A good opening week game for the Purple Hurricanes as they look to reload after their semifinal run in 2022.

Cherokee Warriors

Don’t let their 3-8 record from last season fool you. A good team from Region 5-7A that gave Milton all they could handle last year in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Warriors are going to spread you out. Junior QB Tanner Savasir returns after throwing for over 1600 yards last season and nearly 30 attempts per game.

4 Players to Watch

#4 “Pops” Jameson (’24 WR): Leading receiver returns for the Warriors. Had 32 receptions with 4 TDs. Sped guy with 10.84 100m.

#40 Chase Montgomery (’24 MLB): 87 TT last season for the Warriors

#17 Wyatt Tash (’24 WR): had 19 receptions in ’22

#24 Christian Irwin (’24 RB): The 5’11 215 RB was 2nd on the team in carries in ’22 with 40. Will be RB1 in ’23.

Cartersville Purple Hurricanes

For most schools you would consider the Canes in rebuild mode, but we know in Cartersville that equals reload mode. They will have to replace Paul Gamble at QB, who accounted for over 2000 total yards last season, and 1400 yard rusher Malachi Jeffries. 5th season at the helm for Head Coach Conor Foster who has led the Canes to 4 straight playoff appearances including a State Final runner up in 2020.

#77 Malachi Toliver (’24 OL): The 6’6 300 OL is committed to UGA

#74 Luke Surrett (’24 OL): The 6’4 290 Under the Radar Center prospect

#40 Landen Heath (’24 LB): Hard hitting LB, workout warrior

#3 Jamauri Brice (’25 DB): The 5’10 175 DB has offers from a handful of P5 schools. Will get his work Week 1.

Calpreps Prediction: Cartersville by 32

NwGaFootball Take: Cartersville won this game on the road last year 35-0. As stated above, this year they will have some new parts in key positions but with that OL they should be more than fine. I like the Canes to repeat last years score. Cartersville 35 Cherokee 0