Both local football squads had to contend with troublesome guests on Friday night. The Chattooga Indians played host to the Dade County Wolverines at the Little Big Horn, as Trion played host to the Christian Heritage Lions at Sam R. McCain. With the calender flipping over to November and the football season coming to a close, both teams were hoping for wins, but it was not to be this week.
Dade County took advantage of the Indians' mistakes and scored twice early when the Indians gave over the ball deep in their on territory. The Wolverines held a 14-0 lead at the half. Chattooga would receive the second half kickoff, but would would not be able to cut into the Dade County lead. By the end of the third quarter, Dade County would extend their lead to 24-0. By the fourth quarter, Dade would have a commanding 31-0 lead. Chattooga would score a late touchdown, but the night would belong to the Wolverines.
Chattooga will travel to Calhoun next Friday night to face the 2013 region 7-AA champions. The game will be carried here on the www.chattoogainfo.com website as the internet game, as the Indians close out their 2013 campaign. Join Robert Beach and Ken Bruce for the call of all the action next week.
Trion would also struggle with unruly house guests on Friday night. Playing host to the Lions of Christian Heritage, the Bulldogs would be down early 3-0. The Lions would add a touchdown to their lead to stretch the advantage to 10-0 in the first quarter. Trion would get on the board with a Bethune run that would cut the lead to 10-7 in favor of the Lions. The Lions would answer with another score to take the halftime advantage over the Dawgs to 17-7.
Trion would mount a comeback in the second half, getting a touchdown run from Gabe Howell (PAT no good) to cut the deficit to 17-13. Trion would take their first lead of the game on a fourth down pass to Gabe Howell that went for a touchdown. With the PAT, Trion would lead 20-17. The lead would not stand for long though, as the Lions would storm down the field and score a touchdown, regaining the lead, 24-20. Trion would have one last chance with 1:53 remaining in the game. Out of time outs and needing a touchdown, Trion would try to drive the length of the field and score. Trion would convert a key forth down, but a false start penalty would back them up and on the next forth down, they would fall short. The ball was given over to the Lions on downs and they would kneel in the victory formation to end the game.
Trion will play at Mt. Paran next week in a rematch from earlier in the season. Mt. Paran defeated Trion in the meeting by a final score of 31-12. The match up will be our radio game next week and can be heard on AM 1180 or online at www.chattoogainfo.com. Join Ben Groce and Jeremy Burke for the call next week as the Bulldogs try to improve their power rankings ahead of the playoffs and seek revenge for the earlier loss.
After having a week off, both local teams celebrated homecoming Friday night. Chattooga played host to Armuchee in an important region match up at the Little Big Horn. The Indians of Chattooga got off to a fast start, jumping out to a quick 13-0 lead. Armuchee would claw their way back into the game, and found themselves down 13-12 at the half. The second half would be all Chattooga, as they scored 28 unanswered points to down the Armuchee Indians by a final score of 41-12.
Trion hosted Mt. Zion for homecoming at Sam R. McCain stadium on Friday night. Trion stopped Mt. Zion's opening drive and responded by scoring on their first drive to take a quick 7-0 lead. Mt. Zion would answer with a score of their own, but would miss the PAT, making the score 7-6 Trion. Trion would take a 20-6 lead into halftime and would never look back. Trion would defeat Mt. Zion by a final score of 34-12.
Trion will have another open week next Friday, giving them an opportunity to tune up for rival Gordon Lee. Chattooga will host Coosa in an important region match up. You can listen to that game next week on AM 1180 or online at www.chattoogainfo.com
Northwest Georgia Score Recap:
| Mt Zion at | 12 |
| Trion | 34 |
| Armuchee at | 12 |
| Chattooga | 41 |
| Calhoun at | 45 |
| Pepperell | 0 |
| Dade County at | 0 |
| Coosa | 26 |
| Murray County at | 16 |
| Model | 62 |
| Darlington at | 18 |
| Christian Heritage | 14 |
| Gilmer at | 30 |
| Cass | 13 |
| Cedartown at | 42 |
| Pickens | 34 |
| Dalton at | 31 |
| NW Whitfield | 28 |
| Lafayette at | 26 |
| Heritage | 48 |
| Haralson County at | 28 |
| Rockmart | 47 |
| North Paulding at | 63 |
| Rome | 31 |
Both local teams came up short against their foes Friday night. Chattooga was defeated on the road at Model and Trion fell to Mt. Paran at home.
Chattooga was down early after having a punt blocked by the Model special teams. After recovering the ball, Model would use the pass to put the ball in the endzone and take a 6-0 lead on the Indians (PAT failed). The Indians would try to respond, but they would turn the ball over and kill off a solid drive. Model would drive deep into Chattooga territory, but the Indian Defense would stiffen and hold the Blue Devils at the goal line on a 4th and goal from the half-yard line. Model would try to kick a field goal at the end of the first half, but the kick would be wide and the teams would go to the half with the score 6-0 Model.
In the third quarter, the Chattooga offense would be stymied and again, the special teams would give up points to Model, this time in the form of a high snap over the punter's head that would lead to a safety. The lead would be 8-0 in Model's favor. Model would put another touchdown on the board, stretching the lead to 15-0. The Indians would respond late with a gutsy drive that would lead to a touchdown pass with 6 seconds remaining in the game, cutting the lead to 15-6 Model. Chattooga would go for the onside kick, but Model would recover and hold on to take the win, with a final score of 15-7 over the Indians. Chattooga travels to Murray County next week looking for their first win of the season.
