcross will tack 15 on to that and they'll get into Walton territory.

Nice little drive here for Norcross started at their own 19 yard line.

Got it up 40-8 now.

Seem to spread the ball around a little bit.

Have not seen Edwards since early in this drive.

Sylvester Jarwlee in there.

Wolfe going to throw a man deep.

Just overthrows him.

It was Drew Noel-saint.

Incomplete.

Who is down there?

Just too much on it from PJ Wolfe there is Edwards back in there.

Kendall Edwards the running back.

As it had been working for number 11.

And then they put in a trio of different backs to try and spell him there.

He's back in there on a second down and five.

Send a man in motion and we get a time-out on the top side.

Nope.

False start.

Called against Norcross.

Second and five will be a second and ten.

Make things a little bit tougher here as they're back in to their own 47.

Got to get to.

The other 43.

Three receivers on the left, one on the right.

Edwards in the backfield with PJ Wolf.

Ball's on the ground.

Wolfe grabs it.

But he's in all kinds of trouble.

Finally tackled by Jack Klim the senior drops him for a big loss.

And it's going to be third and very long now for Norcross.

So we've seen both teams kind of drop the ball in the backfield a little bit.

Both were able to recover, but that could be a drive killer.

We'll see what Norcross does right here.

Again it's not Edwards back there on this one.

Sylvester Jarwlee and Jarwlee just blocking here for Wolfe.

Who's looking looking running out of time to the sideline.

He throws one short and incomplete Lavallee on the coverage ball intended for Titus Travis.

Titus Travis.

So, fourth down in Norcross going to have to punt.

So the fumble does kill that drive for Norcross.

They had gotten all the way into Walton territory, but now having to kick it from the 36.

Mario Dixon the deep man for the Raiders.

Dixon deep to receive.

The Elijah Frey punt.

It's away.

Nice one.

Pushes Dixon back to the 20.

He'll take it at the 19.

Make the first man miss gets up.

Got a nice return going here.

We did see a flag fly as he crosses midfield over to the 40 down to the 30.

He's still going.

Another flag comes in as he's finally tackled at the 15.

Dixon is not going to like what he sees when he gets up and turns around as they're.

I think I count three flags on the field, so that'll be coming back the other way.

A nice return for Dixon, though.

Officials trying to figure out how far they want to push him back.

8-0 78 0-2 second quarter 7:03 Norcross leading Cody Chaffins with you here in Norcross.

Appreciate you being with us.

After we finally got going, everybody who stuck around for a 55 minute lightning delay, we appreciate you.

Not only is the football gotten going, the grill has gotten going here at Norcross as a smoke wafts a couple wafts across the field.

All right, let's see what we've decided after a little bit of a conference here.

A lot of math to do.

And I'm not jealous of that by any means.

Okay, so we'll get that flag.

We got this flag.

We're going to walk it.

And then we got to mark it off from there okay.

We got a hold.

Yep.

That one's declined.

We got a. Facemask.

Oh facemask on the tackle.

So we'll see.

That is the thing that will change things a little bit about this.

So we did get one penalty on each team.

That will be enforced.

Daniel Brunner looking for a little explanation on the far side again.

Brunner ninth season overall at Walton took him to the state title game in 2023.

Lost that one to Milton, but hadn't missed the playoffs and all his years as the Walton head coach.

And again, looking at the Walton schedule, jumping right into region play there in region five, 6-A got Wheeler next week, then at North Cobb they'll get a bye before hosting Marietta and Cherokee, and then they'll hit the road for Etowah and North Paulding.

Away games, and then they've got a bye on Halloween last week of the regular season, kind of happened last year that way, and they ended up with 20-1 games because the hurricane disruption in last year's schedule, they had 21 games between football games.

So they were put out in the first round of the playoffs.

But not an ideal situation for Coach Brunner.

And they've kind of got the same setup now.

Again, we hope this schedule stays the way it should be this year, and we don't get any of those kind of disruptions, which we saw a year ago from the hurricane, but could potentially shake out, at least with the bye week and the last week of the regular season for Walton this year.

Norcross, on the other hand, had their bye last week.

They go into region play in seven 6-A next week as they go to Duluth, and then they'll host Peachtree Ridge here at Meadow Creek at Parkview team, which is scoring in buckets right now.

On October 3, by again on October 10.

And they'll go at Berkmar North Gwinnett, who's number seven in this week's poll and then finish the regular season at Brookwood.

So a tough, tough region seven 6-A for Norcross.

Both teams getting their last tune up before region play gets going next week.

All right.

So Walton going to get the ball at the 27 yard line is what we've all finally decided on.

And on first down it's Christian Peacock to throw finds his man Nori Thompson, who picks up about seven.

Thompson.

Nori Thompson again has been the offense for the most part for this Walton team so far.

Tonight.

Had a couple passes, other places Ethan Baker with a long 35 yarder in the first quarter as well, leading to that first field goal for Walton second down and four.

Now.

They pull it this time.

Peacock going to keep it.

He's got the first down right side.

And again we've talked about his ability to move around six foot.

He looks taller.

He takes long strides.

Just kind of gliding as Christian Peacock all the best players always look like it's easy.

And he makes moving around look easy out there.

Number four.

Had seven for seven rushes for 59 yards last week.

Right about his average against Roswell.

Looking left side going to throw this time.

He's got a man wide open and it's complete.

Down at the 35 to the 30.

Still on his feet is Max McRaney.

He's down to the 25 to the 20 to the 18 yard line.

How did Max McRaney get so wide open?

62.

Senior.

It's hard to miss the man.

He's almost 200 pounds out there.

He only had three catches for 9 yards all season.

And a huge catch right there gets him down into the red zone.

Max McRaney and kind of over the shoulder catch.

Is not that easy.

Especially you're almost sometimes to wide open.

He able to make that catch and then just make guys miss as he worked his way down there to the 18.

So Walton in business once again.

723 clock rolling here in the second quarter.

They're going to call a time-out.

Daniel Brunner wants to talk it over.

And a huge throw and catch right there has got Walton threatening again.

They drove right down the field on their first drive of the night.

And then hit a 29 yard field goal to make it three to nothing.

But since then we saw a Walton punt and then an interception.

And then another Walton punt.

But this one.

Long pass to Max McRaney.

And we saw also the running ability of Christian Peacock to get a first down.

And they've got things going here again.

Levi Brown, the new offensive coordinator for Daniel Brunner third OC in three seasons for the Raiders.

Brown played a little quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills.

Also the OC at River Ridge.

Also coached at the collegiate level down for the Blazers at Valdosta State.

All right, first down and ten from the 18 yard line here for Walton.

Can they regrab the lead from Norcross.?

Raiders.

We've talked about Jordan Peacock quarterback's brother.

He's down here on the near side.

They'll send a man in motion.

That's Christian Andrews.

But they'll give to Nori Thompson and he gets eaten up.

Carter Luckie in there on the stop, as well as Tyler Jackson.

And again, big seniors on this defensive line for Norcross Raja Wisdom in there.

We've seen him.

Antoine Lewis has made plays across that defensive front.

A lot of experience for the Blue Devils and big old dudes up there as well.

Luckie 255 they'll pull it this time.

Does Peacock can't get much out of it.

Going to be a third down and about ten.

Yard line.

We'll see what they can get here again.

Don't want to go backwards.

Able to hit a field goal that was 29 yards.

This would be a little bit longer I want to pick up some yards here.

Even if you can't get the first down and make the field goal a little bit easier, but they're going to go five wide and give Christian Peacock chance to do his thing.

Got to watch that pass rush here for Norcross as they walk up.

Miles Davis in middle linebacker.

Looks like he's coming.

He's going to drop for rushing.

They'll throw it complete and not enough for the first down, but it does get it closer down to the ten yard line.

A big bodied Jordan Jude Cascone catches that 1622 35 senior number 19 right there.

So gets it close.

Now you got decision time.

If you're Daniel Brunner you're on the road.

Do you want to go for it.

Fourth down and two they keep the offense out.

There could be really fun right here.

What do we do.

Do you give it to your man Thompson.

He's been the bell cow for Walton.

Or you just try and draw him offsides?

They're going to tell everybody.

Relax, play clock down to seven.

Do they say on the play clock has stopped, which is not helpful for anybody.

We'll see what the what they decide.

Are they going to call a delay of game?

I think it confused the the Walton coaching staff and they end up calling time out.

They're going to talk about it here.

Again the play clock was down to seven.

And then it got pumped back up for some reason.

Maybe that snap drew the play clock operator offside a little bit.

So was it a true time-out because nobody huddled?

Let's see how it gets charged.

And here's the confusion.

See what the.

All right.

We're going to play it again.

Here we go.

Fourth down and two.

We'll see what Walton got again.

Offense still out there.

It's Thompson number eight next to the sophomore quarterback Christian Peacock.

We've seen him pull and run.

That's been very effective.

Thompson has been effective to five on the line of scrimmage.

They'll go into round.

It's Jordan Peacock and he is dropped for a loss and a turnover.

It's Chase Huff out there.

Huff six foot, 180 pound senior just a couple weeks ago.

Picked up offer from point University.

He's got his left arm wrapped a little bit.

We didn't see him return punts so far on this game.

Wonder if that's why.

Because he is an incredible punt returner as well.

And it's a turnover on downs.

And Norcross takes over.

So Walton gambles don't go for three and they try and go for it on fourth down and fail.

Norcross takes over and stacked up as Kendall Edwards right there.

Straight up to the 18 yard line.

It.

So it's one of those decisions that you got to make.

How much do you do?

You just want to pick up points and hang around and see Edwards kind of limping off there for Norcross, but forego the points and went for it, gambled a little bit and came up short as they tried to end around to Jordan Peacock, the brother of quarterback Christian Peacock.

Second down and nine.

Now for Norcross.

They'll give it its DeAndre Newsome, who picks up about three or four.

Be a third down and five here for Norcross.

Walton tackle made by number 57 William Ruddell.

Third down and five.

Now sending him in and out right now.

And it's Jarwlee in there on third down for Norcross as they got three receivers top side, one on the bottom.

PJ Wolfe looks like he's going to run it.

Scrambling around.

Well he get the first down.

He fought for it.

But the ball came out.

Dove for the first down did Wolfe ball comes out.

Looks like Walton has got the football.

First turnover of the day for the Norcross offense.

And Walton takes over on the 29 yard line.

So again we said off the top PJ Wolfe not truly a running quarterback when the way you think about it.

And so just kind of putting his body on the line diving for the first down right there and the ball comes out.

Walton recovers and they are in business.

Just a few plays after failing on fourth down.

So Norcross after they got their turnover about the same spot, did a one play, 25 yard drive to get a touchdown.

We'll see if Walton can capitalize on the turnover they've gotten here.

341 to go before halftime.

They'll Little pitch forward.

It'll end up being a pass in your score book.

Christian Andrews, a senior, takes that one.

It worked for a touchdown earlier this year.

Kind of those it looks like a rush but really goes in the score book as a pass kind of things to the speedy man.

Christian Andrews picks up to that time.

Second down and eight.

Here comes that Norcross defense.

Peacock throws another screen to Andrews flag comes out Andrews got the first down, but will it stand?

Christian Andrews there's a penalty marker down back.

And it was holding against Walton again.

Carter Luckie is a big man.

Number 0662 55 and can you blame somebody for holding trying to keep him off your quarterback?

That's going to back him up again.

Kind of in no man's land here.

If you're Walton, you got to pick up.

He'll get to replay the second down.

But going to be second down and 18 now.

301 to go before the half time.

Not an issue here.

Norcross will get the second half kick.

We've seen Peacock spread the ball around pretty well tonight.

Baker McRaney Christian Andrews Cascone has caught one Jude Cascone.

So he's worked the ball around a little bit, also throwing it and giving it a lot to Nori Thompson, the running back.

Number eight.

He gets all of that holding yardage back.

Nice job.

As he kind of worked his way through the middle of that Norcross defense.

Be third and nine now, but much more manageable than third and 18.

Playbook opens back up a little bit here.

230 in the clock is running before the half.

Trips near side.

Who will Peacock find here for his first down?

He's going to call his own number.

Peacock gets the first down and gets out of bounds.

Not a bad decision right there.

JT Isabu right there, but Peacock shows off the legs again.

Again, it just kind of gliding along.

Makes it look easy.

Good play call right there.

Just a little quarterback draw.

There's only four.

Were rushing for Norcross had the linebackers playing a little deep.

Spread them out.

Give Peacock Alleyne works out first down ball at the 15.

Now.

Walton right back where they were when they had the fourth down.

Fail blitz coming from Norcross and swallows up the middle of that defense.

14 yard line for no gain.

Looks like.

Blue Devils tackled by Tyler Jackson.

And Tyler Jackson 90.

In there on the tackle.

We've called his name a few times.

He had a big fumble recovery in the opening game of the season that led to points for Norcross.

They've been good at that turning turnovers into points, throwing this time is Peacock looks left, throws deep over the middle.

Had a man that was his brother in the back of the end zone.

Jordan Peacock.

But a little too tall for him.

Nice coverage right there from Jason Jones.

Receiver.

Jones a sophomore guarding Peacock, a freshman.

So talk about some young guys.

You're going to get on the field in a 6-A program.

As a freshman and a sophomore, you got to be pretty good.

So fun little battle there to watch 21 on one at the bottom of your screen.

Third down and ten.

Now for Walton.

They'll give it to Nori Thompson.

Is he going to get the first down?

He got real close and it's going to be decision time.

One more time for Walton going to be fourth down and one.

Do you go for it again?

You didn't get it the last time and it looks like no doubter, right?

You had a Daniel Stricklin field goal on their first drive of the night.

They're going to leave Strickland on the sideline again, and almost in the exact same spot where they failed on fourth down.

They'll try for it here.

0:54 to go.

Clock running here right before the half.

Two time-outs left for Walton.

They could stop the clock if they can get the first down.

They relax and look up 43-42 40.

They don't want to leave any time.

They do punch a time-out here.

Does Daniel Brunner 40s to go in the half.

Walton facing a fourth down and one Norcross stopped them at the doorstep on the last drive.

Can they do it again?

And keep points off the board again?

This drive starting after Norcross fumbled.

PJ Wolfe the quarterback diving for a first down, but had the ball come out.

Walton recovered at the 29 yard line.

They've driven it down here to the six, but need one more yard to keep it going.

Now if you can get the first down, you get a new set of downs.

If you can get it across the five, but still just 40s to go in the half and only the one.

Time-out.

Now for Walton.

So maybe calling two plays in the huddle here Daniel Brunner this time.

And the beef of that defensive line for Norcross out there.

How about Luckie?

255?

Get big 99.

That's Rahja Wisdom he he goes well, they don't even list a weight for him.

But if you look at the man, you can tell he is a large fellow.

Tyler Jackson 240 Antoine Lewis number 8190 across that front and we'll see what the push we can get from Cooper Bowles returning starter.

He's 250 for Walton.

Tripp Percy 210 Sam Besselink 23215.

We got Logan Reid out there, so we'll see if they can get it.

Here we go.

Fourth down and one.

Do you let Peacock do it?

Do you try Thompson?

They're going to run with Thompson.

Can he get across the five?

He does and he's into the end zone.

Touchdown, Walton.

The gamble pays off this time as the Raiders find the end zone.

Walton back on top.

34 seconds to go in the half.

And that drive was all Christian.

Peacock threw an interception earlier that led to Norcross first touchdown and only touchdown, but that time he did it all with his legs averaging 56 yards per game rushing.

He makes it look easy as he runs it in from the six.

Kick is up and good, and Walton now leads 10-7 with 30-4 seconds left to go in the first half.

The first half your score now the Raiders seven and seven.

And you got to give it up to that offensive line for Walton.

They were able to get the hole enough for Peacock to get through there.

And they win the battle that time.

So you got a top ten team in the state in Norcross.

That's getting all they can handle from Walton right now.

10-7 Now Norcross will get the ball to start the second half.

They deferred after winning the toss, so we'll see if they try and do anything here or just take it into the half.

We talked earlier, we did not see Chase Huff return a punt.

We saw Jason Jones back there.

We do see Huff out there now.

He's on the top side of those return men.

Huff really, really dangerous.

Had a 59 yard punt return touchdown and the win over Milk or Mill Creek.

Also had a 52 yard return.

So he is a dangerous return.

Man does have a rap on his left arm there, and maybe that's why we saw Jason Jones, the sophomore take it, but cannot fall asleep.

If you're Walton here, maybe it's safer to kick it out of bounds.

Yeah, they're going to try another little directional kick.

They did that earlier.

It was Isabu taking it the last time.

He's got it again.

Walton got to make a tackle here.

Balls to the 45 yard line.

He's still on his feet up to midfield.

It was JT Isabu Isabu I apologize.

And nice return from a man who maybe wasn't expecting to make a return.

He's made two of them.

So far tonight.

So 24 seconds.

Here's where we are 24 seconds.

There are three time-outs for Norcross.

If he can get something going again, they even if you get a field goal, you're double dipping here as you're going to get the ball to start the second half.

Just don't want to make a mistake.

If you're PJ Wolfe.

For wide receivers, spread out for Wolfe we'll see where they go here.

This is where you'd love to have M.J. Burnett the free safety for Walton.

He's got 15 offers, but he is injured.

See if they can hold up here.

Wolfe looking to throw.

Got plenty of time.

He's running out of it.

Just gets rid of the ball.

18 seconds on the clock.

Pressure coming there from Todd Haley and big Christian Beard, who's already got a sack tonight.

He was closing in as well, so it'll be second down and ten.

But again, the clock more of the factor now 17 seconds left on the clock before we get to halftime.

Ball at the Norcross 48.

Trips going to the top side.

Now.

And they'll send a man back in motion.

That's Marschke Wolfe looking that way.

Throws Marschke ran a little comeback route.

Did not get first down yardage.

He did get out of bounds now only 9 seconds left here.

Balls at the 47 yard line.

Do you just give it the old heave.

See if he can draw a penalty.

Don't want to make a mistake.

Interesting decision.

Time here for Corey Richardson.

He's in the catbird seat for the first time this year.

He's been on the staff here 25 years at Norcross.

But the head man now making these kind of calls for the first time trips top side two down below Marschke dragging across Wolfe going to throw another one over the middle.

Intended for number 86.

Khalil Talley he's already got one catch tonight, but ball thrown a little low now.

Just five ticks on the clock before the break.

Ball on the 47 yard line.

It's fourth down now.

2-0 by the way.

So do you send out the punt team or do you just say, hey Wolfe stand back there for 4 seconds, 5 seconds and throw it or just throw it out of bounds.

Going to be an interesting decision.

Norcross going to take a time-out to talk about that decision, because you're not really trying to get the first down.

It's end zone or nothing.

You got to get the protection to be able to throw a Hail Mary like that.

But if you throw it deep, it's almost like a punt.

