Indian Football Season Ends at Cartersville

Stephens County led early, but a strong second half from Cartersville ends the Indians’ football season in the first round of the state playoffs.

Friday night, the second-ranked and unbeaten Purple Hurricanes scored the last 34 points of the game to overcome an early 7-0 Indian lead on the way to a 34-7 victory over Stephens County.

Cartersville just had too much depth for the Indians, said Indians’ Head Coach Wesley Tankersley.

“Our kids gave great effort, but I think their depth got to us in the second half, especially on the line of scrimmage,” said Tankersley. “We have a few guys playing both ways on offense and defense and they don’t. That’s where we need to get to, but our kids gave great effort.”

The teams played to a scoreless first quarter, but after the Indians stopped Cartersville on a fourth down on defense and then converted two fourth downs on offense, Kenny Colwell found Kamon Taylor for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give the Indians a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Cartersville came right back and tied the game at 7 halfway through the second quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Tee Webb to Dadrian Dennis.

After an Indian fumble, Cartersville scored just before halftime on a fourth down and 20 pass from Webb to Marquail Coaxum of 34 yards to take a 13-7 lead to halftime.

Marcus Gray added two touchdown runs in the third quarter from 10 yards and two yards and Webb threw his third touchdown pass of the night, a 25-yarder to Devonte Ross, in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

Stephens County ends the season 5-6, while Cartersville moves to 11-0 and will host Ridgeland in Friday’s second round of the state playoffs.

In other action involving Region 8-AAAA teams Friday, St. Pius beat Cedartown and North Oconee beat Sandy Creek, advancing both teams to the second round. Oconee County lost Thursday to Troup to end the Warriors’ season.

Other area teams advancing in football playoff action Friday included Habersham Central and Rabun County. Hart County, White County, and Elbert County were all eliminated with losses on Friday.

Stephens County Farm Bureau Player of the Game – Kamon Taylor
Hart EMC Lineman of the Game – Garrison Walker
X-Factor Sub of the Game – Walker Herron
First Baptist Church Spirit Award – Student Manager Johnathan Hassler