Friday night football storylines: Northwest, Coahulla Creek seek to keep momentum as Dalton, Southeast look for first win

Published 1:45 pm Thursday, October 17, 2024

Northwest Whitfield hosts Adairsville in region action

Following a 55-21 loss to Calhoun on the road last week, Northwest Whitfield High School looks to rebound from its second defeat of the season.

To do that, the Bruins will have to go through Adairsville in region play.

Northwest (6-2, 2-2 Region 7-3A) hosts the Adairsville Tigers (5-2, 2-1 Region 7-3A) Friday night at 7:30.

After a five-game winning streak, including shutout victories over Coahulla Creek and Dalton, Northwest lost to Heritage in September before bouncing back with a 48-21 win over LaFayette two weeks ago.

The loss to Calhoun’s Yellow Jackets last week left a sting on the Bruins’ record, but a win against Adairsville could shift the momentum back in Northwest’s favor as they prepare to square off against Ridgeland in the final week of region play on Oct. 25.

Friday’s game between Northwest and Adairsville will mark only the third time the two region teams have played each other, with each boasting a victory.

North Murray travels to North Cobb Christian for inaugural showdown

After eking out a 27-26 victory against Ringgold in Chatsworth last week, North Murray’s Mountaineers will trek across uncharted territory Friday.

North Murray (5-2, 4-1 Region 7-2A) faces North Cobb Christian (6-1, 4-1 Region 7-2A) in Kennesaw at 7:30 p.m.

Last week’s game somewhat mimicked North Murray’s previous narrow 26-24 win against Sonoraville. The Mountaineers, led by quarterback Hudson Hulett, will look to conquer a North Cobb Christian team that experienced its first and only loss last week in a 24-21 contest against Rockmart.

Hulett comes into Friday night’s game following an impressive performance against Ringgold in which he had 132 rushing yards, 125 passing yards, two touchdowns and a game-securing interception.

Still looming on the schedule for the Mountaineers are region games against Coahulla Creek next week, followed by Rockmart on Nov. 1.

Dalton searches for first win of season against Cass

The Catamounts (0-8, 0-4 Region 7-4A) will look to reverse their fortunes as they battle Cass (4-4, 1-3 Region 7-4A) in White at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Coming off of a 44-13 loss to Cedartown last week, Dalton will meet Cass for the 15th time in a rivalry that has seen the Catamounts lay claim to 12 victories against the Colonels.

Cass is looking to regain footing of its own following a 38-7 loss to Cartersville and a previous shutout loss to Cedartown, two teams in the running for the Region 7-4A title.

During the 2023 season, Dalton’s showdown with Cass ended in a 38-13 Catamounts victory thanks in part to since-graduating senior running back Adriel Hernandez, who had four touchdowns and 211 rushing yards.

Dalton’s 2024 squad, made up of primarily younger players and led by freshman quarterback Caine Woods, will look for a repeat.

Coahulla Creek wants to build on momentum

Going into Coahulla Creek’s game against Murray County last week, the Colts had yet to win a game in the 2024 season, including three straight shoutout losses to Northwest Whitfield, Chattooga and North Cobb Christian.

That all changed when Coahulla Creek blanked the Indians 36-0 under the lights in Chatsworth.

With a burst of momentum late in the season, the Colts hope to keep that energy Friday night.

The Colts (1-6, 1-4 Region 7-2A) host Union County (3-4, 3-2 Region 7-2A) in a region showdown at 7:30.

Union County, which ended the 2023 season 8-4, is off to a slower start this year, with its highest-scoring game coming against Murray County in a 49-6 victory.

Friday night’s contest will be the first between the Colts and the Panthers who share a region for the first time this year.

Southeast Whitfield returns to the field after month-long byes

For three straight weeks, Southeast Whitfield has not taken to the field. The Raiders last played on Sept. 20 at home against Mount Zion, which saw the Bulldogs from Jonesboro come away with a 27-0 win.

Southeast was scheduled to battle Towers in Decatur the following week but the game was moved to Monday, Sept. 30, due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. That game was eventually canceled because of a chemical fire at a facility in Conyers.

Following two scheduled bye weeks, the Raiders (0-7, 0-0 Region 7-4A) return from their extended break Friday night at 7:30 when they face off against Woodland (1-6, 0-4 Region 7-4A) at home.

Woodland’s Wildcats’ victory was against Stockbridge’s Woodland Wolfpack. They hope to rebound from a 49-0 shoutout loss to Hiram last week.

Murray County, Christian Heritage School idle this week

Following a seven-game win streak, Christian Heritage has a bye this week.

The Lions  (7-1, 5-0 Region 7-A DI), knocked off Chattooga last week 49-14.

Their sole loss of the season came courtesy of Heritage in the first week. Christian Heritage’s strong offense led by quarterback Carter Triplett has proven vital to recent success, including huge region wins against Coosa, Gordon Lee and Dade County.

Christian Heritage will pick back up in region play next week when they battle undefeated Fannin County at home.

Murray County is idle this week following a shutout loss to Coahulla Creek at home.

The Indians play Rockmart in region competition at home next week before battling Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe on Nov. 1.