Trion played host to Mt. Paran and found them quickly in a hole against the Eagles. Mt. Paran would take the opening drive down the field and score. Trion would be stopped on their opening drive, leading to another Mt. Paran scoring drive. Trion was down in the 1st quarter 14-0 and looking for answers on both offense and defense. Mt. Paran would strike again only six seconds into the second quarter, scoring another touchdown to take the score to 21-0. Trion's offense would finally find some life and they would score a touchdown, but miss the extra point. Trion would strike again and try the two point conversion to no avail, making the score 21-12. Mt. Paran would tack on a field goal just before the half to take a 24-12 lead into the intermission.
Trion would get the ball to open the second half and would drive down the field to see a promising drive stopped by a turnover. They would never threaten again. Mt. Paran would tack on another touchdown and they would go on to defeat Trion by a final score of 31-12. Trion will travel to Darlington next week looking to get back on track against a tough Tiger team.
Other Scores:
| Chattooga at | 7 |
| Model | 15 |
| Mt Paran Christian at | 31 |
| Trion | 12 |
| Armuchee at | 41 |
| Murray County | 0 |
| Dade County at | 0 |
| Calhoun | 38 |
| Coosa at | Sat. |
| Pepperell | |
| King's Ridge at | 7 |
| Darlington | 31 |
| Walker at | 7 |
| Mt Zion | 3 |
| NW Whitfield at | 52 |
| Cass | 35 |
| Ridgeland at | 14 |
| Cedartown | 36 |
| Heritage at | 0 |
| Pickens | 35 |
| River Ridge at | 28 |
| Lafayette | 0 |
| Dalton | 31 |
| Gilmer Co | 0 |
| LFO at | 0 |
| Adairsville | 49 |
| North Murray at | 15 |
| Cartersville | 55 |
| Gordon Central at | 8 |
| Ringgold | 48 |
| Sonoraville at | 41 |
| Coahulla Creek | 16 |
| Chapel Hill | 23 |
| Rockmart | 14 |
Mother Nature served up unseasonably cool temperatures to usher in the 2013 High School Football season. The Chattooga Indians and the Trion Bulldogs are meeting for the fifth time in a preseason football scrimmage, which many have dubbed the "Battle of Chattooga County." So far, this year's game has gone to the Dawgs. Trion has looks to be picking up where they left off last year with a strong offensive and defensive performance. Chattooga has had opportunities in the game, but they have been thwarted by the turnover bug, giving the ball up to Trion four times in the first half.
Trion kicked off to Chattooga to start the action. Chattooga when 3 and out and had to punt the ball away to Trion. Trion marched the ball down the field and scored on a one yard touchdown plunge by Latham. The PAT was good, giving Trion a 7-0 advantage.
On the next Chattooga drive, Nigel Dickerson dropped back on a third and six and was picked off my Malik Martin, who raced into the end zone for another Trion touchdown. After the PAT, Trion held a 14-0 lead.
Chattooga would be stymied again and would have to punt to Trion. Another methodical drive by Trion was capped off by a touchdown by Howell. The PAT was no good, giving Trion a 20-0 lead over the Indians.
Trion was not finished in the first half. They would score again on a pass hauled in by Issac Thomas to stretch the advantage to 27-0 for the Bulldogs.
With time running out in the first half, Chattooga heaved a long pass down field, but the pass sailed over the intended receiver and into the arms of the Trion Bulldog's defender. The interception was the fourth turnover on the night for the Indians.
The third quarter saw Chattooga get on the board with a 66 yard touchdown run from Tevin Shropshire. The PAT was good and the score cut Trion's lead to 20, with the score 27-7.
The fourth quarter saw massive substitutions for both teams. Chattooga tried to convert a fourth down early in the fourth quarter, but fumbled the ball to Trion. Trion would score from 21 yards out on a run by John Harrison to take the Trion lead to 34-7.
Chattooga would mount another drive with around 5 minutes remaining. Another fumble was retained by the Indians to keep the drive alive. On the next play, the Indians would make a long run down inside Trion territory. A facemask penalty tacked on 5 yards, leaving the Indians knocking on the door. A fumbled snap and a holding penalty would back up the Indians out of the red zone. On second down, a throw to the flat by the Indians looked like a sure score when a holding call erased the touchdown. The next play took the Indians inside the 10 yard line with third and goal to go. The third down play was stuffed at the line, bringing up a fourth and goal for the Indians. On fourth and goal the Indians ran a bootleg with Foster into the corner for another Indian score. The Indians would go for two and the play would be whistled dead, but a Trion player would hit the quarterback, leading to a penalty. The two point conversion would be good leading to a score of 34-15.
Trion would get the ball back and fumble on their second play of the drive. Chattooga would recover and try to score again before the final gun. The Trion defense stiffened and forced the Indians to try to convert another fourth down. The conversion was unsuccessful and the ball went back to Trion. The Bulldogs would run out the clock, putting a cap on the scrimmage with a final score of 34-15 in the favor of Trion.
Both teams played a tough, but clean game. Each team will have a week to make the final preparations for the upcoming season. Chattooga will start their 2013 campaign on the road at East Hall August 30. That game will be the web game and can be heard by listening online here at www.chattoogainfo.com. Trion will host Armuchee at Sam R. McCain stadium on August 30. That game can be heard on the air at AM 1180 on your radio dial. You can also listen live from anywhere online at www.chattoogainfo.com
We would like to thank all of our sponsors that made our coverage possible. We would also like to thank all the young men and women from each football team, cheerleading squads, bands, and all the coaches and fans that make it possible to experience the fun and excitement that is high school football here in Chattooga County.