Cedartown, Rockmart teams come out on top in Week 3 of football action
ELLIJAY – The Cedartown Bulldogs headed back to Polk County Friday night happy with a 41-14 win over Gilmer County.
The Bulldogs made big plays on defense in the second half in order to overcome the Bobcats on the road after giving up a pair of touchdowns, but hustled back on offense throughout the game to win by four touchdowns, including a interception brough back for a score.
“We didn’t play as well as we wanted in spots, but overall we’re pleased with that win,” said head coach Scott Hendrix. “We knew there was going to be some feast and some famine, so we got a little of both.”
Cedartwon scored on its second possession, in a seven-play, 48yard drive was capped by a 16-yard pass from Trevon Wofford to Dalton Bowman.
Another four- play drive ended with another six points put onto the board when Wofford took a reverse 17 yards, and Cedartown led 14-0 in the opening minutes of the second period.
Gilmer responded when the Bobcats’ Griffin Cagle returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to the Bulldogs 30. Cagle then pulled down a 27-yard pass to setup first and goal from the 3-yard line.
Kamron Engler punched it in from a yard out on a fourth and goal play with 7:47 before the half.
Cedartown grabbed a final touchdown before the half on a run by Tony Mathis following passes getting down the field from Wofford to Tyrone Martin and Joseph Gibbons to setup the score.
With 1:21 on the clock left in the half, Cagle caught a screen pass and two blocks on the edge helped him race for a 73-yard touchdown.
That was Gilmer’s final touchdown of the night as the Bulldogs took command, with Mathis put another on the board from a handoff up the middle, and an interception by Dakota Mason that was returned for a pick-six capped off the game.
Cedartown ended the night with 324 offensive yards, compared to the 227 yards that Gilmer racked up for the night.
Cedartown hosts the Pepperell Dragons coming up on Sept. 9. They kicked off their season on the road against Pickens County with an 18-10 win.
It will be the Bulldogs’ first game at home for the season.
Note: As a result of this game, Gilmer head coach Zach Grage is already being replaced for the season.
Times-Courier Sports Editor Robbie Bills contributed to this report.