And it would take a really impressive return.

But we talked about MJ Burnett 15 offers for him not playing tonight for Walton injured in that since that first game against McEachern a game.

Oh by the way that he had three interceptions in.

But he has not been out there.

And that Burnett last name if it sounds familiar his dad Morgan Burnett playing at Georgia Tech in the NFL for the green Bay Packers.

Burnett family has some lineage in Georgia high school football as well.

Down at North Clayton.

Cat Burnett, the head coach over there for the Eagles for a little while.

5 seconds on the clock.

We'll see what Wolfe does here.

He is going to throw the Hail Mary way deep and it is picked off by number five.

Sam Strickland Strickland on the return.

Now we'll see what he's got.

He's up to the 20 and they'll take him down.

So Sam Strickland gets some fantasy stats there for the Walton defense as he picks one off.

But that's it.

Half time here at Keith Maloof Field at Blue Devils Stadium.

It's Walton ten Norcross seven.

Back for the second half on GPB.

123 Sony EMC and 35 other participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives congratulate Denmark High School on winning the GHSA cooperative Spirit, Sportsmanship Award.

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Congratulations to the Denmark Danes community.

She's just so driven to accomplish the goals.

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It's a really hard position to play.

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As we welcome you back to Wineman Memorial Stadium in Cartersville, Georgia, where we finally have Football Fridays in Georgia.

As the defending state champion and number one Calhoun Yellow Jackets take on the 4-A second ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes and the 42nd all time meeting between these Northwest Georgia rivals.

Good evening, I'm Matt Stewart, joined by former Auburn Tigers All-American NFL first round draft pick and 15 year pro Wayne Gandy Jon Nelson.

Down on the field, Wayne, it's been a little bit over 2 hours for this weather delay.

How does this impact these teams as they take the field in just a few minutes?

Well, first, can I give a round of applause to this crowd for sticking around for this two hour delay?

Still, a lot of people in the stadium, and now these two teams have to come out, find that energy even later into the night.

One thing we talked about is the best part of it.

They didn't start the game and then have to stop the game.

So right now they come out with that same energy.

Now can they find their focus to play after such a long delay?

The good news, Wayne, is they're 14, 15, 16, 17-years-old.

They're just getting started.

The night is still young for.

Them.

Just give them some sugar.

Couple pieces of candy.

But I think both of these teams are going to be prepared and geared up to give us a great game.

Plan.

So Calhoun has won the toss and I believe they have deferred.

That means we're going to see Cartersville on offense to start this game.

So kind of reset the scene for you.

Cartersville 3-0 on the season.

They've had victories over Columbia, Rockmart and Hayfield Charter Calhoun 2-0 on the season.

Their victories.

Last week over Westminster and Creekview in their season opener.

Cartersville leads the all time series 337 and one, and Cartersville has won five of the last six meetings in the six consecutive seasons that they have played.

And here come the hurricanes.

What a scene on a Friday night in downtown Cartersville.

Where a vast majority of this capacity crowd has stuck around till after 930 for the kickoff.

The cowbells still going.

The energy is in this stadium and they're going to have to fuel that into their players to get them to come out and play with the energy that they thought they would already see.

We we thought we'd be at halftime right now, and we're just kicking off the ball.

These two teams played 364 days ago with Cartersville winning 35:13 at Calhoun.

The head coach of the Yellowjackets is Clay Stephenson.

He's standing by with John Nelson.

Plus on the delay.

How was your delay, sir?

Oh, it was great.

You know, I think it's probably going to help both teams settle down because we've had a long delay like we did, and so all the emotions should have gone out the window.

And now it's time to play football.

What does this rivalry mean to folks who are just watching it for the.

First time?

If you saw it before the rain delay, it was it was lined up both sides.

So it's a huge, huge game not only for the players but for the fans and the community and the school.

So looking forward to get it going.

So are we go go go.

Go for it.

Play Stephenson.

That's the early word.

2 hours late.

Back to you.

So ready to go here at Wineman Stadium.

We will see the Purple Hurricanes on offense to get this one started.

They are in their purple jerseys trimmed in gold, and the yellow jackets in their white jerseys trimmed in black and gold.

Abraham Sanchez has it teed up at the 40 yard line and ready to kick.

Madoxx Davis is standing deep along with Tyon Coe for the hurricanes, and the opening kickoff is brought to you by Heads Up, Georgia.

Park your phone while you're driving.

It saves lives and we are underway in Cartersville kick to the far side.

Going to be taken at the 35 yard line, and that's Maddox Davis on a short return up to the 30.

And that's where we're going to see the Purple Hurricanes on offense to start this game.

Trying to get a look at this explosive offense ran by Nate Russell.

What a veteran he has been.

I don't know if they had another quarterback since Trevor Lawrence.

Nate Russell has been around so long.

Dwayne, let's take a look at your Breda Pest Management impact players.

When the hurricanes have the ball.

Just speaking of Nate Russell, he's the point guard of this efficient offense.

And Langston Hall the big guy in the middle of the three star center.

Just as good as anyone on the other side of the ball with Alec Upshaw and Hudson Chadwick.

Opening play caught by Marchese Brady Marchese, the four star committed to the Georgia Bulldogs with a deep strike inside the 20 yard line.

Big play potential right here.

Always when you talk about Marchese beautiful throw, great pocket and look at that delivery right there.

Right on the money by Nate Russell just running down the seam of the field on a go route.

There by Marchese.

Big play right off the bat for the four star Georgia commit.

Marchese rated as high as the number nine wide receiver in the country for the class of 2026.

He picked the Georgia Bulldogs over the summer.

Over 46 other offers, including Michigan.

Looks like we've got a Markov.

A penalty from the end of the play.

Let's see if we can check the call here.

I haven't seen a signal just yet, but they pushed the ball all the way back to the 32 yard line.

So it's a 15 yard penalty.

You got to feel like it's a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty right there at the end of the dead ball.

There's two fouls on the.

Play.

Sideline warning.

Cartersville dead ball.

Personal foul.

On Cartersville 15 yards from this spot.

Still results in a first down.

Joshua Sellers is our referee tonight.

And that's a look at the rest of the crew working this rivalry game.

So a big 15 yard mark off against the hurricanes.

Back to the 32 yard line.

So instead of inside the 20 they're back at the 33.

It appears.

Handoff goes to Hill.

Braylon Hill gets wrapped up and tackled by Alec Upshaw.

Great job of that.

Calhoun defensive front right there.

Zager Quinn big left end right there working down the line of scrimmage.

Just nowhere to go with the ball.

Nice job stepping up there by Alec Upshaw as well.

Driving those legs.

One key that Coach Stephenson talked about was gang tackling.

A lot of bodies have to get to the ball to stop these explosive skill positions of Cartersville.. Second down and eight Nate Russell back to pass.

Clean pocket running to his right and throwing on the run ball.

Pops up into the air.

Incomplete inside the 20 yard line.

Trying to squeeze it into a tight space to Marchese there.. No pressure here.

Just getting outside the pocket trying to buy time and got it right there to Maddox Davis.

When you think about it, he should come up with that catch right there on the edge.

Yeah Marchese was there, but the pass was targeted for Maddox Davis.

The transfer from North Cobb.

Christian.

So now it's going to be third down and eight.

Big play here for the Yellowjackets.

Got to get off the field in these situations.

Got to finish the mission on this first drive.

Russell steps up in the pocket.

Going to try to run for the first down.

And he's going to be close as he's tackled out there on the edge at the 24 yard line.

Looks like he might be a little bit short.

Great job by cam Jackson the will backer there.

Open field.

Lot of space for Russell to work.

Able to bring him down and keep him short of the mark.

But Cartersville keeping the offense out on the field.

Fourth and short they're going for it.

Handoff goes to Hall.

He's got the first down and more Hall shoots inside the 20 yard line.

Tackled by Isaiah Nalls.

But that's a first down for the hurricanes.

On the fourth down conversion.

Nice job off the left side here.

Good blocking to the next level by Mahaffey the left tackle.

Just working up the field zone.

Read to the weak side of the defense.

Nice find.

Nice hold there by Braylon Hill.

Looks like we have a penalty.

Perhaps on top of the end of the play.

Or maybe it was just a warning.

Looked like another sideline warning.

Maybe this time for Calhoun first and ten ball inside the 20.

Handoff right up the middle.

There goes Chatmon Tripp Chatmon inside the ten yard line.

They'll go 4-6 deep in the running back room.

They are a true running back by committee.

Getting down here right there is Chatmon.

Nice pull.

Kick out block right here out on the edge by Cole Crawford.

Nice job opening that hole.

And nice find there by the back.

Getting downhill.

Chatmon gets it again right inside the five yard line.

And into the end zone for the touchdown.

Very impressive opening drive for the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes keyed by the long pass to Marchese and a six to nothing lead for Cartersville.

And great focus there by the hurricane offense as well.

After getting that penalty.

Just a hard nosed run here by Chatmon keeping running behind the shoulder pads right there and just fighting his way into the end zone.

You can see his right guard pushing the pile.

We do have a player down on about the three yard line.

One of the offensive linemen can't get a number right now.

J.J. Chatmon, who is the son of defensive coordinator Tripp Chatmon, is the son of defensive coordinator JJ Chatmon, who was a teammate of Conor Foster, came back to be the defensive coordinator at his alma mater and his son Tripp just scored his third touchdown rushing of the season.

So the big offensive lineman who comes hobbling off the field is Langston Hogg, their center.

Three.

Good to see him up.

Putting a little pressure on that.

Leg.

Most valuable guy up there.

When you talk about talent wise Langston Hall three star, two lane commit.

Let's hope he can get back into this action.

But what an impressive drive.

Big play.

Able to focus, get past the penalty and start running the ball and getting that touchdown with Chatmon.

Cole Crawford is the snapper.

Wyatt Earwood is the holder and Ramsey Rowell is the kicker.

P-a-t is up and it is good.

Impressive.

7-0 lead for Cartersville on a great opening drive.

69 yards in seven plays.

Hurricanes have the early lead.

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Welcome back to Wineman Stadium.

It's that time to catch up with our friends from Cartersville, the senior cheerleaders, and our friends from Cigna.

The $1,500 donation to our friends here at Cartersville, hanging out with Coach Damascus.

Thanks for being a great host as always, John.

Thank you all for having us, for coming out and visiting with us.

We enjoy watching GPB comes out and we thank Cigna for everything that they do and for a wonderful night.

We finally got started.

You are not kidding.

We finally got started.

A score on the board.

Matt, take us through the rest of the first.

All right seven nothing Cartersville on top after an impressive 69 yard drive.

Went seven plays.

Capped on the eight yard touchdown run by J.J. Chatmon and the of course the the big play was the pass play 51 yards to Marchese to get him going.

Exactly how this team likes to get down the field.

Big play and then get behind that big offensive line with four or five running backs.

They can just all are physical.

They get downhill, they're fast.

Couldn't ask for a better start for the Purple Hurricanes this Coach Foster.

So the Yellow Jackets now get their hands on the ball.

2 minutes into the game, they're down a touchdown and Rowell set to kick things off.

At the Ball.

Two for seven on his kickoffs for touchbacks so far this season.

And Nalls is standing deep for the Yellow Jackets.

Huff is back there, too.

He's the backup quarterback and backup safety.

So here comes an angle kick a short kick fair catch is caught and made at the 36 yard line.

And so that's where the Yellow Jackets will go on offense for the first time tonight.

As we take a look at the Breda Pest Management impact players.

When the Yellow Jackets have the ball.

Dustin Beasley, their big time receiver down the field already over 13 receptions on the season.

Isaiah Nalls the speedy running back out of the backfield for the defense for Cartersville Kylen Pope.

What a year that he has started having for this team.

The three star and Grayson Warmack physical safety that likes to get down in the box and mix it up.

There's their four star quarterback Trace Hawkins fires complete on the first play, goes to Beasley for a first down across the 50 at the 46.

Nice job by Hawkins.

Just a little roll to the right.

Throwing.

Nice technique right there.

Shoulder square.

Delivering the ball down the field to Beasley on the out route.

So first and ten they spot the ball at the 44 yard line.

Nice pickup for Hawkins and Beasley on their first snap of the game.

And the short kick of course gives the Yellow Jackets the opportunity with one play to be across the 50.

Handoff goes and Nalls is going to be stuck for a yard loss.

Back at the 45 yard line.

That's a big Elijah Peeks first man there.

Peeks in the middle.

The nose tackle.

What a physical presence he brings.

Finally gotten himself in playing shape.

Lost a little weight and just explosive from that nose tackle position.

Just hard to move right there.

You can see with the penetration.

So second down and 11 ball is at the 45 yard line.

Peeks is up to about seven offers now UConn most recently offering Peeks the junior Beasley in motion behind the line.

Hawkins going to fake it and pass it and throw it complete to the tight end.

Beau Kelly.

So let's take a look at the Calhoun offense.

It's brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza.

You go Perkins Oliver Steele, Hasty and Langston across the top there on that offensive line, and then Nalls the running back.

Beasley, Perkins, Moore and Kelly the tight end who just made that catch.

Ball on the 42.

So third down, seven line to gain is the 34.

Big play here.

Calhoun they want to be able to sustain drive, stay on the field, keep that Purple Hurricanes offense on the sideline.

Hawkins backpedaling now going to step up and run it and Hawkins going to get the first down at the 33.

Nice job of running by Hawkins right there to pick up the first down.

Brayden Logan the linebacker made the tackle.

Really like the decision.

Didn't like the route.

Sees that opening right there.

He's gained about 15:20 pounds on the off season.

A little more durable to take those kind of chances right there.

But quick decision to pull that ball down and use his feet to get the first down.

Wayne Coach Stephenson says.

Last year, Trace Hawkins looked like a little kid out there.

He was a ninth grader, led him to the state championship.

Looks like a ball player now.

First and ten.

Handoff goes to Nalls.

Nalls crashes inside the 30 down to the 29.

As we take a look at the Cartersville defense, it is brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

Villar Peeks, James and Pope across the front, and then Melvin, Crawford and Logan on that second line.

And then in the secondary Kent Warmack, Ezell and Coe.

Right, right, right.

So second down ball is at the 29.

Nalls going to be wrapped up and dropped.

Right there at the 30 yard line.

Good job here.

By Grayson Villar 13.

Right there.

Just not going to let Nalls get to the outside, making him cut back into the teeth of the defense.

Just a great job of keeping contained, making the back have to cut the ball back in for minimum yardage.

Mason James the five seven, 240 senior defensive tackle with his 14th stop of the season.

Now it's third down again.

Line to gain is the 23 Hawkins low snap gets it.

Fires bobbled and it was caught.

But it's going to be short of the first down.

Nice catch by Jaxon Moore.

Despite the fact he bobbled it.

But they didn't get the first.

Nice break on the ball there by Cooper Melvin keeping things in front of him.

The young sophomore right there forcing a fourth down once again.

Calhoun needing to convert.

Stay on the field.

Keep this drive going.

And we've already seen Hawkins use his feet.

So you have to be aware of that.

If you're on this hurricane defense.

Hawkins fakes the handoff to Chadwick going to throw it and it's caught for a first down all the way down to the eight yard line.

Nice conversion on fourth down as the ball goes to Hammett Blake Hammett who has missed three weeks because of injury, just came back last week in that victory over Westminster with the big catch and run.

A nice job of sneaking out of the backfield by Hammett.

As you can see, big thick fullback linebacker type right there.

Hard for him to sneak.

Out going underneath the defense, selling that.

He's going to block and finding himself out in the flat for a big first down.

They've actually spotted the ball at the 11.

So first and ten from the 11.

Not quite goal to go yet.

Now Chadwick is going to stay in the ball game at running back and we will have movement on the line and a flag.

Confusion there by the back.

Chadwick and then Hawkins right there, causing a little disruption in the flow and offensive lineman jumping offside.

False start offense, five yard penalty.

Still first down.

To start.

So going to back it up to the 16 yard line.

First and 15.

One thing you see about this yellow jacket offense a lot of personnel groupings a lot of different numbers names coming in and out of the game.

Nalls and Chadwick stay in the backfield.

Nalls is going to go out there going to throw it to him.

Complete inside the 15.

Inside the ten.

Isaiah Nalls down to the five yard line.

Backs creeping to the outside once again here.

Just not being accounted for.

Nice find by Hawkins.

Just good job there.

Getting out in the flat by Nalls.

Setting this team in second and goal.

Second and four.

Excuse me.

Nalls a third team quarterback this time a year ago that they moved to running back because of injuries.

And he has not looked back.

Second down inside the five.

And now we got a push push situation going on there.

And they finally blow the play dead at the three.

And.

Smart.

By Isaiah Nalls right there.

Nothing to the outside just lowering his shoulder and fighting for a yard or two to keep this this offense on the field trying to get and compete and keep score with this high powered purple offense.

Third down and two.

Line to gain is the two.

Nalls is not going to pick up the first down.

Got stopped at the line of scrimmage.

Cole Crawford.

The four star linebacker meets him there.

It's going to be fourth down.

Just no.

No movement in the middle right here.

As you can see.

Great job of Mason James 62 holding the point letting Cole Crawford get downhill with the big hit.

Here's a gamble early on by Coach Stephenson trying to stay aggressive.

Know he has to keep pace with Cartersville.

Hawkins sprint out throws into the end zone.

Caught for the touchdown.

Sager Quinn the 294 pound defensive end with the touchdown catch.

And it's seven six.

Great job here by Sager Quinn showing you why he's so talented.

Why he's headed to South Florida.

Watch how he catches this with someone in his face when the defensive tackle started doing that right there with a defender jumping in his face, still able to focus and catch the ball with his hands.

Up and good and Calhoun answers with a touchdown drive of their own, Sager Quinn with the touchdown catch, Calhoun and Cartersville tied at seven here at Whiteman Stadium.

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Tonight's game is brought to you by Breda.

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413 left here in the first quarter and both teams have answered with nice, impressive touchdown drives.

That was 63 yards by the Yellowjackets on 12 plays.

And the scoring drive is brought to you by DBHDD.

And the new red ribbon.

365 curriculum took nearly 6 minutes off the clock.

Impressive and equally impressive.

The touchdown catch by Sager Quinn at the end of it.

I don't think we appreciate him enough right there.

Grayson Warmack jumping up into the face there of Sager Quinn and him able to focus and still catch that ball.

That's your starting star defensive tackle right there.

Just showing his athleticism.

But what a great answer there by the Yellow Jackets to tie this game up.

And what a great start to this game.

After an over two hour weather delay both teams come out and execute their offenses.

Both of them convert on fourth downs on the drive to keep it alive and score.

Another angle kick.

It's going to be taken at the 18 yard line and a big return by Davis crosses the 50.

Maddox Davis turns on the Jets and he's going to score the touchdown for Cartersville.

Wow.

