The wins and losses have begun for the 2024 football season in Northwest Georgia, and several teams were delayed in their triumph or defeat due to storms impacting the state on Friday and Saturday nights.

The first games might not make much of a difference in the playoff picture, but the season openers for several squads around Polk County will make a difference for Cedartown and Rockmart later this season.

Here’s a rundown of where squads from Region 7-AAAA and 7-AA as new opponents join the mix and make for real challenges ahead for the Bulldogs and Jackets.

North Murray at Dalton (WHAT AN UPSET!)

You read that right, sports fans. North Murray grabbed a big season-opening win that no one (not even myself) expected on Friday night in Dalton. The Mountaineers picked up a 35-17 win over the Catamounts (a full box score wasn’t available) but 7-AA needs to keep an eye on Layten Myers in the backfield and Hudson Hulett under center for the Mountaineers this year.

Not sure exactly what happened with the Catamounts, but expect them to have a tough trip at home hosting North Oconee, who are coming off a big rival (and very close) rival win over Oconee County 21-20 over the weekend.

North Murray has Northwest Whitfield on Friday night. They’ll face a Bruins squad flush with a shutout win over Coahulla Creek (see below.)

Columbia at Cartersville

Anyone expecting a different outcome in this one just hasn’t paid attention over the past decades to the dominance that is Canes football in Bartow County.

Cartersville continued that trend when they grabbed a 40-0 win over Columbia in their home opener for the season.

The Canes gave three different quarterbacks the ball during this one: Junior starter Nate Russell attended to most of the duties under center on the night, going 11-14 for 154 yards and two touchdowns, but gave up an interception. Freshman Harris Turner and sophomore Dixon Lindsey both went 2-3 on the night in passing attempts. Turner grabbed 24 yards, and Lindsey netted 2 on the night in field appearances.

Much of the work was completed on the ground as senior Baylon Long was joined by Russell on the run, Tyon Coe and Tripp Chatmon in scores on the ground. Jamauri Brice and A. Taylor-Wilson both notched touchdown receptions on the day as well.

The 333-yard performance for Cartersville puts them on the right path toward their goal of dominating 7-4A and the classification as a whole after moving down from 5A last year, where they took a region title and a trip deep into the playoffs.

Cartersville hosts Rockmart on Friday night. The Jackets are coming off a rivalry matchup with Cedartown that nearly spanned three different days at The Rock based on timing, but will look to avenge their 24-3 loss.

Callaway at Cass

The Colonels sent the Cavaliers into retreat this past Friday night after they took a big win at home with a 42-7 victory, and unfortunately stats weren’t immediately available to PSW for this one.

The Colonels can’t rest as they’ve got a Model Blue Devils squad coming to play on Friday in non-region competition. They’ll host Adairsville coming up as well on August 30.

Cass is hoping to build off the success of a 2023 season that saw the squad improve and make into the Class 5A playoffs on the year with a winning record and even making it deep into the playoffs before being knocked off by region state title winner Coffee in a shutout.

The Colonels move down into 7-4A this year brings hope to the Blue and White faithful they’ll make a big mark this year on the state level.

Battle of the Woodlands

No one expected the outcome, but Woodland-Cartersville got their first win of the year in a close 38-35 finish on the road at another Woodland in Stockbridge.

The Wildcats senior QB JD Trail went 6-17 in the game for 122 yards and threw a touchdown pass in not exactly complete stats from the Woodland opener.

The Cats have another big test ahead as they host Woodstock Wolverines on Thursday. Both teams enter the contest with a win a-piece, the Wolverines coming off a 24-7 win over the Etowah Eagles.

Hiram at Paulding County

A longstanding rivalry just like here in Polk County continued, and the Hornets came out on top over the Patriots in a 48-41 victory this past week.

Hiram junior QB Ethan Lattimore put up 320 yards in passing off of a night where he went 15 for 19 in the air, throwing three touchdowns and an interception. Paulding’s Mason Bryant under center (a senior) nearly matched the effort, throwing 285 yards off of a 30-34 night, netting five touchdowns and an interception.

The Hornets were just a bit better, netting way more yards on the ground (301 to 89) and utilized the talents of Kaden Hamilton who had 11 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown on the night. His longest run was an 82 yard carry.

