FRIDAY NIGHT PLAYOFFS RECAP — No. 5 Kell punishes No. 2 Cartersville for myriad mistakes, seizes control early en route to stunning 48-21 quarterfinals victory

The fifth-ranked Longhorns stunned visiting Cartersville in the Class 4A state quarterfinals Friday night, building a 34-7 first-half lead by capitalizing on every miscue made by the No. 2 Purple Hurricanes and closing out the 48-21 win to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2016.

The three touchdowns — two coming from senior Brady Marchese — were by far a season low for Cartersville, which averaged almost 48 points a game heading into the week and outscored its first two postseason opponents by a combined margin of 117-0.

Marchese answered an early touchdown pass from Kell quarterback Kaleb Narcisse to Brayden Rouse with a 52-yard rushing score, but the Longhorns opened up a 34-0 scoring run that lasted into the second half, thanks to a couple of mishandled Cartersville kicks and key defensive plays, including an interception by Rouse that set up a Fernando Tavares field goal before the break. Moonie Gipson contributed two of his three total touchdowns during that stretch as well.

“They came out on fire and dominated, start to finish,” praised Coach Bobby May after the win. “I just want to give credit to everybody else,” shared Rouse, the winner of the Robbie Hunter MVP Award. “I cannot do this without my team, and all my teammates? They played their butts off tonight.”

The win sets up a semifinals showdown with top-ranked Creekside, and an opportunity for the Longhorns to avenge last year’s second-round loss at the hands of the Seminoles.

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See the other recaps below.

Class 6A

Carrollton 34, Grayson 14

The Carrollton Trojans knocked off the top-ranked team in the nation with 34 straight points after trailing Grayson 14-0 early in Friday’s matchup. Cameron Wood scored from more than 70 yards out to put Carrollton on the board and closed the night with 173 yards on 23 carries and a trio of touchdowns. The Trojans will face North Gwinnett in the state semifinals.

Buford 30, Douglas County 15

Buford led 9-0 at halftime after three-consecutive field goals from Andrew Ianciuc. Douglas County got on the board on a 20-yard run from Kennedy Green with eight minutes left in the third quarter. The Wolves expanded the margin on a shorth run from Toree Costin early in the fourth quarter to lead 16-7. A 75-yard run from Dylan McCoy put Buford ahead 23-7 and a seven-yard run from Brian Stokes capped scoring for the Wolves. Cameron Anderson passed to Adam Carter to cap scoring for Douglas County with a minute left in the game.

North Gwinnett 25, West Forsyth 15

North Gwinnett is back in the semifinals for the first time since 2019 after a hard-fought victory over host West Forsyth. The Wolverines tied up the game early in the fourth quarter with an 11-yard touchdown and two-point conversion, but the No. 8 Bulldogs added a fourth-quarter touchdown and field goal to take a 10-point lead before Ethan Robinson picked off a deflected West Forsyth pass to seal the 25-15 final.

Valdosta 45, Walton 42

Underdog Walton nearly played spoiler again, coming back from down 45-28 and blocking and returning a Valdosta punt for a touchdown with 0:12 left in regulation to get within a field goal, but the Wildcats held on to seal the win. Tyrieke Wade threw two touchdown passes to Jamarian Mingo and another to Marquis Fennell, who also scored twice on the ground. Additionally, Cam Brown contributed a pick-six that gave Valdosta a 38-21 lead late in the third.

Class 5A

Thomas County Central 49, Woodward Academy 19

No. 2 Thomas County Central trailed visiting Woodward Academy 19-7 in the second quarter before closing out the night with 42 unanswered points. Quarterback Jaylen Johnson scored twice on the ground and connected with Rodney Dunbar for a third touchdown, and the Yellow Jackets got a pair of scores from Christian Lawrence that included a 99-yard kickoff return. Additionally, Jordan McNeil found the end zone twice for Thomas County Central, which will face Roswell next week.