Maddox Davis young man who's just a sophomore has already picked up three offers including Ole Miss.

Just showed you why.

He just has that it factor a big time player has been capitalizing with Marchese on the other side right here.

Good blocking by the special teams group as you can see right there.

Just weaving through traffic is Maddox Davis.

And then just showing you the speed there.

Just no chance there.

By Abraham Sanchez the kicker to bring him down.

But great execution in the return in the kick return blocking to allow that to happen.

There is a flag down on the field at the 15 yard line, but both teams are already off the field, so apparently it might be a post touchdown penalty.

Still waiting to hear from Joshua Sellers, our referee, as to what the call is going to be.

What a touchdown return.

By Maddox Davis.

First special teams touchdown of the season for the Purple Hurricanes.

The official still standing over the flag at the 15 yard line.

Now here comes the call.

Two fouls on the play.

Illegal block below the waist on the kicking team.

That penalty is declined.

Blocking the back on the return team.

A ten yard penalty will be accepted from the spot of the foul.

First and ten Cartersville.

So it's not a touchdown.

Took him a long time to get to that.

Usually that's kind of an immediate call, but so no touchdown wiped the touchdown off the board.

The great kick return touchdown by Maddox Davis is wiped out.

Let's see what they end up spotting.

This going to spot from the 15.

So it looks like around the 30 is where the Purple Hurricanes offense is going to take the field.

Two penalties on the play.

Taking the second one.

And that's two times we've seen tonight.

The first time with Marchese, there was a big penalty bringing the ball back.

Now here, taking a touchdown off the board.

So it is spotted a ten yard penalty.

So putting the ball down at the 25 yard line.

25.

So first and ten from the 25 and Tyon Coe gets the carry dancing outside Coe is going to be stopped by the safety Hunter White.

Here's a look at the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes offense brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza with Mahaffey Bailey Hogg, Emery and Reid across the front.

Got to check to see if Hogg I don't think hogs back in there.

He left the field earlier with that leg injury.

He's not out there right now.

Russell fires, throws it out of bounds.

Looks like they've moved Adam Reed the right tackle in there at center and put Ben Cagle in there at right tackle.

Number 68.

The young sophomore not really sure what happened and where Hogg is, but a shift has been made in his offensive line.

Something they pride themselves on this season.

Yeah Hogg has ice wrapped around his ankle.

Around his knee.

Pardon me around his knee right now.

So he's on the sideline.

Russell back to pass.

Steps up in the pocket.

Being chased and Russell spin move.

Picks up the first down.

Takes a big hit inside the 15 yard line.

Nice job there by Russell.

Not risking trying to throw in the middle of the field here.

Pressure off the edge in his face, quickly tucking the ball just so smart.

The veteran playing with a lot of confidence.

Hand off up the middle inside the ten yard line.

Now go.

The Purple Hurricanes.

Let's take a look at the Calhoun defense.

It is brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria with Quinn, Parish, Upshaw and Jackson across the front.

Chadwick, Hammett and Adcock.

On that second line.

And a run inside the ten yard line.

And then more White, Nalls and Hudson in the secondary.

Third down a long one.

Third down and one handoff.

Bounce outside.

Hall gets around the edge and dives for the pylon and gets in for the touchdown.

Spectacular run by Braylon Hill.

Looks like we have a penalty on the play right there in the middle.

You have to imagine it's on the offensive line.

The flag is on holding.

Ten-yard penalty from the previous spot.

Replay third down.

So wipe out the touchdown by Hill the second touchdown that the hurricanes have had wiped out here in this series.

Second touchdown.

Third big play there.

And what a great job of just making something out of nothing there.

But holding right there in the middle.

Big move with Adam Reed right here.

Right there.

I think they get 59 Peyton Emery holding out right in.

The ball.

Goes back to Marchese touchdown.

80.

Five great job quarterback.

This combination Russell Marchese here a little roll out to the right.

Sprint throwing back letting the offensive line get out in front of the play there.

Mahaffey and Bailey a little screen to the backside.

Just a walk in there for Marchese.

Three possessions, three touchdowns.

A lot of fireworks here at Weidman Stadium.

It's the start.

Football Fridays in Georgia.

Penalty.

We thought after the delay we might get a slow game here.

But both teams are engaged.

We've had a lot of highlight plays so far.

Kicked by Rowell is up and it is good.

14 seven Cartersville.

14 Is hurricane.

Offense is just so potent, so many weapons.

As we talked about their main thing is being able to run the ball right here.

Just a little screen to the backside.

Great timing and execution between Marchese and the offensive line.

Able to get outside, kick out block by the left tackle.

Mahaffey and Bailey just cleaning up underneath.

Nowhere to block and Marchese with the walk in for the touchdown.

Here's your scoring drive.

Brought to you by DBHDD in the new red ribbon.

365 curriculum six plays, 25 yards after that long kick return by Maddox Davis set up the touchdown and Marchese 16 yard touchdown reception on the pass from Nate Russell and a 147 lead for Cartersville.

And you have to imagine that Coach Foster is burning up on one side of his body, but so happy on the other side that his team is able to continue to fight and overcome their mistake.

They're making a lot of big mistakes as far as penalty goes, but they're able to overcome them.

Isaiah Nalls standing deep for Calhoun.

Fantastic.

First 10 minutes here at Weidman Stadium.

Fair catch is made at the 30 yard line.

And again that was Richard Clavino second time.

He's called fair catch on that kickoff.

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So first and ten from the 30 yard line for Calhoun as they try to keep up with Cartersville.

Hudson Chadwick gets a couple of yards on the play.

Nice job by the defensive front right there.

Just not getting knocked off the ball.

That's the one thing so far in this game.

This defensive front of Cartersville is holding his own holding the edge on these plays.

Just nowhere to run.

There for the Yellow Jackets.

Second down and nine.

Hawkins out of the shotgun stands in there and fires off the hands of his target at the 41 yard line, trying to get it to Jaxon Moore on the drag across the route.

Actually, I guess that was Beasley three.

I thought it was one.

Yeah, it was Beasley couldn't quite come up with it.

Good pass protection right there.

Patience by Hawkins Little crossing route.

They just were not able to link up right there to Beasley.

But good job by the offensive line.

Long developing play right there.

Just not able to rally the ball and catch it.

There was Justin Beasley.

Third down and nine.

Hawkins spins out of the pocket, fires deep and Moore can't come up with it at the 25 yard line.

Tight coverage downfield.

Koger Tripp Chatmon running step for step right there with Jaxon Moore.

Just too much air under the ball.

Big arm throw right there by Trace Hawkins just could not connect with his receiver.

You almost feel like you have to you know, it's almost like their serves been broken right here.

But the way this game has gone back and forth and Cartersville scored both times, they've had the ball.

Now Calhoun going to have to give it up on a punt.

Jaden Perkins is the punter.

And it's going to hit at the 35 and scoot out of bounds.

So that's where Cartersville is going to go on offense for the third time tonight, having scored both times.

They've touched the ball so far this evening.

Cartersville offense so explosive so far this season with Nate Russell running this offense.

It's just it's just hard to stop.

They have talent.

So you know young talent old talent and a great offensive line.

And they're holding their own.

Even with the shuffle of Reid having to go to center and Hawk being out.

Averaging 41.7 points per game, they're the fifth highest scoring offense in 4-A football, going deep looking for Marchese double coverage on Marchese this time.

Nice job there.

By Jaxon Moore getting off his route.

He was running with Madoxx Davis, but once he saw the ball in the air and the ball going to Marchese came off of that route, created a double coverage situation with Marchese just couldn't find the ball.

I thought it was interesting what Coach Foster told us about Mark Casey, and that he's got a unique mindset for a wide receiver, called him a physical route runner, violent route runner.

A guy that feels like when the ball is in the air, it is his to go and get.

He has just really surged on the scene here in the last year and a half.

Hill on the run, lowers his helmet, goes down at the 45 yard line.

Going to be a couple of yards short of the first down.

Nice job on that right side.

Cagle and Emery.

You can never you can pitch the ball and pick up eight yards in second and ten.

Make it a manageable third down.

Third down and two.

Calhoun creeps up some pressure with Adcock coming off the left edge now creeps up another safety.

Now they'll back out of it.

Hall dances takes a loss back at the 44 yard line.

Jordan Garza the bandit makes a big play and it's going to be fourth down.

Nice job there by Garza.

Nice job of holding that edge by Hunter White as well.

Not letting the back be able to bounce it to the outside.

He'll want it to bounce that to the outside.

White keeping that shoulder disciplined and coming up with a tackle is Jordan Garza.

End of the first quarter Cartersville scored both times they've touched the ball.

Calhoun countered with a touchdown pass to Seeger.

Quinn.

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You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

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We head to the second quarter here at Weideman Stadium with Cartersville leading Calhoun 14-7 Matt Stewart, along with Wayne Gandy and John Nelson and Wayne Hurricanes facing a big fourth down here on their side of the 50.

As we start the quarter.

Looks like they're going to go ahead and punt this where the offense has been playing.

The defense has been rallying to the ball.

Not going to take the chance of giving Calhoun the short field.

Nate Russell, who is their quarterback, is also their number one punter.

So on fourth down and three from the 44, they will kick with Russell standing back at the 32 yard line.

Calhoun the return team is more in a safe to make sure that he punts this ball and not throw it.

Drew Huff is standing deep and this is a short kick that basically goes straight up into the air, then takes a bounce straight up and down.

And so not a great kick by Russell right there as Calhoun is going to take over at the 37 yard line.

So Yellow Jackets going back on offense.

13 yards rushing, 56 yards passing for the Yellow Jackets in that first quarter 60:09 total to Cartersville 126.

Bowles on the 37 first.

Able to make some conversions and third and fourth down, but they have to consistently try to keep themselves in third and short yardage.

Isaiah Nalls gets about nine yards on the play as he runs to the far side of the field.

Seeing that shiftiness that speed, that Nalls possesses the vision here to bounce to the outside.

Nice edge set by the offensive line.

Just falling forward.

There.

Nalls been offered by Florida State, Minnesota and Memphis.

He's just a sophomore.

Seven down, one.

510180.

As we mentioned, as a freshman moved from third string quarterback to starting running back and ended up rushing for close to 1,000 yards before he got hurt in the playoffs.

With the hard count once again, there's Tracy Hawkins trying to get the defense to declare right now, playing a little soft coverage.

Keep everything in front of him on the hurricanes.

Hawkins play action.

Going to throw to the far side.

It's caught for a first down.

Hawkins with the completion to Beasley.

Nice route there by Beasley you can see why he's been a four year starter.

Nice comeback catch with his hands.

Concentration out on the edge.

Not sure why he's not recruited.

Heavy talented player.

The 510 146 he's been offered by Campbell and Shorter does not have any FBS offers.

Goes in motion behind the line.

Had over 70 catches 1,000 yards a year ago and 18 touchdowns as Chadwick picks up a couple of yards on the second down.

Carry.

Nice job.. First down carry now second.

Down, running behind his pads.

Getting downhill.

More of that Thunder bruiser type when he switches over to offense.

He's going to test the tackling ability of linebackers when he gets downhill.

Yeah they've got that Thunder and Lightning combination there with Nalls and Chadwick.

Second down.

Roswell.

Play action.

Hawkins scrambling being chased.

Dumps it off to Chadwick.

He's in trouble back there now.

Tries to circle back around and find some place to go with it.

He's going to battle back to get close to the line of scrimmage.

Ends up taking maybe a half yard loss on the play.

Could have been a lot worse.

Nice job of him being able to get back upfield.

Shows you his athleticism.

Known for his bruising downhill running right there.

Shifty, good vision.

Enough speed to get back to the edge and get back to the line of scrimmage.

At least back to the line of scrimmage.

So third down ball sitting on the 46 line to the 38 opening 90s of this second quarter.

That's Beasley in motion back there.

Hawkins Queen pocket.

Now it's breaking down.

Dumps it deep and got him out there.

That's a touchdown for Calhoun Beasley.

It's amazing.

You know that Beasley is going to get the ball.

They know the ball is going to Beasley.

He still gets open all the time.

Great job by Trace Hawkins with the patience here.

Had a little green grass in front of him as he slides to his left.

You think maybe he'll take off right there.

The patience, to wait on Beasley the playmaker.

And as I said, I understand the size, but the numbers are the numbers and he's playing big time football as Justin Beasley.

Name to the GPB sports make that kid an offer All-State team.

You can see why as the game is tied at 14, Justin Beasley with another touchdown catch 18 a year ago and Beasley adding to that total here tonight.

He's got three this season.

We're tied at 14.

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You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man.

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Go Dodo.

Welcome back to Wineman Stadium.

2 minutes gone.

Second quarter honors even at 14.

Let's take a quick tour of the state because a lot of games were delayed.

Some stuff is still second quarter.

We do have some finals.

Let's take a quick tour.

We'll find out more at the half of Big Rivalry Night.

Non-region Sonoraville over North Cobb Christian ranked top ten in the private 47 45.

Langston Hughes now leading Douglas County 38 31, 2:49 to go and I'll use the R word regulation Bremen over McNair 38 12.

Providence Christian at the half leading Pebblebrook leading at the half.

Monroe.

Albany over Northside Columbus.

That's the final Athens Academy wins tonight as well.

That's just a sample back upstairs.

Spooky moon hanging over Wineman Stadium here in Cartersville.

After we had a heavy rains and lightning forced a delay of over 2 hours in this game.

Did not start until about 940, so that's why we're still playing here in the second quarter.

Fair catch is made by Waddell at the 35 yard line, and that's where the Purple Hurricanes will go on offense for the fourth time tonight.

We're tied at 14.

Fun game to start the GPB schedule right.

Nice job.

By Calhoun getting back into this game.

They know they got to keep pace.

Big play down the field to Beasley.

And I know as you said with the size.

But there was a guy at Alabama named DeVante Smith that was maybe a buck 71, a Heisman Trophy, you.

Know, making.

Money, making money.

Sometimes you have to go with the talent.

Yeah, you're.

Right.

Might not have the measurables, but has the heart and has the game.

Russell fires in the middle.

It's caught Maddox Davis inside the 45 down close to the 40.

I like that route there Maddox Davis sitting down making yourself available for your quarterback.

Just sitting in that open coverage right there and getting the ball and getting upfield.

Nice find by Nate Russell, but a better decision and route there by Maddox Davis.

First and ten Russell goes to the other side this time caught by Marchese spins out of one tackle, then goes down at the 42.

Caleb Adcock making the tackle for the Yellowjackets.

Just a little stop right there by Mike crazy.

A hand catcher as you can see right there on that play.

Catching it with his hands.

Strong hands out on the outside.

That's part of that aggressiveness.

His coach raves about.

Hand off close to the first down at the 30 yard line as Tyon Coe on the run.

I believe.

Rebound Thurston.

Boatwright coming right at you downhill to pick up this first down.

So far so good.

But Hogg being out of that middle Adam Reed stepping in there at center.

Last report Hogg was on the sideline with ice pack wrapped around his knee.

Hate to see that.

One of the top rated centers in the entire country, Coe comes to the near side and Coe going to get stopped at the 26 yard line.

Garza there on the tackle along with several others.

That time.

Nice job.

Cole bouncing.

Great vision to see that to the outside.

Nice job Trenton Mahaffey the left tackle Division one talent at that spot.

63, 277.

Senior committed to Anderson College.

Where ironically, he will play for Bobby Lamb, who is the brother of Hal Lamb, the legendary Calhoun coach.

Russell going up top for the end zone.

Jump ball knocked away at the last second.

What a play by Jaxon Moore.

The corner.

As part of that 62 frame that Moore brings to the party here.

Just running to the back of the end zone is Marchese.

Nice job right?

That lanky long body getting the hand up right there.

As you can see, the height difference.

Big tall corner right there.

Great job of going up and knocking that down.

And Marchese momentum was taking him to the back corner of the end zone so he couldn't jump back and fight for the ball.

Couldn't get back into the play right there.

The ball was taking him out.

But a nice job by Moore, who plays both ways.

He starts at wide receiver and corner ball.

Caught at the 20 1 yard line.

Marchese and it's going to be fourth down in about a yard short.

They'll be going for it here.

They'll bring in the power package.

Big Elijah Peeks comes in to block on offense.

No hesitation there by Coach Foster sitting in that heavy package with the big body of Peeks in there.

In the backfield.

That's two.

That's 290.

Ball is fumbled and Cartersville gets on top of it.

But they're going to turn the ball over on downs.

Looked like there might have been problems with the snap.

And remember Langston Hogg who is there All-State center is out of the ball game with an injury.

It just looked like a hard snap.

Back to Marchese as he went under center back to Russell as he went under center.

And can see Russell right there showing his hand position.

Just never got the ball there and just a bad break for Cartersville and we were just discussing what Hogg being out show up in this game right there.

You have to go back and watch the film tomorrow to see who to put that on.

But right there, center quarterback has changed, nullifying nullifying a big play.

So first and ten ball goes over on downs as we approach 7.5 minutes to play here in the first half.

And a tie ball game 14 14.

Hawkins heavy rush gets it out of there.

Got Beasley out there and he can't come up with it at the 44 yard line.

We also have a flag down on the field.

Beasley went full extension but couldn't bring it in that time.

Ran for 100.

And.

Justin Beasley getting behind the defense right there.

Two K Kaiden Kent couldn't get back into the play, just not able to come up with the catch.

Interference on the offense.

Five yard penalty still first down.

So a sideline warning penalty this time on Cartersville.

They've been hit with a warning earlier.

I believe a penalty this time.

I think he's saying also that a loss of down.

Looked like he was saying it was second down.

The sticks still say that it is first and now they just changed the marker to second down.

So second down and 15.

Now following the penalty.

Obviously the penalty was on Calhoun not Cartersville.

Once again just tough sledding trying to run that ball in the middle of the defense right there.

Kylen Pope stepping up that Jack backer, only a sophomore 632 35.

80 inch wingspan and he's 15 years old.

Possibilities right there of that young man only has three starts today.

But that could easily change when you talk about those kind of numbers physically.

So now it's going to be third down line to gain is the 33.

Hawkins steps up in the pocket.

Slings it out here and over the head of his target trying to get it to Beasley.

And it's going to be fourth down punting situation for Calhoun.

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So fourth down and the Yellow Jackets having to punt it away.

Their wide receiver Jaden Perkins is also their punter, standing back at the six yard line.

Kick coming down at the 49.

It's caught and ball is out.

Calhoun has it at the 45.

Reid Ezell stepping up right there.

Not sure why he just didn't fair.

Catch that ball but gave his team great field position at the 50 here.

Just fair catch the ball right there.

Defender is right in your face.

You have to fair catch that ball.

Big hit right there by Beau Kelly knocking the ball out of Ezell hand.

And then the Calhoun special teams rallying and getting a big turnover for their team.