The Hornets host Eastside for a matchup with two squads coming into the game with victories. The Eagles opened their season with a 26-15 victory over Newton.

Northwest Whitfield at Coahulla Creek

The Colts have some work to do after they took a tough loss at home to a local foe who shutout Coahulla Creek in their season and home opener.

Northwest Whitfield dealt the Colts their first loss in a 35-0 rout that wrapped up on Saturday following the round of storms that impacted games across Northwest Georgia this past Friday (and Saturday) nights.

The Bruins put up two touchdowns a piece in the first quarter and added a touchdown in the third.

Coahulla Creek is at Chattooga on Friday night in hopes of evening up their record ahead of the beginning of 7-AA play. The Indians are coming into the matchup in their second home game of the year off a 30-0 win over LaFayette last week.

Providence Christian at North Cobb Christian

The Eagles took their opening win of the season over Providence Christian, finishing with a 14-0 victory, grabbing all of their points in the first quarter over the visiting Storm squad.

The only stats were generated in the first quarter (as far as I can tell, this one either didn’t choose to finish or they didn’t update at all) as sophomore QB Terry Jarrard went 6-7 and 90 yards and a touchdown on the night, and they put up 47 yards on the ground between a pair of juniors – including a touchdown by Demin Stevens.

Brody Archie grabbed the one touchdown pass thrown on the night by the Eagles.

The Eagles are at Darlington this Friday night for a 7:30 kickoff, and open region play on Aug. 30 hosting Coahulla Creek.

Allatoona at Adairsville

The Bucs might have hoped to steal away a victory this past week over Adairsville, but the Tigers scratched and clawed their way to a one point win and sent Allatoona sailing away for fairer shores.

Adairsville hosted Allatoona to open the season last week, picking up a 28-27 victory in the process before they play against South Paulding this Friday night.

The Bucs didn’t have stats available as of this posting for PSW to peruse, but it is worth noting they were shooting for a second-half comeback over the Tigers after putting all of their points up in the third and fourth quarters. Adairsville went into halftime with an 11-0 lead, and added 17 with a fourth quarter touchdown to maintain the lead and the win.

Sonoraville at Model

The Phoenix hoped to rise from the ashes of a rough 2023 campaign on the right foot, but the Model Blue Devils made sure the fiery birds fell back to earth before they could take a victory flight to open 2024.

Sonoraville fell on the road to Model in a 21-14 loss that went the distance and then some as the Blue Devils scored a touchdown to win in overtime over the Phoenix.

Chaz Pate went 17 for 28 and 164 yards leading the Phoenix in the effort under center, and a trio of running backs added 140 yards on the ground in a solid losing effort for Sonoraville on offense. They put up two field goals and a touchdown to stay in it and tied the Model squad who had first and third quarter touchdowns respectively.

Sonoraville must rise up again for their home opener on Friday night hosting the Pickens Dragons, with hopes they won’t get burned twice in a row.

Ringgold at Dade Co

The Tigers are starting off right in 7-AA, dealing a blow to an old area foe they know all too well in the far Northwest corner of the state.

The Ringgold Tigers took a 23-13 victory over Dade County on the road to open the 2024 campaign, taking an early 10-0 lead and adding a pair of field goals and a touchdown to the scoreboard through the rest of the game. Full stats weren’t available for this one either.

The Tigers have Murray County on the road on Friday in region play. The Indians took a hard loss to Towns County 42-14 in a non-region matchup this past week at home.

Ridgeland at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe

A pair of longtime Northwest Georgia rivals ended their opening week with the Warriors on top, and the Panthers struggling for answers to their woes these past years.

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (LFO) took a 19-9 win over Ridgeland to open the season. No stats were available post-game for this one too.

LFO is at Heritage Catoosa this week, with an opportunity to extend their win streak heading into region play in early September following an Aug. 30 bye week.

Union County?

Somehow, the Panthers got Week 1 off and are the last of the teams featured this week. Union County instead opens the season this week on the road, heading toward Gilmer for a matchup with the Bobcats who are coming off a 42-28 loss to Fannin County at home this past Sunday following rescheduling.

Union then has a matchup with Fannin County in non-region play on August 30, and jump right into 7-AA after hosting Murray County in early September. (They have just one bye week on the schedule in October.)