Rome 31, Jackson County 17

Jackson County’s historic season ended Friday with an 11-2 record after the Panthers fell to No. 7 Rome. The Wolves and Panthers traded leads throughout the back-and-forth affair, which was knotted 17-17 through the entire third quarter until Tyler Rogers found the end zone from four yards out on 4th-and-1 for Rome. Rogers then scored again with 0:13 to go to seal the Wolves’ victory.

Class 4A

Marist 23, North Oconee 20

The sixth-ranked War Eagles are advancing to the semifinals for the third year in a row after snapping North Oconee’s 27-game winning streak with a 34-yard field goal from Tyler Baradel as time expired. Parks Kaiser’s touchdown run gave Marist a two-score lead in the second frame before the Titans finally got on the board with a 73-yard touchdown from Harrison Faulkner to Dallas Dickerson. A Faulkner pass to Kelvin Millington and a blocked PAT knotted the game at 13-13 in the third, and the teams traded scores for a 20-20 tie early in the fourth before Baradel reclaimed the lead for Marist for good.

Creekside 35, Lithonia 7

The top-ranked Seminoles are back in the state semifinals for the fourth time in five years following a 35-7 rout of visiting Lithonia in the third round of the playoffs. Creekside, which is averaging over 60 points a game on offense this season, got a pair of quick rushing scores from Gary Walker and Anthony Hill in the first, then added a pick-six on defense and another touchdown run for a 28-0 edge at the break. Cayden Benson extended the lead with a trip to the end zone to kick off the second half, and the Seminoles coasted through a quiet final frame to seal the win.

Benedictine 80, Central-Carrollton 32

The Cadets’ run of success under head coach Danny Britt continues as No. 4 Benedictine advances to the state semifinals for the fifth time in six years after an emphatic quarterfinals victory over Central-Carrollton. After dropping their first two contests of the season, the Cadets have now won 10 straight games and will take on sixth-ranked Marist next week.

Class 3A

West Laurens 21, Jenkins 16

After weathering a 7-7 tie at halftime, West Laurens held Jenkins to nine points in the second half while scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter to advance to the semifinals. Ty Cummings put the Raiders ahead 7-0 on a 36-yard touchdown run. Jenkins tied the game on a run with a minute left in the quarter. Cummings scored on an 80-yard run early in the third quarter to push the lead to 14-7. Jenkins kicked a field goal minutes later to cut into the lead 14-10. Cason Pollack passed 35 yards to Juvon Hill to give the Raiders a 21-10 lead. Jenkins scor3ed on a pass with a minute left in the game, but time ran out. West Laurens will travel to Jefferson for the semifinals.

Jefferson 47, Cairo 28

Jefferson trailed 21-0 after the first quarter and climbed back to nursing a 23-21 lead at the half before taking control in the second half to advance to the semifinals. Cairo built its lead on a 60-yard run from Bryian Duncan Jr, a 69-yard pass from Bryce Puckett to Duncan and a 66-yard run from Duncan. Jefferson came back on a 2-yard run from Darren Pinkard, a nine-yard run from Zekiah Elder, a safety and an eight-yard run from Boone Horn. Colton Grant passed 18 yards to Dalton Dye to put Jefferson ahead 30-21 with nine minutes left in the third quarter. Puckett passed 79 yards to Duncan Jr to cut into the lead 30-28, but Jefferson responded on a 2-yard run from Pinkard to expand the margin. A 28-yard field goal with 10 minutes left expanded the lead to 40-28. Grant’s pass to Dye, a 39-yarder, put the game out of reach with seven minutes left.

LaGrange 24, Stephenson 7

Trailing 7-0 after a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, LaGrange got on the board with a field goal with six minutes left in the third quarter and a pass from quarterback Dylan Barber to Wylan Lash just before the half. The LaGrange defense expanded the lead to 17-7 after an interception returned for a touchdown with less than a minute before half. Caylin Thomas scored on a 13-yard run with six minutes remaining to put the game out of reach. LaGrange will travel to Sandy Creek in the semifinals.