Beau Kelly was the one who dislodged the ball and Houston Wilson comes up with it for the Yellowjackets.

So first and ten for Calhoun.

On the plus side of the 50.

Nalls gets the handoff, scoots to the far side, Nalls inside the 40, cut down at the 39.

Grayson Warmack making the tackle for the Purple Hurricanes.

Nice run off that left side.

Trey Perkins Hudson Oliver good lead block there by Hudson Chadwick getting Nalls to the edge, showing you the speed that he has to be able to bounce that to the outside.

So second down ball sitting at the 40 yard line.

We'll call it second down and five.

So Calhoun first opportunity I've had to actually take the lead in this game.

That's Nalls again on the carry.

Yeah.

Imagine that coach Stephenson in his mind.

He's in a four down kind of mold the way he knows the other team can move the ball right here.

It's third down.

So you're going to get the big bodies right there in their Blake Hammett back in.

We know he can get downhill.

Beau Kelly a lot of size.

What a fun game.

This rivalry game.

And the great thing about it is both these teams could win state championships.

One just did in Calhoun and once again off that left side.

Nalls is going to have the first down.

Yeah, regardless of who wins here tonight, they don't play in the playoffs because once three A one's 4-A they can both end up winning trophies in December.

Right here off that left side.

Getting downhill shoulder square.

That play right there to me is a function that Ray Stevens, the head coach, was already in a four down mindset that he was going to go for it regardless of yardage on that fourth down.

So Ball sitting at the 33 first and ten for the Yellowjackets.

Hawkins, the four star sophomore, hands off to Chadwick and Chadwick rumbles inside the 30 and keeps pushing the ball to the far sideline.

Nice run by Hudson Chadwick.

Once again coming off that left side behind.

Oliver and Perkins.

The big body of Chadwick 62, 205 junior.

Was on the play.

And you can see a concerted effort by Calhoun right here to kind of wear this defense down, running the ball right at him.

Second down and four.

Approaching 4 minutes left here in the first half.

You see Chadwick going both ways.

Is their leading tackler as well.

Hawkins little jump pass incomplete for Chadwick who's coming out of the backfield now.

It's going to be third down.

Big pressure there.

Cooper Melvin Melvin off the edge.

No time to set up.

Try to deliver the ball fast before Chadwick turned his shoulder, turned his head around.

Just could not come up with the completion.

So third down and four ball sitting on the 27.

153 yards of offense for the Yellowjackets here through the first 20 minutes of the game.

Showing pressure once again, hurricane defense selling out to stop the run.

You can see Melvin close to the line.

Hawkins on the sprint out, throws downfield, and a jump ball on the sideline that is going to be incomplete.

Although Beasley came down with it, I think he was ruled out of bounds.

Body control right there by Beasley just nowhere to land.

Little roll out ball just took him out of bounds right there.

Just nowhere to land.

But you can see the talent as we keep raving about this young man Coach Stephenson.

He just has that it things that he can't coach.

It's not like I was coaching it.

He's not trying to take credit for things that are just naturally Justin Beasley.

So fourth down and four.

I think Calhoun wants a time-out.

They're going to take it.

They're going to get it.

Stopping the clock with 355 to play here in the first half.

And we'll step aside as they contemplate what to do on this big fourth down.

And four.

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Welcome back to Wineman Stadium.

3:55 to go.

First half still honors even at 14 halftime shows coming up.

You want to know why?

Because I have all these scripts that I have to sort through.

We've got a lot of stuff to get into scores around the state, catch up with all of our friends, Cigna, you save it.

Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

We get the lay of the land here at Cartersville as well.

Coming up just around the corner, Matt.

Thanks.

It's turned out to be a nice night after 2 hours.

Good night for football and the crowds enjoyed it.

So have we.

14, 14 and it's fourth down and four right here for Calhoun coming out of the time-out.

Be aware of Hawkins and his ability to pull and run the ball.

Ball goes to Nalls, makes a one handed catch, but he is not going to pick up the first down.

And maybe he didn't even hold on to it over there.

In that mass of bodies.

Looks like he did not hold on to it.

Ball's going over on downs.

DC J.J. Chatmon coming with the pressure going to force a decision by this Calhoun offense quick trying to get the ball out before the pressure gets there.

Not able to come up with the play.

Turning the ball over on downs.

O'galley Wayne.

We've had great plays on offense.

We've had some big stops on defense.

We've had it all here in the first half.

Yeah, game that started 2 hours late.

We're still getting the same energy that we thought we would have had, and that's a credit to both of these programs.

And both of these coaches still having their players prepared, adjusting, being able to adjust on the on the fly.

So Cartersville goes back on offense tied at 14-3 51 to work with here in the second quarter.

And they do have all three time-outs left.

Russell fires.

It's caught.

And that's Maddox Davis hurdling a man over there at the 40 yard line and diving forward to the 45.

This Maddox Davis is something special.

Yeah I think he might want to go ahead on his circle that because his explosiveness right here catching the ball out on the edge.

Look how he gets a feel right here.

That's all him.

The aggressiveness.

Only a sophomore 510180.

Transferred in and making the most of his opportunities.

Big run up the 50 yard line as Cartersville is on the move again as Braylon Hill on the run.

See a little better pace in this drive here by Cartersville.

That last couple of drives they were looking to the sideline, slow the pace once again, going out on the edge, getting the ball to Davis.

And we do have a flag on the play.

They're going to procedure penalty here on Marchese.

Looks like there's a flag on.

Coach Foster out on the numbers.

Giving him an earful.

I tell you what, we've been impressed by Marchese, but we knew about Marchese.

We'd seen Marchese before.

This is the first time we've really seen Maddox Davis.

What a talent.

He is.

On the offense.

Five yard penalty from the previous.

Spot.. We'll replay second down.

He's going to be really special.

Yeah, he is.

Guy that with top end speed can take the top off a defense showing you with the ball in his hand how dynamic he is as a playmaker.

Second down approaching 3 minutes to play in the half.

Play action.

Ball tipped at the line of scrimmage and incomplete.

Incomplete.

Good job there.

Tipping that ball.

Alec Upshaw tight end running down the middle of the screen right there.

Davis Waddell he doesn't tip this ball right there.

It's going to be a strike to Waddell running down the seam.

Alec Upshaw what a story.

Stacked linebacker all state at linebacker.

A year ago they moved him to the boundary.

Defensive end and maybe helped himself in recruiting.

The next level that might fit his position and his ability to come off that end as the body type to grow.

Russell throwing and broken up at the 40 1 yard line.

That was Kaiden Kent going for the ball.

Nice breakup there by Hunter White the spur backer to knock that ball out.

There we go.

Another flag.

Looks like we're going to have a holding call here on Cartersville.

Nice job of breaking on that ball to knock.

Knock out that reception, even though it's nullified by the holding.

Do you take the incompletion here because of the time situation or do you push him back?

I think they're going to take they're going to take the incompletion and make it fourth down, put them in a punting situation so they can try to get the ball back here.

Nate Russell stays on the field.

The punt Russell six of 12 for 118 yards in that one touchdown pass.

And now he stands back at the 35 yard line to punt.

Calhoun still in punt safe.

As you can see the big tackles out there.

They're not going to take any chance that this is a fake play.

With, Nate Russell.

And Russell is punting it this time.

Got a little bit more length to it and the ball's going to bounce into the end zone.

So a great sell job by Drew Huff who's the backup quarterback and the punt return man.

Kind of reminiscent of Joe Theismann.

He did a great job.

He faked me out and the ball was 20 yards over his head.

And he goes into the end zone.

He faked the coverage team out as well.

They were looking at him instead of finding the ball.

A good punt right here by Russell.

Look at this.

I mean, you don't see this.

You know, no one's going to write about this.

No one's going to really talk about this.

It's not going to be in the stat book.

But wow, what a play by him right there.

So Calhoun goes back on offense.

At the 20 yard line and 2:45 to go.

They got a couple of time-outs to work with here.

Hawkins going to go down at the 17.

Had no place to go with it.

And that turns into an easy tackle for Cole Crawford.

Cole Crawford on the stop Kylen Pope young sophomore.

They're forcing.

You could see Trace Hawkins thought he was going to be able to outrun Pope to the edge and couldn't get outside of it, and had to run back into Cole Crawford.

Cole Crawford will be visiting Georgia tomorrow.

He has ten offers, just a 2027 guy, so he's he's not a senior yet.

But rate as high as number four linebacker in 2027.

Also rated as high as the number four catcher in 2027.

He is a legitimate two sport star.

Hawkins on the sprint out throws and off the hands of his target.

Jaden Perkins.

That's when that Hawkins is going to want back right there.

Perkins great out and up route.

They're fooling Cooper Melvin, but the ball just behind him, if he leads him upfield, give him a little chance.

There, trace so he can run under the ball.

There.

Going back to Cole Crawford he told on three sports over the summer that Georgia was his leader.

Not a big surprise.

His dad, Ryan Crawford, was the head coach at Houston County and the athletic director before they moved to the Cartersville area.

And he was, of course, the head coach of Jake Fromm.

Now, if I go to Georgia, I'm on a tight end or a linebacker.

Or a. Catcher or all three.

Or all.

Three.

All three.

Probably a linebacker, maybe a catcher.

Ball in the air and broken up at the 45 yard line.

Super job by Warmack to the nigh.

What could have been a long completion, maybe even a touchdown.

Great job by Grayson Warmack getting back into this play.

He doesn't knock this ball down.

Justin Beasley is going to score a touchdown.

That's that's all you can say right here.

He's going to catch that ball.

It's going to be a touchdown.

Nice break there by the junior Warmack using all of that 61 to tip that ball.

Formation.

And can we go ahead and say it Beasley of course has the offers shorter in Campbell.

And that's great.

But how about an FBS team make this kid an offer.

Yeah it's a couple of schools right here in the state of Georgia that needs that kind of speed and big play ability to get behind the defense.

Ball is fair.

Caught at the 49 yard line.

So Cartersville gets it back.

Calhoun did not burn much time off the clock.

And they've got 97 seconds and the ball on the Calhoun 49 yard line.

And they do have all three time-outs remaining as well.

So they've got essentially a football eternity to work with it here in just a short field to go.

And you imagine they're going to be aggressive here with Davis and Marchese.

Test this defense on the back end.

Calhoun has to keep these receivers in front of him.

Solid coverage bend, but don't break.

Make them have to earn and use the clock.

Russell running a screen play and Davis not going to go anywhere.

Upshaw makes the tackle.

And a flag out on the play.

Going to have a facemask.

Came in late, but definitely a face mask right there on that tackle.

Alec Upshaw great job of sniffing that out.

Was Blake Hammett trying to get a little screen underneath here.

Madoxx Davis.

Little screen underneath right here.

Just couldn't get underneath.

Hammett right there trying to get to the outside.

You can see right there that right hand pulling on that face mask.

After the play.

Personal foul, late hit on the defense.

That's a 15 yard penalty from the end of the run.

Results in the first down.

That's going to put the ball at the 36 yard line.

Looks like a late hit right there.

Jordan Garza.

Yeah.

Cleaning up the action.

So first and ten from the 36.

They probably need about 15 more yards to be in field goal range here for Rowell.

Russell going to step up in the pocket now.

He's going to run.

He's going to take a big hit to Hammett.

Coach Stephenson said he brings pop when he brings the tackle.

And wow big pop right there.

Big physical and thick as that 26 right there coming downhill, knocking people around.

Russell going to the end zone and caught by Marchese could not come up with it.

Going out of the side of the end zone.

Could not hold on to it.

And it Hudson right there.

Letting Marchese get behind him.

Here and the ball just leading Marchese out bounds right here.

If you throw that in the field just a little more, he doesn't have to make that circus catch right there.

Lead him into the back of the end zone.

Brings up third down Russell retreating, setting up a screen play.

Ball goes to Coe.

Coe got a block Coe inside the 20.

Great job of blocking by Brady Marchese showing you why he's the complete package.

Watch number one right here with the key block.

Turns around and gets that block right there.

Nice job turning around.

Staying alive and getting a hat on the defender.

Incredible block by Marchese.

Ball goes to Coe Coe inside the ten.

Inside the five.

Coe down to the two.

Ty Cole right down the heart of the defense.

Bouncing off of tackles right there.

This young man known for his speed right there showing you the power running behind his back.

Now a time-out is going to be called by Calhoun stops the clock with 30-8 seconds.

Right here getting up into the blocks.

Look at that wave of blue jersey by the offensive line.

Moving those white jerseys back just nowhere.

No one in a white jersey at the line of scrimmage.

The offensive line doing a great job of knocking them back, giving Ty Coe all the room he needs to make that cut.

Running behind his pads all the way down to the 1 yard line.

58, 161 junior and then jitterbugging through the gaps in the defense.

He was a region seven 4-A honorable mention a year ago, and now they get him down close inside the five yard line.

They bring Tripp Chatmon into the ballgame to kind of hammer it home.

He already scored on an eight yard touchdown run tonight.

You see.

Just you see the clock management there.

Calhoun did not burn enough time when they got the ball.

When you get that ball for that final time inside that three minute mark, you want to make sure you score or you give it back with no time left on the clock.

And they didn't do the second.

So first and goal to go.

And the handoff right in the middle.

And that is a touchdown for Cartersville.

Athens Davenport right there.

The young freshman bringing the pain at six feet 208.

You can see just enough spin right there at the end lowering the shoulders.

Get into the end zone.

Athens Davenport a freshman.

He's been a star on the defensive side of the ball.

And one of that six deep running back room.

They are so deep and talented.

This Cartersville team.

I asked Coach Conor Foster in our conversation this week, can you guys win the state championship?

He says, well, you know, we're trying to go 1-0 every week.

But I'd be lying if it wasn't in the forefront of our mind.

They've got a team that can do it.

Then you get the sense that he had about three aces in his hand.

He was sitting there trying to bait you to raise the pot.

He understands he has a formidable offensive line, a poised and ready quarterback.

And Maddox Davis brings a balance to this offense.

I think is just going to pay such big dividends as the season goes on.

There's just no doubt Nate Russell running this offense.

We haven't talked a lot about Nate Russell so far tonight, but he's a three year, three year starter, fourth year player.

He got significant snaps as a freshman in this offense, playing behind an offensive line.

As you pointed out, bringing everybody back.

All five starters returning.

You got a six deep running back room.

You got a wide receiver corps that I don't know that there's anybody that's better than the combination of Maddox, Davis and Brady Marchese right now in 4-A.

And we haven't even talked about Kaiden Kent getting in there.

And the possibilities of a Cole often not really used a lot.

He kind of rests on defense and saves it for, I mean rests on offense and saves it for defense.

But you can imagine they're going to get him more involved as the season goes on.

The six play, 49 yard scoring drive brought to you by DBHDD in the new Red ribbon 365 curriculum.

So Cartersville with the 21 14 lead down to our final half minute of.

This.

First half.

And stick around.

John Nelson is going to get you updated on a lot of stuff, including some scores and some crazy scores around the state.

On this fourth Friday night of the regular season.

Returned by Huff up to the 30 yard line.

And that's where the Yellow Jackets will go on offense with 29 seconds to play in the half, and they have one time-out left and the canes have all three time-outs left.

So you can't just come out here.

And take a knee.

I don't think that Carter's just going to push to try to get the ball back, but if you're lazy with it, you can't be lazy with it because they do have those three time-outs remaining.

Cartersville you definitely cannot fall asleep on Beasley make sure that there's a double coverage and take that away from his offense in this situation.

Handoff is going to go to Nalls and Nalls picks up about three on the play.

And a time-out was called.

Number third.

Third race for the rebels.

Waiting to see.

Not sure.

Was an official time-out.

Maybe maybe just an official time-out to stop the clock.

Some issue on the field is Nalls went running off the field with his helmet in his hand.

Looks like they're just going to take the half here and.

21 14 Calhoun in the game, throwing body blows.

Fun.

First half Cartersville is going to go to the locker room with a 21-14 lead on Calhoun.

Nate eight of 15 passing for 134.

Touchdown pass to Marchese, who's got four catches for 78.

Davis has three catches for 38.

And remember he had a kickoff return touchdown called back because of penalty.

He's got 32 yards rushing.

They have 93 yards rushing.

And they've used four different running backs tonight.

Three Chick-Fil-A seven years Jimmy Jones Koger.

And time now for our Johnny's Pizza halftime interview.

And John Nelson standing by with Coach Foster.

All right.

Let's find out about this slice of the game here with Coach Foster.

Hot start.

And then things just kind of settled in a little bit.

Yeah I mean both both teams played well in the first half.

You know a couple got to make a couple adjustments here at halftime.

But both teams playing their tail off.

Both coaching staff thrown some new wrinkles out.

So it's been an exciting first half.

And you had to kind of work things on the fly.

Obviously with the injury to Hogg, you bring in a sophomore right tackle, but you end up just if things just kept right on humming along.

Yeah, credit credit to you know, to our young men for being ready to go and stepping up and playing to the standard and for our coaching staff for making sure that we got the next guy ready.

Thanks for your time.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Go, canes.

There he goes.

Conor Foster.

He is up 21-14 We're getting ready for the halftime show here at Wineman Stadium.

We got scores around the state.

We'll catch up with our friends from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and more.

As they say.

More on the great GPB coming up in just a little bit.

All right.

What do you think, Jasper?

Honestly, I think that polyester shirts fake in your game.

What?

I think cotton would have been a better choice.

Cotton.

And it's come a long way.

You know, nowadays, cotton breeze and wicks moisture.

Great butts.

Buying cotton means supporting Georgia farmers.

I think that's wonderful.

Okay, sure.

But what do you think about the putt?

Oh, it's really hadn't thought about it.

Support for this program comes from Northside Hospital Orthopedics, a proud sponsor of Georgia High school football from physicians and athletic trainers to physical therapists and performance nutritionists, Northside Hospital provides holistic sports medicine care to student athletes across Georgia.

At Northside, we're committed to caring for Georgia's student athletes and their families on and off the field.

Northside Hospital Orthopedics because Georgia moves us and we keep Georgia moving.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man.

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Welcome back to Wineman Stadium.

It is the intermission Cartersville Purple Hurricanes.

They are leading the friends from across the way.

Calhoun by the score of 21 14.

32.

If you're just taking it by sevens, time to go for the halftime show here.

Fans about ready to play here at the break, but we're going to go through a lot of scores here.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Frankly there's a lot of different games around the state.

We can update some of the ones that we have here.

You look at page one ends up with a final Houston County big winner tonight over Warner Robins by the score of 48 14.

Mill Creek and North Gwinnett.

By the way, we talk about all these kinds of delays that we have.

This game kicked off at 10:30 tonight.

You see what the early returns are with that one.

Rabun County and Dalton, a late interception by Lake Evans.

Rabun County gets the Duke at Dalton.

And a big win for Rance Gillespie over Chris Pruet, 49 42.

Your final Rome officially now knocks off Toombs County.