Sandy Creek 34, Douglass 0

Sandy Creek was nursing a 7-0 at the half after Amari Latimer scored a 13-yard touchdown run, but the Patriots took control of the game in the second half to advance to the semifinals. Sandy Creek scored on a run with three minutes left in the third quarter to push the lead to 13-0 after a missed point-after try. The Patriots led 20-0 after a 6-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and an 18-yard pass from Caleb Hill to Nathan Holston pushed the lead to 27-0 and a fumble returned for a touchdown with a minute left in the game was the dagger.

Class 2A

Sumter County 39, Carver-Atlanta 20

Since Sumter County consolidated in 2004, the Panthers have not ever advanced past the second round, but after holding Carver to eight points in the second-half, the program will grace the semifinals for a first time. A 34-yard field goal by Juan Aguirre put Sumter County ahead 3-0 late in the first quarter. Carver took advantage on an interception returned for a touchdown with six minutes left in the second quarter. Aaron Kearse gave Sumter a  10-6 lead on a 13-yard run and an interception returned for a touchdown late in the first half pushed the lead to 17-6. Carver scored on a run to cut into the lead 17-12 but a 34-yard field goal from Juan Aguirre have Sumter a 20-12 lead at the half. Kearse pushed the advantage with a short touchdown run early in the third quarter to put Sumter County ahead 26-12. Ishmael Jones passed 17 yards to Ayden Robinson to push the lead to 33-12. Carver’s Corey Fletcher passed to Terrious Favors  to cut into the lead 33-20, but a 76-yard touchdown run from Kearse with five minutes left in the game put it out of reach.

Burke County 41, Rockmart 40

Burke County outscored Rockmart 13-6 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory and advance to the quarterfinals and a 31-yard touchdown pass from Sean Vandiver with less than a minute left proved the difference. Burke trailed 13-7 after the first quarter and 27-7 at the half before outscoring Rockmart 21-7 in the third quarter to trail 34-28 entering the fourth quarter. Sean Vandiver started the comeback with a short touchdown run to give Burke a 35-34 lead with three minutes left in the game. Nate Davis scored on an eight-yard run with less than a minute remaining to put Rockmart ahead 40-35 after a failed 2-point conversion, setting up Vandiver’s 31-yard game-winning touchdown pass. Burke will play at Carver-Columbus in the semifinals.

Carver-Columbus 38, Thomson 10

Defending champion Carver-Columbus is right where it left of in the first season under head coach and alumni Jarvis Jones. The Tigers led 17-7 at the half. Carver’s state championship last season under head coach Pierre Coffey was the program’s second and first since 2007.

Hapeville Charter 34, Morgan County 22

Hapeville Charter won a state championship in 2017 under head coach Winston Gordon, who took over when the school opened in 2011. Since that championship, the Hornets have only been to the quarterfinals once, in 2019, and never made it past the second round until this season. Hapeville led 7-0 after the first quarter and 21-7 at the half. Morgan County rallied and trailed 28-22 entering the fourth quarter.

Class A-Division I

Pepperell 34, Rabun County 0

Since winning the program’s only state championship in 1990, Pepperell has only advanced to the semifinals twice, in 1997 and 1998. Since those penultimate appearances in the playoffs, the Dragons have exited in the first or second rounds, sans a quarterfinals appearance in 2016. But against Rabun, Pepperell had little issues earning its first semis berth in 27 years. Pepperell led14-0 after the first quarter and 28-0 at the half to earn a trip to Worth County in the semis.  

Heard County 39, Fitzgerald 38

A 22-yard field goal from senior Mack George – who kicked a 40-yarder earlier in the game -- as time expired proved the deciding factor in Heard County’s 39-38 victory against Fitzgerald. Since winning the 2018 Class 2A championship, Heard has not advanced past the second round until this season. Heard will play host to Toombs County in the semis.