This game back and forth all night long Romans up winning that one by 28.

You see the score with Roswell and Buford.

They're kind of like us getting the late start tonight.

On to page two.

Thomasville and Thomas County Central.

Big win for Thomas County Central tonight, 557.

Your final Peach County out distances themselves from crisp updating that one at 30:24 Bainbridge and Tift.

Tift gets a big win tonight.

49 21 Douglas County and Langston Hughes, Douglas County got under.

They were having to go up a big mountain early.

They couldn't quite pull it off.

44 31 your final and the Webb game tonight, which shout out to Jesse and Cody Chaffins with them helping us out early on.

You see the score there as they were working their way at Norcross High.

Thanks to them tonight for the Webb game and sharing the multi-screen experience with us.

All right, time to move things along here in the halftime show.

Next thing up, time to catch up with our friends from Cigna with our signature moment this week.

And it's about dealing with concussions.

We hear about athletes getting concussions, but you may not realize just how common they are in everyday life.

Kirk Erickson, Cigna Healthcare general manager for Georgia and Alabama, is here to share tips on how to prevent and treat a concussion.

Kirk, we're in football season, but how common are concussions?

Well, we love football, but concussions are more common than you think outside of football.

It's not just football players.

It's not just athletes that are prone to get them.

It could be a fall in the shower, a bike accident, a playground mishap.

Our kids are exposed to concussion type opportunities quite often.

Football players wear helmets.

They have pads.

What about everyday people?

How can we protect ourselves?

Well, we don't want to walk around in bubble wrap.

That would be awfully weird, but we want to make sure we're using the proper protective gear and make sure you're using the technology that's the most up to date.

So if you get a concussion, what should you do?

Take time to heal.

So for teens and children, it can take 4-6 weeks or even longer.

Make sure you're in dialog with coaches and with teachers and friends to make sure they know what your child is recovering from, and they can watch for symptoms that might pop back up, you might think you're healing, and then all of a sudden you take a turn for the worse.

So make sure everybody knows what your child is healing from and that they can heal over the right amount of time.

Yeah, that rest is so important.

Kirk, thank you so much for being here and sharing this important information.

Thank you.

If you'd like to learn more about concussions, please go to cigna.com.

Always great to catch up with our friends from Cigna with our signature moments all season long.

We are officially in a no dilly, no dally zone.

Time to catch up with our friends from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the man in charge, Director Alan Poul, and find out what is on his mind when it comes to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and everything that they're doing these days.

Here's the early returns.

Welcome back, friends.

Good to see you.

Time to catch up with the pride of Harrison County football director Alan Poul Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

We're here to talk about distracted driving and this thing here.

Why is it so dangerous?

Because when you're behind the wheel of a vehicle, your concentration should be on driving that vehicle.

Two out of three accidents happen to people.

That's actually not driving.

And they are being hit by somebody that's not paying attention.

So you need to lay that phone down and do what you're supposed to be doing.

And that's driving the vehicle.

What other distractions are out there folks need to avoid?

You got your radios and your vehicles.

You got your navigation.

You got people putting on makeup.

You got people eating.

You got people doing a number of things, but they're not paying attention to the road and actually driving the vehicle.

So website where folks need to go to find out more information is where.

GA highway safety.org.

You go to that site and you can find a lot of information in regards to distracted driving.

GA highway safety.org Director Alan Poul.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

Key words on distracted driving.

The heads up Georgia student video contest is back.

If you're a Georgia high school student, we need your help to spread the message.

Make a 32nd PSA about the dangers of distracted driving, and you could win a MacBook Pro.

Thanks, as always, to our friends at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

Grant friends with us here at GPB.

When we come back, we'll get the lay of the land here at Cartersville, catch up with our friends from Georgia EMC as we tour the state with a Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award and catch up with our.

U save It student athlete of the week.

More from Historic Wineman Stadium in Cartersville.

Coming up just after this time out, Cartersville leads by seven here at the intermission.

More after this on the great GPB.

Healthcare is a proud partner of Georgia Public Broadcasting and Football Fridays.

Cigna Healthcare mission is to improve the health and vitality of those we serve.

Visit Cigna.

Com to learn how you can support your physical and emotional well-being.

DBHDD is launching Red ribbon 365 a year round alcohol and drug prevention curriculum for Georgia schools and families from kindergarten through high school.

Students learn to make healthy, drug free choices with fun, age appropriate lessons and monthly activities.

The curriculum can be downloaded for free at Red ribbon 365.

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Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA Futures.

Welcome back to Wineman Stadium here at halftime.

Here on Football Fridays in Georgia.

Our first over the air broadcast of the season.

Thanks for hanging out with us.

Throughout the long delay.

Great to have a kickoff.

Great to have a game and great to be with you here in 2025.

All right.

Once again we are in a no dilly dally zone.

Let's check out with our friends with you.

Save it and check in with our youth Lavette Student Athlete of the week.

And for this story, it's a really cool story.

For this one we go to Rockmart.

Take a peek.

They were twins, but like they grew up almost like they were.

There was a boating accident and he was on the raft.

He fell off and she didn't.

Nothing day go by.

They don't think about her.

Think he went 13-0 You know, hit lead off.

Pitched a shutout in the semifinals.

Pitched a shutout in the state championship.

The final out is made and he's looking up in the sky.

Everybody just knows when they see that picture.

They know what he's doing and what he's playing for.

Thanks again to our friends at U-save It for letting the rest of the state know about what's going on up there at Rockmart with this week's Student Athlete of the week.

Thanks once again to our friends at You Save It.

Now it's time to take the tour of the state and find out where we've been visiting folks to deliver the cooperative spirit, Sportsmanship Award.

Let's just say this go around.

It's about a bunch of great Danes.

One, two, three.

Sawnee, EMC and 35 other participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives.

Congratulate Denmark High School on winning the GHSA Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

This award honors schools that exhibit exemplary sportsmanship during competitive events.

Only one school in each region in each classification is chosen to receive this annual award.

The GHSA takes into consideration all aspects of sportsmanship, making the award a tribute to the entire community.

Sawnee EMC is thrilled to recognize Denmark High School with the cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

The staff athlete, student and leadership truly embody this award through their commitment to respect, integrity and honesty.

Denmark's outstanding sportsmanship is evident both on and off the field, and we couldn't be prouder of their dedication to the principles of exemplary sportsmanship that they demonstrate each and every day.

Introduced in 2006, this award reinforces the GHSA philosophy that everyone associated with high school activities, from athletes to spectators, should adhere to the fundamental values it represents.

Our students have bought into what we talk about, that there's something to be said for being a gracious winner and a gracious loser, and that in both instances, you can treat everybody with respect, whether that's the opposing team, whether it's your own teammates, whether it's your coaches, and they've really bought into that and that we really are stronger if we're kind of all together.

It's being a good sport on and off the field and presenting a good attitude to the teams you face.

Being a good sport, when times are rough and you're facing adversity as a team, maybe when you don't want to have a great attitude, but it's pushing through with good character and being polite.

Georgia EMC in the 36 participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives are proud to sponsor the cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

Congratulations to the Denmark Danes community.

Once again, we take the tour, we start at Denmark.

Where else will we go?

You're going to have to watch Halftimes to find out as we deliver cooperative spirit sportsmanship awards all around the state.

Thanks to our friends at Georgia EMC.

When we come back, we'll find out what's going on here at Cartersville.

I think we might even have some musical accompaniment as we do our favorite segment.

At least Matt's where Matt and I get to yell about make that kid an offer.

We'll find out what else is going on here around the state.

More the halftime show coming up just around the corner from historic Wyman Stadium.

Purple Hurricanes lead by seven more coming up after this on the great GPB.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man.

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Wherever you go, there we are.

Just look at the numbers.

Georgia's 41 not for profit, member owned Dmc's deliver electricity to 5 million Georgians.

Our network of electric lines traverses 73% of Georgia's land area, with operations in 157 of 159 Georgia counties.

We meet our members right where they live, work and learn the numbers to be where you need us.

Georgia's EMC so much more than electricity.

Welcome back to historic Wyman Stadium.

Halftime winding down.

We're going to get the lay of the land here with Cartersville coming up in just a second.

But it is Matt's favorite time of the week.

Got a lot of talented juniors we'll talk about on the flip side, but time to catch up with some seniors as we let you know that you should make that kid an offer.

For 2025, we start make that kid an offer with Seth Warner, the long snapper from Roswell.

511, 226, the Coles, 4.5 star long snapper, four year varsity starter, starting offensive guard this season 311 of 312 in long snaps on a streak.

No miss snaps in three varsity seasons, multiple honors and accolades.

A 4.0 GPA, volunteers and mentors as well.

Make that kid an offer.

Braylon Hill five, eight, 168 pound running back from Cartersville last season at Cass, 111 75 yards and 13 scores on the WGA leading rushers list.

And in Cartersville season opener against Columbia, two rushing touchdowns earning him back of the week, make Braylon Hill an offer.

Colton Sanford from Adairsville two way player, 59, 175 a pick a score and a blocked field goal attempt against Allatoona to start the season.

Junior year 200 receiving yards averaging 14 yards a game three scores.

First team all region accolades throughout the year.

Last year 73 tackles, three sacks, three picks and a fumble recovery.

A 39 GPA ranked top 40 in his class, and we wrap with Jackson White six one, 285 pound senior defensive tackle from Heard County, played the game since he was five.

Multiple accolades as a junior in region.

Defensive Lineman of the year, player of the game, and against Clarkston to start the season five tackles and three TfL.

That is, make that kid an offer for this week.

All right.

Just so you know, we do have a talented list of juniors that are on the website as well.

Taylor Sanders, a QB and a safety out of Baker County.

You've got Aiden Ashlock, a tight end, defensive end out of Dalton, and you've also got Conley good life, a two way player out of St. Pius.

Make all of those kids offers.

You can find out more information on the website.

I'm going to do this.

It's only temporary.

I will pick it up when I'm done.

Time to catch up with first name miss second name tears.

The principal at Carter.

See, I have to.

And so you know Shelley's a veteran.

All these things.

And I want to ask, as everybody finds out about Cartersville once again, what's it like to have a full house for this rivalry again?

Well, it's fun.

It's always a great atmosphere here.

But, you know, give Calhoun credit, they always make a big crowd.

And we're both two intense schools that love to see our kids compete.

So it's just a fun, especially considering the late start.

It's still a great atmosphere tonight.

And when everybody wants to know what's going on at Cartersville, we are going to talk about the band, which is all of the folks that we have surrounding us.

They were performing earlier here at halftime, but what else is going on here that folks need to know about these days?

Just a lot of student leadership, you know, between Kane's Vision band, football, cheer, sports medicine, we have a lot of kids competing.

Tomorrow we wake up bright and early after a late night to the Raider team competing.

The county volleyball.

Tomorrow.

And then cross country at Carrollton.

So our kids are busy.

They're always active and doing something.

And speaking of being active and doing something, let me come over here.

And they all kind of like flip a coin to figure out who was going to be the one to talk.

So he won the toss.

He won.

He won everything.

He won like the battle of the eight.

So who am I talking to?

My name is.

Justin Davis.

I'm the drum major at Cartersville High School.

All right, so what year are you, Justin?

I am a sophomore.

All right.

Wow.

Sophomore drum major.

Okay, what's it like having that kind of responsibility as a sophomore?

When I first got the position, I was shocked because most of its upperclassmen.

But I have have kind of grown up with this position and also have the capability to slow you more grow and develop.

And I have done pretty good as only been doing this for like four or five months.

You've got Safari.

Safari was the performance that we saw here at the half.

How long have you guys been working on Safari to get it to where it was?

We've been working since July.

All the way to 9-8 every single day.

And then since school started, we've been working to 8-7 every single day, trying to get trying to get better and better.

And I've seen.

Multiple, us getting better every single time rehearsal.

And every time we perform this.

We have so much fun being on this field and performing in front of everyone.

And as for me, I am so excited that I'm happy to be the drum major of Cartersville High School.

11 hour days.

And as someone who was the top chair in clarinet when I was in elementary school in DeKalb County, I know all about the work that these guys are putting in here with the band at Cartersville.

It's great to see you again.

Thank you.

And what do we say?

Go.

What they said great halftime show.

Once again, thanks to our friends at Cartersville, we got to get out of the way because there's a football team that kind of wants to win a game.

In the second half.

We'll catch up with Clay Stephenson other side of the break.

That's the halftime show from Wineman.

Cartersville up seven.

When we come back, we'll get you ready for the second.

24.

Matt Wayne everybody here cast the thousands on the great GPB stick and stay.

More coming up.

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Welcome back.

It's halftime here at Wineman Stadium and Cartersville leading the defending three.

State champs.

Calhoun 21 14.

Matt Stewart along with Wayne Gandy fantastic first half.

Lots of fireworks, some big plays on defense, even bigger players on offense.

And time now for our Johnny's Pizza halftime interview and John Nelson standing by with Yellow Jackets head coach Clay Stephenson.

Thanks, Matt.

Let's catch up with Coach Stephenson.

You said there's a couple plays here and there, right?

Yeah it is.

It's a great football game.

I think we're going to get two days of great football.

So GPB.

Paying some bills I think.

But no, it's it's a great, great football team we're playing.

They hit a couple big plays we did too.

It's going to come down to the fourth quarter.

I think.

We hope you're not wrong for two days of football.

Thanks for hanging out.

Hey.

Thanks, guys.

All right.

Let's send it upstairs and find out about the first 20:04 as we get ready for the second.

24 back upstairs to you guys.

And the halftime interview brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza, your original neighborhood pizzeria.

And, Wayne, let's take a look back at those first half highlights.

Cartersville scored on their opening possession on the eight yard touchdown run by Chip Tripp Chatmon and then Trey Hawkins.

Trace Hawkins went to Sawyer Quinn.

Sawyer Quinn coming up with the big catch.

And now a big play down the field to our man Justin Beasley.

And then finishing off the drive right there after a long drive taking into the second for the touchdown.

There is Athens Davenport.

Yeah.

21 14.

Our score here at halftime.

As you take a look at the halftime stats and 93 yards rushing for the canes, 48 for the Yellowjackets, 107 passing for the Yellow Jackets.

And 134 passing for the canes.

So pretty even statistically ball game.

I thought the time management at the end of the second quarter was a key element in the fact that Cartersville got the lead right.

Now.

Given Cartersville that extra opportunity to get that offense back in motion and their ability to run the ball effectively, I think in that first half is what gave them the edge.

So Clay Stephenson alluding to the fact they're going to get two days of football because before this game ends, we're going to be past midnight and into Saturday morning as it is now 11 26 here in the fine city of Cartersville.

Been an exciting game, though after a long delay for these young men in high school.

16, 17, 15 some of them, yeah.

To come out and to perform still at a high level is a credit to them and their coaching staffs.

And we had a two hour and five minute delay because of lightning pushing the start of the game back from 730 5-9 40.

So the second half kickoff is brought to you by Heads up Georgia.

Park your phone while you're driving.

It saves lives.

And Rowell has it set to kick off.

Nobody's kicked it deep yet.

Everything's been an angle kick.

And that's the same thing right here as it's going to be fielded at the 20 1 yard line on a fair catch.

And that's where the Yellow Jackets will go on offense.

We'll see if they spot it exactly at the 21 or give him forward motion.

But either way, Yellow Jackets are backed up in their own end for their first possession of the third quarter.

Gotta come out.

Stay patient, keep trying to establish the run game with Nalls and Chadwick and all these backs.

They keep rotating in there.

But the one thing we do know Trace Hawkins is going to try to get the ball to Justin Beasley down the field with the big play at some point.

What a rise for Hawkins a year ago, a freshman quarterback, they were 1-3 to start the season a year ago, and here he is as a sophomore, having led them to a state championship and rated as high as the number six quarterback in the class of 2028.

Hand off on the first play.

Nalls gets up close to the 28 yard line and Hawkins, by the way, has seven offers, including the Florida Gators.

Just getting started.

Only a sophomore.

You expect that growth spurt at some point.

As far as Ike to kick in, put him in that six three area 64, but he shows a lot of poise and great decision making by him.

As the game goes on.

Hardy grew an inch and a half and gained 20 pounds from a year ago, so up to 61 and 175 now Ball goes to Nalls and Nalls going to be close to the first down.

I think he's got it as he gets past the sticks at the 32.

Nice job Nalls falling forward as a young back.

Got a first down.

First read off that left side zone blocking.

Nice kick out block there by Chadwick.

He's done a great job leading Nalls all night long.

And sophomores.

That combination of Trace Hawkins and Nalls together to build something in the future.

Here coach Stephenson.

This is the first time they've played here at Wyman Stadium since 2022, when Calhoun defeated Cartersville 50 48, in triple overtime.

Ball gets out of there just in time as Hawkins took a lick in the backfield.

It's going to be incomplete.

Second down and ten.

Big pressure there by Grayson Villar the defensive end just winning that battle over there with Kayden Langston the right tackle getting in the face there of Hawkins.

No time to set up big pressure there by Villar to force the quick throw.

Kayden Langston is there.

Junior right tackle at 6:32 22 Coach Stephenson feels like he's got a lot of potential, but one of three new starters on the offensive line for the Yellow Jackets this year.

Handoff goes to Chadwick.

Chadwick looking for running room.

Finds none.

Gets driven back.

Elijah Peeks Kylen Pope once again stepping up in their ceilings.

So high for that young man.

Only a sophomore can keep raving about his size, but his temperament is there as well.

Long arms, physical specimens.

Is Pope.

Already has 17 offers, including South Carolina, rated as high as the number 24 edge in the country for the class of 2028.

It's third down and long now for the Yellow Jackets.

Hawkins pressure flushed out of the pocket, throwing down and incomplete.

It's going to be fourth down.

Big pressure once again just winning up front.

Right there is Villar coming off the edge taking a big hit.

You can see Steele down there.

He's Trace Hawkins pointing, patting on that right side down on his rib cage.

He spit the mouthpiece out right away, took a shot on the right side of his middle body.

Grimacing right there.

And hopefully it's a situation where he just got the breath knocked out of.

Him right here, trying to square up and get the ball down the field.

Wow.

Just took a hit right there awkwardly as he in his throwing motion.

He's up on his feet though.

That's why we gained him 20 pounds and got in the weight room.

Got to be able to absorb some of those hits sometimes, but you can tell he's grimacing.

He's going.

To.

Make sure everything's in the right place.

Threw for over 1,900 yards, 23 touchdowns and just one interception as a freshman a year ago, leading them to the state title, working on working on him over there.

On that sideline.

So punting situation here for Calhoun as Jaden Perkins the wide receiver drops back to his punting position at the 20 yard line and Reed Ezell is standing deep for Cartersville back at the 35.

Ready.

W.i.n.

Kennemore Kendall Edwards Love u I n submontane Leslie Govea I n Kennemore Kendall Edwards.