Toombs County 24, Northeast-Macon 6

Toombs went ahead on a 20-yard field goal from Alex Otero late in the second quarter. Early in the third quarter, Justin Powell scored on a 15-yard run to push the lead. Northeast cut into the margin with a 10-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes left in the game. Powell scored on a six-yard run to put Toombs ahead 16-6 and a 23-yard run with less than a minute left put the game out of reach.

Worth County 17, Gordon Lee 7

Kaden Chester opened scoring for Worth on a short touchdown run which was set up by a long pass from Lyndon Worthy to Jaquaveon Nelson. Layne Vaughan tied the game on a 13-yard run with two minutes left in the first half. Worthy passed 16 yards to Kaden Chester to expand the lead to 14-7 midway through the third quarter. A 15-yard field goal from Brody Hancock put the game out reach with four minutes remaining. Worth will host Pepperell for the semifinals.

Class A-Division II

Clinch County 27, Wheeler County 22

Clinch County led 14-6 after the first quarter and 21-14 at the half before weathering an 8-6 effort from Wheeler County in the fourth quarter to advance. Clinch is two victories away from its ninth state title – 1988, 1991, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Panthers will play host to Bowdon in the semifinals.

Early County 27, Screven County 20

Early County trailed 14-0 after the first quarter after a 20-yard run from Demarko Ward and a short run by AB Hilton. But the team rallied to tie the game at 14 at the half after a run from Evan Grist and a pass from Jimmy Jones to Grist. Early County took the lead on a pass from Drayden Roberts to Demarko Ward with two minutes left in the third quarter. Leading 21-20, a rushing touchdown by Devonis Lee proved the deciding pay with three minutes left in the game to expand the lead to 27-20. Early County will play Lincoln County in the semifinals.

Bowdon 49, Jenkins County 22

Joshua Hopkins scored on a 12-yard run to put Bowdon ahead. Joshua Chandler scored on a five-yard run to expand the lead to 14-0. Hopkins passed to Kaiden Prothro with four minutes left in the first half to put Bowdon ahead 21-0. Prothro passed to Hopkins to expand the margin to 28-0 for Bowdon. Hopkins passed 30 yards to Keilan Prothro early in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 35-0. Hopkins’ pass to Kaiden Prothro with eight minutes left in the third quarter put Bowdon ahead 42-0. Bowdon capped its scoring on a seven-yard pass from Hopkins to Kaiden Prothro with nine minutes left in the game. Bowdon will play Clinch County in the semifinals.

Lincoln County 52, Brooks County 16

Lincoln County will play against Early County in the semifinals after moving past Brooks County with little trouble in the quarterfinals. The Red Devils led 21-3 after the first quarter and 28-10 at the halfway point. Lincoln expanded the lead by a 14-6 advantage in the third quarter and put the game out of reach outscoring Brooks 10-0 in the fourth quarter.

Class 1A-3A Private

Greater Atlanta Christian 49, Athens Academy 14

The Spartans led 28-7 after the first half and 35-7 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring Athens Academy 14-7 in the final frame. GAC will be featuring in its first semifinals matchup since back-to-back losses in that round in 2019 and 2020. The Spartans will play at defending champion Hebron in the semis.

In other 1A-3A Private quarterfinals games: Defending champion Hebron led 16-7 after the first quarter 42-14 at the half and 56-20 entering the fourth quarter in a 63-30 romp of Prince Avenue Christian. The Lions will play host to Greater Atlanta Christian in the semifinals. … Fellowship Christian had few issues in its 45-14 victory against Savannah Christian. Fellowship will face Calvary Day in the semis. … Calvary Day had no trouble in its 52-7 victory against Whitefield Academy to move to the program’s first semifinals in as many years under head coach Jason Cameron.

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