Snap gets back there.

No problem.

Nice kick.

Ezell put up the fair catch sign and makes it at the 29 yard line.

Not going to risk it again.

We saw him earlier in a situation where he needed the fair catch.

Not taking it this time he's being emphatic about waving and getting the ball and you expect this Cartersville team to come and continue to do what they were doing in that first half, being able to run the ball five or six yards a clip, very effective running with this offensive line and the different backs that they use.

So Cartersville going back on offense.

First time here in the third quarter as they have the ball at the 29.

Nate Russell eight of 15 passing 134 and a touchdown to Marchese in that first half.

Ball goes to Marchese on the first play and he gets dropped after a five yard gain.

That was Caleb Adcock making the tackle.

His fourth tackle of the game.

Nice job just getting the ball out in space to your best receiver.

Down for.

The tackle there to be able to bring him down with a Adcock.

This offense has played with pace and got to play in and got to the line of scrimmage.

It's been hard for Calhoun to stop.

Hill on the run.

Trips over his own feet and falls forward to the 39 yard line.

Braylon Hill five carries for 23 yards in that first half.

He came in as their leading rusher through their first three games, 151 no big rushing totals because they play so many different running backs every game.

Right there, falling into the back of Cole Crawford as he makes it to the sideline.

Russell complete.

First down goes to Marchese, slips a tackle.

Nobody's going to catch Marchese touchdown.

Cartersville.

Just man on man.

Marchese versus Kenneth Hudson out on the edge.

Big fast.

As we talked about, UGA lets you know the kind of talent skill set this young man has.

Aggressive physical right there.

Just a guy once the foot race start really nobody's going to catch him just making a man miss and Hudson and then turning on the Jets for the touchdown.

Incredible speed for Marchese second touchdown catch of the game for him as he goes over 100 yards receiving in this game.

And you can see right there with his skill set why he's rated as high as the number nine wide receiver in the country in 2026.

P-a-t is good and it's a 28 14 lead for Cartersville.

Got the.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

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And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

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You've seen the fantastic play of Brady Marchese tonight on second touchdown catch right there.

Conor Foster comes by to give him a slap on the hand.

Four star rated as high as the number nine wide receiver in the country.

ESPN has him rated that high 46 offers chose Georgia.

Michigan was in hot pursuit, capping a three play, 71 yard drive.

Most of that was Marchese on that catch and run back.

62 of the 71 was Marchese, and that was your DBHDD scoring drive.

And the new red ribbon.

365 curriculum.

What a weapon they have out on the edge with his size and speed, we saw him blocking that key block was strong for a big play.

Just a complete package with Marchese.

So now Calhoun down two scores for the first time tonight.

Got some ground to make up.

Let's see how that impacts their game plan as we still have just under 9 minutes left in the third quarter.

You don't have to throw everything out right here, but you can't have any three and outs either.

Steele can stick to that same game plan.

We feel like when they falter, the Yellow Jackets, it's when they can't sustain drives, when they get themselves in third and long and all they have as an option is throwing the ball.

We do have a penalty down here on the field.

But we got to continue to try.

If we're Calhoun establish the run, go with the play action, pull those safeties up, allow Beasley to use that speed to get downfield.

But you got to start winning first and second down.

Ball on the play.

Dead ball, unsportsmanlike conduct on the return team 15 yards from the succeeding spot.

First down.

Unfortunately that's all you get.

It.

So the Markov coming on Calhoun right here.

Going to drop them back to the 20 1 yard line.

Actually worse than that it's going to be the 18.

Bad break here for the Yellow Jackets.

When you're trying to fight and claw you need the short field.

And where did this defense stuffing the run and forcing the pass?

It's just been hard for them to get consistent offense going.

Hawkins back in there at quarterback.

You would expect that.

But remember he got shaken up at the end of the last series.

But he's back in there.

Going to hand off to Nalls and Isaiah Nalls gets stopped.

Short game.

Calhoun continues to try to establish the running game.

Here.

See if they can get the ball back to Beasley, who had three catches for 71 yards, including a 46 yard touchdown in that first half.

And that's where other guys like Perkins and Kelly Johnson, someone else in the receiving corps is going to have to come alive here for Hawkins to try to balance the field.

Right now, you can see the coverage rolling over.

They're going to do all they can to take Beasley out of this offense.

Ball goes out on the edge, complete for a first down.

That's just individual talent right there by Beasley able to catch the ball and show his quickness to get upfield.

We have a late penalty here and possibly another sideline.

As you can see, Calhoun is.

Not a bodies in that white area.

Following the play.

Personal foul late hit out of bounds on the defense.

15 yard penalty from the end of the run.

First down.

Nice little break there for Calhoun as they get the tack on of 15 yards.

Going to push the ball up close to the 50 yard line.

Once again, as we talked about with Justin Beasley can't talk enough about his natural ability.

It will be a.

Four year starter young man who has gone through all the battles out on the edge there.

Great catch and getting up field wasn't really clear on the personal foul on the sideline.

First and ten ball at the 47 yard line.

Handoff goes to Chadwick.

He's trying to find a lane to cut in.

Gets knocked down pretty quickly by Warmack.

Grayson Warmack coming up from that safety position to help on the tackle.

Athens Davenport the freshman linebacker in there as well.

Good job.

Of that star position.

Cooper Melvin coming and taking that edge away, blowing up Nalls.

Forcing that run by Chadwick back into the defense.

Nice tackle there by Athens Davenport.

One of the great first names.

Athens.

Never heard that one.

Never heard that.

But a six foot, 208 freshman solidly built for a ninth grader, 14 total tackles and nine solo coming into the game in the first three Hawkins in trouble being chased, throwing on the run fires here on the near side and that's going to be incomplete.

Beasley was trying to come back and help him out on the near sideline.

It's going to be third down.

Good pressure by.

Big pressure and Hawkins showing you that smooth escape ability right here.

Third down.

A little burst of speed keeping his head up trying to deliver.

But you can see right there that right foot Beasley was out of bounds.

He tried to come in and make the catch, but almost an illegal touch right there.

If he catches that ball.

Right, 7 minutes to play in the third quarter and now it's going to be third down and nine and a flag out.

Right.

Illegal formation 12 and formation on the offense.

Five yard penalty still third down.

Wow.

Yellow Jackets real killer right there.

Going to make it third and 14.

And you kind of get the feeling.

That Calhoun needs to convert here and keep control of the ball.

Control of the ball game kind of slipping away from him right here.

Third down Hawkins dumps it off.

Nalls gets stopped at the line of scrimmage.

Great open field tackle right there.

Braylin Logan Brayden Logan the linebacker.

Nice job of breaking down by Logan when he gets out there squaring his shoulder, dropping his hips and making the tackle.

A lot of space around him.

Great technique by that young man making that play.

So fourth down and Calhoun does have to give the ball up here.

Perkins in punt formation.

Ezell back deep for the.

Perkins back at the 30 1 yard line to kick.

Line drive kick.

Ezell has watches it hit in front of him.

Then it just dives.

Died right there at the 34 yard line.

So that's where Cartersville will go back on offense looking for smart screen time.

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Coffey Cartersville.

This is the drive where you start pulling out the nails and grab the hammer.

You start closing that coffin right here.

You have the momentum.

You're starting to see the energy of Calhoun slip away, and now you got to assert yourself and start pushing them around the field and keep the pressure on.

So doing nothing offensively on that last series puts them in a situation defensively where they've got to get a stop.

They can't fall behind by three touchdowns.

Russell to the air and wow, Maddox Davis could not hold on to it.

Pass was a little bit behind him.

But had he been able to haul it in he would have been off to the races.

Behind Maddox Davis young sophomore.

As he grows, he'll come up with that catch right there, but he could sense there was a lot of open field in front of him, too.

He wanted to get his head around and start running and just forgot to take the ball with him.

Second down.

This combination of Maddox, Davis and Marchese how lethal it's going to be in 4-A.

Already has been, as they're trying to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Russell shovels the ball forward incomplete.

Trying to shovel the ball to Richards just.

Just too close really to the running back.

At that point he he's turning around the block for you.

You pitched the ball forward to him.

Yeah.

Pete.

PJ Richards, the senior running back, fifth running back they've used in this game.

This is kind of when this.

Offense has been stagnant.

Taking a.

Little time to get the play in.

Seems like.

The play this comes in guys.

Stop taking.

The energy is different right now is moving slow.

Process is becoming longer.

Russell fires and wow what a catch.

Tyon Coe I think he might have a cramp.

Great protection.

Nice job picking up the blitz right there.

The dog by the linebacker.

Watch this one hander right there.

And as you can see a little leg whip right here to bring him down by the defender.

Right there.

It looks like a penalty when you look at it.

Kind of loses where Coe is.

And just kind of slings his leg out to trip him down.

Spectacular one handed catch by Tyon Coe.

I think it's just a cramp, by the way, he responded to the play in the way he's up and walking now.

Looked like it could have been a whole lot worse, but just an absolute incredible catch by Tyon Coe right here.

I don't know how he caught him.

Right here.

Beautiful concentration.

This one hand.

How did he do.

That?

And I think that the knee right here just catches him in the calf as he goes down right there.

What great focus.

One hand.

Grab.

You just kind of cupped the ball and brought it into his body.

Held on to it through some pretty severe contact to phenomenal catch by Tyon Coe.

And it's going to be first and ten with the ball at the 38.

Russell fires and incomplete.

To preach.

Great protection by the O-line.

Plenty of time right here.

Running out of the slot here as Maddox Davis just not able to come up with catch right there for his quarterback.

Right in the numbers as he's running down the seam of the defense.

Second down and ten from the 38.

Ball goes to Marchese.

Breaks out of a tackle and you see the physicality of Marchese that Conor Foster has been talking about as he picks up the first down.

Right here.

Just showing you the strength that he possesses.

Once again, just a little screen out to the edge.

Nice blocking by his wide receiver buddies right here.

Just showing you why he goes to the weight room four or five days a week.

Ball goes to Hill.

Braylon Hill comes to the near side and gets stopped.

Yellow flag down on the field.

Nice.

Baig Blake Hammett Blake did not play in their opener against Creekview as he was nursing an injury there and preseason practice and missed the opener.

Came back, had eight tackles against Westminster last week, but the story I want to tell is, Clay Stephenson said.

In that opener.

Here's Hammock.

It's his senior year.

It's the first game of his senior year.

He's not able to play in it because of an injury.

Purple Hurricanes.

And his replacement made a play and hammocks over on the sideline, cheering like crazy.

And Clay Stephenson pointed that out to the team and said, this is what I'm talking about.

And their motto team.

Then you, then me.

Great example.

Of.

A teammate understanding that it's bigger than him.

The success they're looking for is bigger than one man, and sometimes guys have to step in and step in.

Sometimes for you.

But what a big Mike linebacker, big presence that hammock brings to the field.

It looks more like a nose tackle.

First down ball goes.

To Richards that time PJ Richards his first carry of the game.

Right there.

You just want to put your foot in the ground and get up field.

Keep the clock rolling even though it's still in the third.

You still want to use the clock.

Stay in bounds, start physically dominating Calhoun.

Second down.

Russell sprint out to the right looking throwing and it's complete right there in the middle of the field.

And Maddox Davis this time catches it.

Throws off a man and down to the one.

Look at him shake off that tackle.. And these are the kind of plays that's going to make this team dangerous in 4-A Maddox Davis and his emergence into this offense and these kind of plays right here out in the open space.

One tackle, two tackles, three tackles.

It takes sacred Quinn to come 40 yards down the field to bring him down.

The aggressiveness of finishing that run, trying to get into the end zone.

And we have a man down for Cartersville.

Looks like a cramp inside the five yard line.

I think that is Davis right there.

Looked like yeah.

Saw him coming off the field before.

A little, but I thought it was just he was had to get his shoe back on that.

He kind of slipped off a little bit, but maybe it was a cramp earlier.

Watch this.

Great catch.

And then even greater physical run by Maddox Davis.

This is what.

We talked about earlier where he kind of took his head, his eyes off the ball because this kind of ability, he wants the ball and get in the open field.

You can see him cramping.

Yeah.

A couple of guys here on the track, you see, all trying to get stretched out.

Anybody went outside today.

Realized Summer came back.

We thought that ball was here.

In fact just last night it was pretty cool.

And then we come back out today and it's in the 90s and I think that's contributed to our weather situation here this evening as well as we kind of got a thunder.

You know, a Sunday or a summer thunderstorm here this afternoon and caused the two hour delay.

Handoff goes to Hill scores the touchdown.

Braylon Hill gets into the end zone and it's 34 14 Cartersville as they've opened up a 20 point lead.

Good job.

Individual effort there by Hill couldn't really find a whole.

Shows a shift in his kind of got lost behind this big offensive line.

As you can see keeping the legs driving sees that gap and then just dives into the end zone for the touchdown.

So a couple of touchdowns here for Cartersville in this third quarter as they've turned a 21 14 halftime game into now a 35 14 third quarter game.

Impressive performance by the Purple Hurricanes here at Lineman Stadium tonight.

And now Calhoun with a lot of work to do with less than 5 minutes to play in the third.

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446 to play here in the third quarter.

Matt Stewart Wayne Gandy Jon Nelson and Cartersville ranked number two in 4-A has opened up a 35 14 lead on number one Calhoun of three.

A defending three, a state champions who have won 13 in a row dating back to last season, Cartersville going for their tenth consecutive home win and 22nd in the last 23 home games.

And get this, they have had only one home loss in the regular season here at Wyman Stadium since 2011.

2011, 14 years ago.

And that was to this Calhoun team in 2022.

The last time these two played here at White.

Just a phenomenal run by this Cartersville team that is virtually unbeatable here at Wineman Stadium.

And certainly in the regular season.

So Calhoun now down 20-1 points and going back on offense will start at their 36 yard line.

Great job there in that last drive by the hurricanes keeping the pressure on.

And now they're going to force an up tempo Calhoun team who hasn't shown that they can really get the ball.

But to Beasley, when you look at the rest of the receiving corps, haven't had a lot of catches outside of Beasley and the backs out of the backfield.

Now, how do they move the ball quickly down the field?

Yeah, Beasley four catches for 83 yards in that 46 yard touchdown catch in the first half has been held in check.

One catch I believe for.

10 yards here in the third quarter.

Hudson Chadwick taking the direct snap.

Up to the 40 1 yard line.

So Hawkins comes back in the game.

I was wondering if Hawkins perhaps had was still feeling the residuals of being shaken up a couple of minutes ago, but he's coming back in.

Now.

Second down five.

Nice job of just getting the ball and getting upfield out of the direct snap.

Play right there to Chadwick.

And now we have a stoppage of play once again.

Looked like another cramp here by Brayden Logan.

Yeah it's just.

It's been a long day for.

Has been yeah these young kids, you know, class and warming up three times and still out on the field.

Someone probably got up at 6:00 A.M., if not earlier, to get to school today.

And now here we are.

2 minutes from midnight.

Five.

So second down and five.

Let's see if Calhoun has any ability to kind of stretch the field right here.

You see Beasley going in motion.

He is easily been their big play threat tonight.

They're going deep for Beasley.

He can't come up with it at the 29.

He looks like he's a little shaken up a little bit.

Once again getting a step on the defense, being able to get behind him.

Just not able on that rollout where his shoulder and deliver the ball.

But supported his body trying to adjust to this ball.

As you can see this.

Is.

Hard.

Throw on the quarterback rolling left and right there.

Just short of his helmet, hit the turf as he tried to turn and catch the ball.

Well, you see Trace Hawkins on that play.

He's sprinting out to his left and trying to throw back across his body into the middle of the field.

And so the ball just ends up going in the same direction that his body was going.

Couldn't get his feet set with the pressure and the rollout.

And that young man right there, hope he has a cramp right there.

Not a concussion.

Trying to turn his body.

Sometimes that helmet hits the back onto the turf.

Third down and five low snap.

Hawkins goes down to get it fires out here.

Low throw to Beau Kelly.

It's going to be fourth down.

This is what we.

Talked about.

Putting the pressure going up.

Three touchdowns and forcing them to find another receiver who is the other guy.

We know the ability of Beasley but not really able to show that there's another component to the passing game outside of Beasley has Calhoun.

Well, in their first two games, Perkins had four catches total.

Jaxon Moore had two catches total.

McConnell and Tibbs each had a catch, so they hadn't generated a whole lot of offense in their wide receiver room.

Outside of Beasley.

In the first two games, Stephenson thought that more would be in line for a big game tonight, but that has not materialized for him.

It's fourth down.

Spiral kick going to be caught by Ezell at the 27 yard line.

That's where Cartersville goes back on offense with 3-44 to play here in the third quarter.

Let's check in with John Nelson.

Nelly, I thought you'd fallen asleep.

I hadn't heard from you.

Yeah.

That.

Not happening.

When you turn midnight.

I know Wilson Pickett's probably happy, but the rest of us are still working.

Give you some updates.

Second year leading Winder-barrow by 14.

That one's in the fourth quarter.

Buford Oliver Roswell by the score of 65 21.

That is the final.

North Gwinnett 12-0 over Mill Creek.

That one's at the break.

Providence Christian's head coach, Blake Murphy, gets his first win, knocking off Mount Pisgah.

13-0 That's just that's just a portion back up to.

You going deep on the Wilson Pickett.

Reference.. Handoff goes to Richards.

Richards.

Of course Wilson Pickett famous.

For the song going to wait till the midnight hour I don't know that that was the line I think midnight hours.

Just the name of the.

Song.

I wish I could say I'm familiar with the music, man.

Oh, come on, man, it's a classic.

Second down and six.

Right here.

Still taking a long time.

Get the play in.

Milking the clock.

Surprisingly, not in some kind of true run formation.

Sticking to the run, though, keeping it on the ground.

Richards gets it again and Richards pulls his way out across.

The.

36 yard line, going to bring up third down and short.

Ball play.

236 the first.

You get the feeling this is where Cartersville just wants to, you know, put their foot down on Calhoun's neck for a graphic illustration.

Just want to kind of squeeze the life out of this game now by just hammering the ball between the tackles.

This offensive line, being able to make that adjustment early on and shuffling a new center is still been very effective.

Lose a lot when you take out a guy like Langston Hall, but this line has held his own without him.

Yeah, that'll be a big thing for Cartersville going forward.

Is the status of Langston Hogg, and we certainly wish him the best.

Hopefully the injury that he suffered here tonight is not one that will keep him out of the lineup very long.

See him on the sideline here without his pass.

He has a leg brace.

I would go ahead on and send him to the locker room and we can start treatment right now.

He's that valuable.

No need to stand up on the sideline.

Guy that Conor Foster said, look, if he was 65 instead of six two, everybody in the country would be in here recruiting him.

He'd be a tackle instead of a center to kick is going to be caught by Huff at the 26.

He's going to go down at the 30.

That's where the Yellow Jackets go back on offense with just over two to play here in the third quarter.

Langston Hogg has been an extraordinary center for this Cartersville team.

A third year starter, his senior season committed to Tulane over eight other offers, including Vanderbilt wants to go into law.

So choosing Tulane for its academic prowess.

Not a bad school, not a bad town to live in either.

You used to live in that place.

Three years for the Saints.

It's hard to keep you waiting, right?

It's impossible.

Golly.

Well, you're in New Orleans.

That's Zion Williamson, man.

If you like to eat, go to New Orleans.

Exactly.

That was a terrible place for Zion Williamson to go, wasn't you can't blame him, though.

I mean, so many good places to eat, so many choices.

When I was there back in the summer, went to Crescent City Steakhouse.

So I love that place.

You've been there?

Yeah, I've been there too.

Oh, man.

Whole line.

I'm an old lineman at heart.

I know I could, I could live.

At Crescent City Steakhouse.

I used to have 40 pounds on me.

I used to carry around old school.

You could just envision the mobsters in.

There, right?

Yes.

You can.

Great, great.

Okay.

We won't talk about that.

So, second down, Hawkins play action scrambles out.

Going to run it.

Crossing the 40 up to the 45.

Picks up the first down with his legs.

This is a component going forward that Hawkins.

And this offense may have to rely on to keep the offense balanced.

Getting outside the pocket right here, still keeping his head up as you can see, but you can see the smooth, the smooth ability, the speed that he has.

With that added weight.

I feel like he can take on a tackle or two out in space.

As we talked about, only a sophomore.

So great things ahead of him.

Yeah, I think you're right.

I think he's just going to get bigger and better.

And I mean, you look at him right now looks like a senior.

He's just a sophomore a little jump pass complete to Hudson Chadwick.

And that'll be a first down for the Yellowjackets inside the 40.

Nice job showing you the athletic ability right there.

And Hudson Chadwick.

Is just a young man as well.

The versatility that he.

Brings to.

The game.

Running the ball right there looking like a tight end.

Catching great hands over on defense, playing linebacker.

Not bad size either.

At 62202.

He's just a junior.

This Calhoun team returns 13 starters from last year's state championship team.

First and ten Nalls going to take the direct snap in the Wildcat, and he's going to move forward for a couple of yards to the 35.

Might have been the final play of the third quarter.

Right there.

If you.

You have to first think about following Chadwick right there.

As soon as you got the ball, he started looking outside.

You're not looking at the blocking up front looking to see your main lead blocker.

Before you decide in your mind to try to get outside with your.

Speed on the wrong side.

And that will be the final play.

As the third quarter comes to a close.

Third quarter belongs to Cartersville as they score two touchdowns.

Brady Marchese putting on a show in his senior season before heading off to the University of Georgia.

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As we move to the fourth quarter here at Wyman Stadium, a little bit after midnight.

Now game got a two hour plus delay because of weather at the start of the evening.

Did not kick off until 940 Matt Stewart Wayne Gandy and Jon Nelson down on the sideline.

Famous national sports commentator says we're not tired.

September to six we have rolled into.

That's right.

It's good to see Justin Beasley back in the lineup here for Calhoun out on the edge.

Yellow Jackets have it at the 36 to begin this fourth period.

Hawkins dropping back and throwing deep and incomplete and looking for Jaxon Moore right there.

And there's a flag down on the field as well.

I get a holding here at the bottom of your screen.

Maddox Davis playing corner.

Now covering Justin Beasley right there.

If you're just not able to step into that role, was Hawkins Jaxon Moore had a step.

Plenty of field to lead him into.

Tried to throw it right at him and threw it past him.

On the defense.

That's a 15 yard penalty from the succeeding spot.

Will result in a first down.

So 15 yard penalty here against Cartersville.

That's going to give Calhoun the ball.

Let's see where they end up setting this thing down.

Have to hire get back coach here.

Had a lot of that.

Tonight a lot of that yeah.

Where's the get back coach.

That someone just I think Conor Foster just got a penalty to.

Conor Foster just said something that the officials didn't agree with.

Cooper plead his case to the white hat right there.

Looks like he's wasn't finished with his conversation as the play went to happening.

So I see John Nelson creeping in there.

He's trying to figure out what's happening.

But another penalty.

So that's 25 yards in penalties that Calhoun just got gifted.

And now they're going to have the ball at the ten first and goal to go.

Give let's go.

Let's see if the Yellowjackets can cash in here.

This could be significant if they can score pretty quickly.

Hand goes to Nalls Nalls trying to get to the pylon.

Nalls gets there.

Touchdown Calhoun ten yard touchdown run for Isaiah Nalls.

And it cuts it to 35 20.

Hill Nalls out on the edge bouncing, making it into a foot race.

Feeling that he has capable speed to get outside.

He shows you right there.

He's going to run for that pylon.

Just not able to bring him down.

Grayson Warmack trying to run with him step for step.

Could not catch him.

Nice job from Nalls.

So Sanchez on for the p.a.t and he puts it through.

35 21 Calhoun is back in the ball game.

They take advantage of some penalties on the Purple Hurricanes and then Isaiah Nalls wins the sprint to the pylon.

Still got a game here in the fourth quarter.

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Welcome back to Weinmann Stadium and the conversation continues with Conor Foster among the two officials that are there with him.

The man in the white hat, one of the linesmen.

So apparently, Matt, here's what went down.

So you get a sideline warning called on you right then.

Conor Foster, as he was looking for an explanation without a raised voice, apparently, I guess, stepped on the White, which constitutes another sideline violation which got him the penalty.

Yeah.

Wow.

And now you know the rest of the story.

And the conversation went on in our commercial break and kept going when we came back.

Yeah, it cost him 25 yards and gifted Calhoun a touchdown right there as Nalls took it in from 10 yards out.

So Calhoun is back in the game.

It's 35 21.

We'll see if they can make something happen here.

On defense.

Short kick is taken at the 47.

And there goes Maddox Davis.

He's already had one touchdown tonight that was called back.

This time he gets it across the 50 and down to the 40.

He's electric.

The aggression that he runs with is so impressive.

He runs more with a demeanor of a running back.

When you watch him right here he's trying to score.

He's not just trying to get a big play.

He's bouncing off tackles.

He's fighting for yards.

He's putting his hand down.

We've seen him several times.

He runs with such aggression for a receiver.

What a talent.

Young talent they have here in Cartersville.

Yeah.

Offered by Ole Miss, Toledo and Kent State.

And remember he's just three games into his tenth grade year.

So he's got a long way to go.

Richards on the run along that sideline and Richards carrying defenders down the field.

And now we're going to have a flag.

Is it looked like Cam Jackson number eight might have thrown a punch in there.

I think he's gotten thrown out of the game as well on that left side.

Just great blocking Mahaffey and Bailey.

They're just pushing the pile.

Just a clean corner for the back to run on and.

Following the play personal foul on the defense 15 yard penalty from the spot.

That player has been disqualified.

Calhoun.

So Cam Jackson number eight.

You'll see at the end of the play he gets thrown out of the game right here.

Took offense to getting knocked down.

There he is.

Number eight.

Throws a punch.

Throws a punch right there.

You can see clearly in front of no hesitation there by the side judge.

Just throwing him out of the game.

What's good.

So first and ten for Cartersville after the big kickoff return by Maddox Davis.

And then a personal foul on Cam Jackson, coupled with the ejection.

And now Carter goes right back down there looking to answer that score by Calhoun with a quick one themselves.

Hill run out of bounds.

Caleb Adcock the rover coming over there to cut him down on the short side.

And as I mentioned earlier, Matt, on some of these runs, you got to help yourself, help your team stay in bounds right there.

You're not going to pick up the first down, but what you can do is keep the clock running.

Don't help the other team out there by stopping the clock.

Second down.

Hill gets it again right up the middle.

Hill down to the seven yard line.

That time.

Hudson Chadwick who's had a busy night playing both sides of the ball, making the tackle.

Third down.

And this offensive line is starting to impose his will.

A lot of big bodies.

Impressive size up there.

Not the tallest of groups, but when you go across the board you're talking about about an average of 275 across the board.

Big offensive line starting to oppose his will.

Yeah, five starters back.

The only one though, FBS prospect being Langston.

Hogg pass is thrown and nearly intercepted.

Incomplete as it goes behind the intended target, which I think was Cole Crawford.

You had Marchese and Crawford in the same area code at the same time, and now it's going to be fourth down.

Let's see if they try a field goal.

Looks like that'll that's what they're going to do.

It looks like Marchese and Crawford were actually having the discussion of who was in the right.

Right there.

Two receivers in the same spot.

There's nowhere to throw the ball, threw it behind Marchese on the slant route.

And Cole Crawford is saying, look, you've already caught two touchdown passes.

Give me some.

You don't have to have it all.

Here's Rowell on the kick from the left hash.

They get the snap down.

They get the kick up and the kick is good.

No good, no good.

Pardon me.

So the score remains 35:21.

Interesting call right there on that third down throwing the ball right there.

I know Marchese and Russell are in a groove.

But right there you would imagine the way they've been able to run the ball, keep it on the ground, keep the clock moving.

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Ball is complete out here to the 40 yard line.

Hawkins taking the big hit there off the edge.

Cooper Melvin delivering it.

Still having enough arm strength.

The air, the ball down the field.

Finally falling Jaxon Moore right there.

Taking the punishment, getting the ball out there, paying the price to deliver that ball there to Moore.

Hawkins 13 of 27 for 153 and a couple of touchdowns here this evening.

Second down run by Nalls up to the 34.

You have a chance here Calhoun.

You're only down two scores.

Yeah that time that missed field goal.

Leaves the door open.

Keeps being favored a little pace.

They come down here and score.

Right now it's going to get very interesting in our final seven 8 minutes of the game.

Second down.

Just when it looked like, you know Carter's was ready to let the air out of the ball and take control of this game.

Calhoun right back in it.

Hawkins fires complete to Moore.

Jaxon Moore a couple of catches here early in the fourth quarter.

Kaiden Kent making the tackle, but that's going to be a first down for the Yellowjackets at the 50 yard line.

Nice stop right there by Ford.

We talked about who was going to be that second receiver in the receiving corps to start getting into this game right here.

Big body.

As you can see.

And Moore 62, 170.

Big target out on the edge there for Hawkins.

First and ten Calhoun ball at the 50.

Looked like there was movement on the line.

Appeared that Calhoun fired off too quickly.

Somebody's got to her.

That'll move it back.

58.

Snap there by Tripp.

Five-Yard penalty.

Still first down.

Offensive line ready to go.

Quarterback calling for the ball.

Ball was just a little late on the snap.

Right there.

On the 45 first Quinn 15.

So first and 15 ball at the 405-30-5201 Cartersville with a couple of touchdowns in that third quarter.

Looked like they had taken control of this game.

But Calhoun has taken advantage of some mistakes by Cartersville some big penalties.

And now a missed field goal.

And they got a chance to tighten the score here.

And really make things interesting down the stretch.

Play action pass goes complete and across the 50 to the 47 goes Isaiah Nalls.

Steele bringing the pressure J.J. Chatmon the defensive coordinator for Cartersville pressure in his face.

Make him get rid of the ball quick and good tackle.

There.

Nice speed there.

By Davenport the rundown Nalls.

Nalls comes off the field 17 carries, 62 yards for Nalls, three catches for 21.

Busy night for Isaiah Nalls.

Second down and six.

Still plenty of time left on the clock.

Over 8 minutes remaining in regulation here in the fourth quarter.

Hawkins fires complete to Beasley on an inside tunnel screen.

Beasley bounces off a tackle and has the first down at the 34 yard line.

Just a lucky break there for Cartersville that Beasley ran into his left tackle.

Here.

Trey Perkins here.

Little screen coming underneath, able to find the hole in the defense right there.

That's to his left tackle.

He is scoring a touchdown.

Is Beasley.

Trey Perkins just got in the way, so now it's going to be first and ten for Calhoun at the 34.

Yellow Jackets showing a lot of fight that you would anticipate from the three a state champs.

Hudson Chadwick gets dragged down.

No running room for Chadwick Cooper Melvin making the tackle for the Purple Hurricanes actually a TfL right there.

They took a loss on the play, going to bring up second and 11.

Jarwlee right here.

Had no problem holding on to the ball as.

He took it from the quarterback.

And that little bobble of the ball is what gave Melvin enough time to close in that space for that TfL.

Seventh tackle and a TfL for Cooper Melvin tonight.

He's tied for team high honors with those seven tackles.

Jack Klim Coffey.

Hawkins got a safety valve still looking downfield.

Going to go downfield and throw it incomplete.

Out of bounds.

And protection right there.

Just nowhere to go with the ball as he rolls to the left side of the field.

Good coverage on the back end by the hurricanes.

Justin Beasley was on the sideline.

So his main target wasn't in the game, just couldn't find anywhere to deliver the ball.

Threw it away.

So third down and 11.

Hawkins on the sprint out to the right.

Hawkins throwing and caught Jaxon Moore goes up top to get it at the 19 yard line.

Jaxon Moore coming alive on this drive.

We talked about another receiver having to step up.

Nice pickup block out there by Nalls a good job of turning it and finding his quarterback right there.

Jaxon Moore going up high.

We saw him knock the ball away early in the game to prevent a touchdown there.

Catching at the high point for his quarterback.

Three catches for Moore running a gadget play on the toss.

Back to Hawkins firing this way and caught inside the five yard line.

Calhoun knocking on the door as Nalls comes up with the catch on the flea flicker.

Koger flea flicker to the quarterback here, going back.

Nice job of keeping himself available right there.

Not sure the play was designed to get the ball back to Jay.

Excuse me.

Isaiah Nalls great find there by the quarterback.

First and goal to go as we go under 6 minutes to play.

And the Yellowjackets on the verge of cutting this down to a touchdown deficit handoff goes to Chadwick Chadwick slips inside guard and down close to the goal line.

Calhoun team still changing personnel.

Groups.

Pick up the pace just a tad as you try to get into this end zone, which is key to make sure you score, but you still want to make sure you leave your offense as much time as possible.

Second down and goal.

Late personnel coming off the field for Cartersville.

Handoff goes to Nalls.

Nalls gets stopped at the one and then the ball comes out.

They're going to rule.

The play was blown dead.

Right there.

Just got to drop your shoulder pass right here.

Kind of running into the end zone.

Tall as Nalls right there.

You want to get low.

Great job of Logan coming up and stuffing that run and Nalls as a running back.

You want to square those shoulders up and get low and get into the end zone.

Third down and goal.

Quarterback keeper and still no signal.

They had not ruled a touchdown just yet.

There it is.

Touchdown.

They had to get in there and sift through the bodies to see if Hawkins had broken the plane, which apparently he has done with 4-55 to go.

The Yellowjackets have cut it to 35 27.

Right here.

Just a quarterback sneak keeping the legs driving.

Really unclear where Hawkins is at that point.

With all the bodies around him.

That's why it took it so long for the officials to make the determination of the touchdown.

The p-a-t is up and good by Sanchez and Calhoun at one point down 35-14 had battled back to make it 35 28 with just 455 to go.

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Calhoun back in the game with under 5:00 to go.

Cartersville hanging on to a 35 28 lead as we head down the stretch at Wyman Stadium.

1 yard touchdown run by Trace Hawkins tightening the score, capping the 12 play, 80 yard drive scoring drive.

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365.

Curriculum Clay Stephenson teams back in it.

I mean, it looked like late in that third quarter.

This game was all but over.

Gifted a lot of yardage, on the sideline infractions.

Able to close it, but then two touchdowns.

And then we talked about a couple of times Cartersville and their backs running out of bounds, stopping the clock.

This Calhoun team has all the momentum right here in this 455 left in the game.

They will try an onside kick and the ball is loose across the 50.

Scramble for it.

And Calhoun's got it at the 40 1 yard line.

Unbelievable.

I was surprised that they onside kick there.

They had three time-outs remaining.

So the situation dictated that you didn't have to.

But maybe that's why they did because they didn't have to.

Coach Stephenson catching the return team by surprise.

Great kick by the kicker right there.

And even better coverage.

Very close of not covering ten yards.

The ball has to go 10 yards.

Right on it at the 50.

And they recovered the ball and able to come up here and get themselves a chance.

So the ball ends up at the 42.

First and ten for Calhoun.

What a finish here on GPB sports football Fridays in Georgia.

Nalls around the edge.

Gets down to the 35 yard line.

Always seems like it's the case when it's Calhoun versus Cartersville on GPB.

Last time we were here.

Triple overtime in 50 48.

Are we headed to another OT?

Second down.

Great job right there.

Nalls getting to the edge.

Getting upfield and then trying and testing those edges of this defense all night long.

With the run.

Handoff goes to Nalls.

He gets stopped.

Stonewalled right there at the 34 yard line.

And a flag comes out.

A lot of folks are walking into their homes and turning on their TVs.

After watching their home team play.

And they're this is not a replay.

We are live at 12:34 in the morning because we didn't kick off till 940 because of the lightning storm here in the area.

Two flags on the play.

Not sure if that means that one on each team.

Cartersville defense looks like they have the body position like it's on them.

They've been their own worst enemy.

Fouls on the play, which will offset personal foul on the defense.

Personal foul on the offense.

Both dead ball.

Fouls.

Third down.

So it's a wash. Replay the down.

Third down.

You can see the line to gain is the 32.

Got a good look at it right there with 4-14 left on the clock here in the fourth quarter.

How about this crowd at 12:30 in the morning?

Handoff.

No pass goes complete out here to Beasley.

Beasley inside the 30.

Has the first down.

Great job working out on the edge.

Get the ball to your best player.

Looks like someone.

Someone's hurt.

Still down.

Cartersville player bent over or.

No.

We got another one.

I think.

Yeah, we have another player I can't see.

It's a Calhoun player with a cramp.

Is that Beasley?

I think that's Beasley is still down.

He's number three.

Yeah.

That's Beasley.

Yep.

That's Beasley got a cramp trying to stretch it out.

What a night for Beasley.

Six catches for 102 yards and a 46 yard touchdown reception.

He has been their top offensive weapon.

And their quarterback, Moore star Trace Hawkins 19 of 34.

Now for 200 19-2 touchdowns.

Also had a rushing touchdown.

So he's accounted for three of their four touchdowns tonight.

Matt Stewart Wayne Gandy Jon Nelson.

Thanks for staying up late with us.

Headed towards a fantastic finish here on GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia.

Or as we like to say, football Saturday mornings.

In Georgia.

Where's the energy going to come from this defense right now?

Calhoun playing with all the in energy pushing the pile.

Hudson Chadwick on the cutback.

Has the first down and more inside the ten.

Touchdown Calhoun.

Unbelievable.

They've come from three touchdowns down here in the second half to tie the game 35 35.

Great vision here by Chadwick.

Find that cutback lane back to the left.

And then I really feel like he caught everybody on defense with his speed right there.

When he broke the line of scrimmage.

No one expects him I think to run that fast.

But the versatility of this young man, as we have talked about.

And going both ways.

Both ways, running back, fullback, tight end, sometimes back on this play here I'll start by Calhoun.

So this is a critical p.a.t obviously since it's 35 34 and the penalties going against Calhoun.

So that's going to back him up 5 yards.

Calhoun back him up.

And kicking has been a little iffy here for the Yellow Jackets in the first couple of games.

They graduated Carlos Lopez.

He was on the all finals team last year.

He's now kicking for Clark Atlanta had a great kicker and Abraham Sanchez and Owen Vicente have kind of battled for the job here.

The first three weeks of the season.

Now Sanchez on another 85 yards deeper kick is up and the kick is good.

We're tied at 30:05.

Unbelievable.

Third quarter.

Looked like this game was over.

Calhoun said.

No way.

3:48 to go.

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Wow.

We are tied at 30:05 with 3-48 to go.

It was 35 14 in the third quarter and looked like Cartersville had all but put this game away.

And Calhoun has come to life with three consecutive touchdowns to tie the score.

Hudson Chadwick taking it in for the game, tying score.

At the 348 mark and now Carrollton is going to get I'm sorry.

Cartersville is going to get the ball back.

And all three teams have all two teams have their three time-outs remaining.

It is 12 40 in the morning.

Past my bedtime.

And where does this Cartersville team go?

Where's the energy?

The leadership of this team.

They have a lot of seniors.

They got to find their mojo again to get back in this game.

Davis goes back to return the kick.

Actually, that's Davenport Athens Davenport on the return, the freshman Athens Davenport still on his feet all the way back to the 47 yard line.

What a return by the freshman.

He got another penalty here on a big play here by Athens Davenport Southmoore showing a lot of spirit.

We talk about the energy freshman excuse me who is going to bring the energy right there trying to will his team to a win.

But will this penalty nullify the play.

And another player with a cramp for Cartersville down on the field at the 41 yard line.

Following the play?

Personal foul.

Dead ball on the return team 15 yards from the end of the run.

First down.

Cartersville has absolutely shot themselves in the foot with penalties tonight.

Another huge penalty taking away needed yardage here in this situation.

335.

You need everything to try to win this game.

That'll be the ninth penalty called on Cartersville and Calhoun has eight.

It just seems like the Cartersville penalties have been more costly, doesn't it?

Definitely on big plays we took two touchdowns off the board right here.

A big kickoff return to start getting your team some momentum.

That's Cooper Melvin the safety who's trying to get off the field after that cramp.

So nine penalties now 95 yards.

But you're right the numbers don't even begin to tell the story.

How crippling those penalties have been because they've taken points off the board.

Taken away or given great field position.

As we talked about penalties for sideline infractions, giving him 25 30 yards.

3:35 to go, headed towards a fantastic finish here tonight.

Handoff goes to Hill.

Braylon Hill coming around the edge and goes out of bounds after about a two or three yard gain.

Maybe a little bit more than that.

Up to the 34 three yard gain to the 34 goes out of bounds.

And that stops the clock at 3:28.

Good job of the defense right there.

Stringing that play out.

Just no gap to be able to find the she had to run out of bounds for a two yard gain.

Now they've respotted the ball at the 33.

Clock is not running because he went out of bounds.

Nate Russell bring this team to a last second victory.

Russell dumps it off complete to Hill and Hill short gain on the play.

Hammack the linebacker making the tackle for the Yellow Jackets going to be third down.

Good job right there.

As you mentioned, looking like a nose tackle right there showing you the speed of a linebacker.

Just sniffing that play out.

Baig a lot of green in front of Hill right there.

And Hammett being able to get in his legs and get him down.

Under 3 minutes to go.

Third down.

Handoff goes to Hill again and Hill crashes out to the 40 yard line.

Hammack makes the tackle there, spotting him short.

It's going to be fourth down.

They're spotting him at the 40.

They needed to get to the 41.

They're going to go for it here Wayne.

Looks like Coach Foster least going to show he's going to go for it here on fourth down.

Sitting in the heavy guys Elijah Peeks going in the game right there.

Davis Waddell in the game as well as the backup tight end.

Cole Crawford is going to take the direct snap.

Takes it and gets the first down.

I think he.

Does.

From my position.

I thought he had it.

The spot is right there on the 41.

That should be a first down and it is.

Right at the marker.

Just enough.

Turning the body right there.

By Cole Crawford to get that first down.

So the big four star linebacker.

Runs the ball on the Wildcat.

Picks up the first down first and ten at the 41.

Russell back in there at quarterback looking downfield throwing downfield.

And it is caught at the 35 yard line.

They're going to rule incomplete or a catch.

They're going to rule the catch at the 37.

Marchese comes up with another huge catch for Cartersville.

Beautiful throw there by Nate Russell right there working the pocket, finding the gap in the pass rush, delivering the ball down the field.

And that should put Marchese over 200 yards receiving in this game actually is not quite there.

Eight catches for 182 and a couple of touchdowns for Marchese here tonight.

And a time-out is called by Calhoun with 1-44 on the clock and the ball sitting at the 37.

Now the range for Rowell coach foster said he was comfortable at 40.

Could stretch to 45.

So 40 means you got to get to the 23.

45 means you got to get to the 28.

So you're roughly 15 yards away from comfortable field goal kicking range, at least in the mind of Conor Foster for Ramsey Rowell, the kicker.

I'm betting Coach Foster doesn't have field goal attempt in his brain, and he's going to try to get in the end zone with this offense.

Never want to come down to a kicking game, but you can see right there Raul.

He's trying to find that center that focus in case his number is called to try to win this game for his team.

Right now it's about Nate Russell and his ability to deliver it.

This win for his team.

First and ten.

Handoff goes to Chatmon.

Chatmon scoots to the outside and Hammett slings him out of bounds.

They're going to keep the clock running since the tackle the contact the forward progress came in.

Bounds.

So clock keeps going.

126.

Ball sitting at the 35.

Probably about 10:11 12 yards away from that comfort zone on the field goal.

Screen goes to Marchese.

Marchese breaks out of a tackle and Marchese down to the 25 yard line.

Got a penalty coming in late.

Marchese helmet is off so right here.

Just a quick screen once again out to their best player.

Getting up in that lane.

Not sure Hall is right there taking the big hit is Marchese.

He is so explosive with the ball in his hands.

Personal foul, illegal helmet.

Contact on the defense.

15 yard penalty from the end of the run.

Results.

First down.

So they're in field goal range now.

Elijah Bryant Calhoun.

Couldn't really tell whether it was helmet to helmet.

But at this point, Marchese is a runner.

Let's see where we can find.

It didn't look like but it looked maybe the the arm.

Maybe the forearm.

Yeah.

Nalls looks like his forearm.

Maybe knocked off Marchese helmet.

Either way, it's a huge penalty.

And now Cartersville is very much in field goal range with 1-12 to go.

Also in touchdown range as well.

Ball sitting at the 12 Chatmon gets it.

Chatmon down to the ten.

But on the carry down to Japan.

Garza and Adcock in on that tackle clock.

Now at 55 and still ticking.

Second down.

Purple Hurricanes have all three time-outs remaining.

That's Waddell in motion behind the line.

Handoff goes to Chatmon, runs behind Waddell and Chatmon.

Hammett comes in there and lowers the boom.

And now it's going to be third down and the clock is down to 31 seconds.

And the clock is still running.

Now under to 26 seconds.

And finally a time-out is going to be called right here by Cartersville leaving them with two.

Interesting that Coach Foster would let about 10 seconds run off before he called a time-out.

Time management right here.

You have to imagine they're going to run the ball in this situation.

Third and seven.

Well they have two time-outs.

I mean if you're setting up for the field goal then you're going to run the ball to the middle of the field and then call a. Time-out a time-out.

Get down.

You know, or maybe you run a running play with the idea that maybe we break a tackle and get into the end zone, score a touchdown game over.

Basically.

Or we're going to run the ball in the middle of the field.

And if we get tackled, we'll call time-out and kick a field goal from right in the middle of the field.

I mean, you're approaching the you're approaching extra point range right here.

The ball sitting at the nine and a half.

So you're looking at a 26 27 yard field goal right now for Rowell.

Cartersville number one thing is ball security on this play.

In the second thing is no penalties right here.

You got to live and die with a 1 yard gain.

And just making sure you keep this ball and don't have a penalty that takes you out of this close range.

26 seconds left in regulation, tied at 30:05.

Russell sprinting, throwing.

And it is incomplete.

Wow, that was a dangerous play.

Russell tried to squeeze it into a very tight spot there in the upper corner of the end zone.

And now it's going to be fourth down.

Nice coverage out here on the edge.

Very close to an interception right there on that play.

Actually bounced.

In and out of the hands of Maddox Davis.

The ball got through past the defender and into the hands of hands of Maddox Davis.

And now here's the field goal attempt.

It will come from the left hash and it will be a 26 yard attempt.

And Calhoun I think, is going to use the free time-out.

So they're going to try to freeze the kicker right here.

Not a bad time-out called by Calhoun with 20s left.

Make him think about it.

You can see Rowell.

He's still out there.

He didn't go to the sideline.

He's going to stay on his mark.

Focus in on making this field goal and getting this win.

So here we go 26 yard field goal attempt for Rowell.

Crawford is the snapper.

Goes back.

Kick on its way and the kick is going to be good.

Ramsey Rowell 26 yard field goal with 20s left on the clock gives Cartersville a 38 35 lead.

Great execution, beautiful kick.

High off the foot.

There.

Wow.

You can see no chance to block it and getting it right inside.

Just inside the left upright.

That left upright.

Hey.

You saw Conor Foster.

What?

He was signaling right there is for his kids to get back.

They don't run on the field.

Don't run on the field.

Game's not over.

Ramsey Rowell comes through in the pinch and hits the big field goal.

And now, just 16 seconds left in this game.

Time for a kickoff.

And maybe one play from scrimmage for Calhoun.

Remind everybody to stay off the field at the end of the game, please.

Right here.

Cartersville off the field.

If you imagine it's going to be a squib kick, put the ball on the ground.

Make them have to take time to feel it.

No angle kick, no pooch kick right here.

You really just want to swivel this ball down.

One of the front men up, man, take the ball.

So Isaiah Nalls standing deep for Calhoun.

I don't know whether he's going to see the ball or not.

We'll see.

They have not kicked the ball deep all night.

They've tried these angle kicks.

Let's see if that's what they're going to do again right here.

Of course an angle kick is a pop up kick.

Fair catch it and lose.

No time off the clock.

And they are going to angle this kick.

Let's see.

They're going to try to return it.

So here comes the return up to the 40 1 yard line.

We have 10 seconds left on the clock.

Dangerous.

Right there.

Putting that ball in the air, giving the return man a chance.

Better ball is to put it on the ground and make them have to bend down and rally the ball right.

Maybe get a wild ricochet, bounce off a player.

You never know.

You're right.

So, 10 seconds.

Time for at least one more.

Maybe two more plays, depending upon what transpires on this snap.

Right here.

What a great game to open our 2025 GPB sports Football Fridays in Georgia, but Cartersville and Calhoun never disappoints.

Defense only.

Three men rushing Hawkinsville.

They run the pass out here to Beau Kelly.

Kelly is going to step out of bounds at the 43.

5 seconds left on the clock.

Not a bad play right there.

They spotted at the 44.

What that does is now that gives them a shot to get the ball to the end zone or close to it on the pass.

Trying to get ten 15 yards.

Get out of bounds.

Give your quarterback a distance that he can throw and not just him.

The receivers.

They need time to be able to distance that they can get to the end zone.

And it looks like Cartersville.

Calhoun's going to call the.

Time-out.

Time-out.

Their last time out right here.

So we're looking Wayne at some kind of pass I would guess to the end zone.

Trips receiver with the ball ricocheting up in the air.

Or do you try something different than that.

Because that's what everybody's expecting.

No I think you have to get this ball, get enough protection for Jaxon Moore with that tall body to be in this play, whether it's the Tippett or the catch, it.

Tippett to Beasley, right?

Yeah.

With that 62, 63 frame.

He's the guy.

That's going to have enough speed to get there.

Tip it up.

Maybe somebody will fall underneath it.

Let's see what they put back there.

Defensively you can see Maddox Davis going back to play the deep center field there.

His job is to knock that ball down.

He's going back there Warmack going back there.

Their job also is not to let anyone get behind.

Him.

No matter how far you have to go all the way to the band.

Nobody gets behind you and knock the ball down.

Do not try to intercept this ball.

Here we go.

Final 5 seconds.

Hawkins sprinting out, rolling to his right.

Still rolling under pressure now.

Coming back the other way and looking downfield.

Going to heave it as far as he can.

Ball is up for grabs and it's incomplete.

Cartersville has defeated Calhoun 38 35 and a fantastic game here at Weideman Stadium, ending the Yellow Jackets 13 game winning streak.

He started off dramatically and we ended dramatically.

What a great battle between two teams with a long history.

And each time we thought one of the teams was on the ropes, they were able to fight themselves off of it and throw punches back.

What an exciting game.

Once again, it took us a little while to get around to it.

Great job of purple jerseys, not letting any offensive player get behind them and knock the ball down right there at the end.

Well that was super fun right there to start our 2025 broadcast schedule.

38 35 the final Cartersville winning it on the final play of the game, sealing the victory, not pulling ahead for good until there was 16 seconds left on the clock when Ramsey Rowell kicked a 26 yard field goal for the winning margin.

And how about Calhoun defending three a state champs got to give them a lot of credit in that third quarter.

Cartersville scored two touchdowns and took a 35 14 lead.

It looked like they had put the game away.

Calhoun battled back and scored three consecutive touchdowns to tie.

It, and Coach Stephenson when we when John interviewed him at halftime, one of the game out half, he spoke with that kind of confidence like, hey, we're still in it.

We just need to catch a break here or there and finish this game.

Get it into the fourth quarter.

He understands the pedigree and the mindset that his team has, that they're going to continue to fight.

Yeah, you know Cartersville perhaps made some mistakes there.

Once they got that big lead when they perhaps could have put the game away but didn't.

But ultimately they come away with the victory, which is the most important thing.

And they improved to 4-0 on the season.

Time now for the Johnny's Pizza coaches interview.

Nellie.

Thanks for two great days worth of football, coach.

I know that a game like this, you learned a lot, and there's probably a lot to learn too.

Sure, both teams just credit to both teams.

You know, they're a championship program fighting back like that.

An incredible effort.

And then great, great grit by our kids.

That was our word of the week for our kids to have to respond in that situation was huge.

Really proud with their backs against the wall.

So you keep moving from here and you want these kinds of tests early on.

So you know where you stand going into region and also getting ready for season three.

So obviously there is a lot to take away from this.

Yeah, absolutely.

You know, the first thing is just continue to get in better shape.

You got to play games like that to to get in better shape game shape.

So that'll push us you know.

And then you know there'll be lots of things to coach up.

Appreciate your time.

Thanks as always for being a great host.

Yes, sir.

Thank you guys.

Go canes.

All right.

We've.

That is the slice of life for this one.

We can do the hot tag and bring in our Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game, Georgia Cotton Commission.

The natural choice for Georgia and our natural choice for player of the game.

Guy who almost got two spins worth on the on the day.

A couple of scores as well.

What was it like out there, Brady?

It was a. Dogfight for sure.

I mean, we came to this game and no one, no one thought it was going to be just a cakewalk.

I mean, we all thought it was.

They were going to come at us high, and they were going to have something to prove to us.

But we we had a bunch of people battled through injuries and we fought through it and got the dub.

When you when you have a game like this where it's a two hour, you're amped up and then you're back down and then you're amped up, and then you go back inside.

How difficult is that ride to navigate?

It was my first time ever having a delay like that.

We had a delay during the game.

It was at halftime, but sitting back after that, after you already come out and warm up a little bit, it's definitely a little frustrating, but you just got to come out and come out and ball out.

I mean, it was obviously you're going to have some some downs in the game, but.

What's it like being in a rhythm with a quarterback like you have out here?

Oh it's it ain't nothing like it.

I've been playing I've been playing ball with Nate my whole life, so we've always had a nice little connection for sure.

Fourth quarter, making the drive, getting ready for the field goal.

First shot.

I saw you and you couldn't look.

You were turned toward the fence and you were face down.

It's like, I don't want to see anything like this.

You got the reprieve with the time-out.

You did get the look, but it was a great kick by Ramsey.

Yes, sir.

For sure.

I was stressing out a little bit after after that game was going on.

It was, it was stressing me out.

I knew Ramsey had it in him, but I couldn't watch it for a little bit.

I was freaking out for sure.

Great effort tonight.

Great game.

Thanks for hanging out with us here on GPB.

You get to keep the hat in the towel.

Our player of the game Georgia Cotton Commission.

The natural choice for Georgia.

Our natural choice for player of the game.

He is number one for a reason.

He had more scores than he's got Jersey number.

Brady, thanks for dropping by.

Go celebrate with your team.

You got it.

All right.

That is the story from down here Matt.

I forgot my pillow and my air mattress.

So that means I guess we're going home from down here on the field.

Sounds good.

Good job there, Denali.

To get our season started.

What a performance by Brady Marchese.

Join us next Friday Night Football Fridays in Georgia visits the Beard.

The new stadium there in Beaufort.

Phillips.

Beard Stadium as the Buford Wolves will play host to the Douglas County Tigers.

And that is next Friday night at 7:30, right here on GPB.

And our stream game will be a fantastic matchup between the Sprayberry, Yellowjackets and the Sequoyah Chiefs.

Both of those teams off to great starts this season after having fantastic seasons last year.

That's our stream game next week.

Sprayberry and Sequoyah once again, the final here in a dramatic finish Cartersville the 4-A team ranked number two keeps their winnings going.

They're now 4-0 In the season they beat Calhoun and in the Yellow Jackets 13 game winning streak 38 35.

Don't be surprised to see these two teams again playing late into the 2025 season.

Now for our partner, Wayne Gandy Jon Nelson and our entire fabulous GPB team.

I'm Matt Stewart.

So long and good night and good morning from Weidman Stadium in Cartersville.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man.

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

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This is just so driven to accomplish the goals.

I started kind of in between seventh and eighth grade, never playing before.

She really did get a late start, but she she worked her tail off to catch up.

That's what she did.

If we don't have a good setter, then the hitters can't do what they need to do with the ball, so that takes repetition and learning and thinking and knowing what to do instinctively.

And she's she's got that.

And to me, that's what makes her exceptional at what she does.

It's a really hard position to play.

It takes a lot of focus, a lot of really quick decisions.

You can be the most athletic person in the room, but you have to be able to make those split second decisions and make smart choices to benefit your team.