2018 Record: 14-1, overall (6-0, Region 5 AAAA)
Head Coach: Conor Foster, First season as Cartersville Head Coach
All Time Record: 1024 games 670 – 324 – 30 (67%)
Total Seasons: 106 First Season: 1909 All State Players: 96
Region Championships: 20 (Last in 2018, 7th consecutive region championship)
State Championships: 4 (Last in 2016)
Schedule
8.23 at Allatoona
9.6 vs Luella
9.13 vs McNair
9.20 at Cherokee
9.27 vs Cedartown
10.4 at Central, Carroll
10.11 at LaGrange
10.18 vs Sandy Creek
10.25 vs Chapel Hill
11.8 at Troup County
The Cartersville Hurricanes gaining a reputation for being a powerhouse in the State of Georgia. 2018 was no exception as the Canes finished 14-1 with the season’s lone loss coming during the state championship game.
“The 2018 Cartersville Football season was a great success. The hard work and team chemistry led a group of new faces to a region championship and ultimately to a GHSA Class AAAA state runner-up finish,” says new Head Football Coach Conor Foster. “Several players on the 2019 team gained valuable playing experience while learning from the leadership of the 2018 team.”
Coach Foster, who took the reins after Coach Joey King left to take a college position, understands the tradition (he was a member of the 1999 state championship team) and plans to keep the Canes’ train rolling. “Our goal is to build upon the rich tradition of Cartersville football by leaving a legacy of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”
Cartersville will certainly have the on-field talent to match their coach’s goal.
Offensively, Cartersville will be led by returning starter Tee Webb, a very talented quarterback. Of course, an offense is only going as far as the front line takes them, and Cartersville’s offensive line will be a strong, experienced unit led by seniors Jonah Gambill and Matthew Surrett. Amarai Orr, Kolbe Benham, Devonte Ross, Quante Jennings and Harrison Allen will be vying for the offensive skill positions this season.
Two three-year starters will lead the Canes’ defense this season: seniors Marko Dudley and Marquail Coaxum, both from the secondary. Evan Slocum and Devonte Ross join them in the secondary to form an exceptional field-covering unit. The 2018 leading tackler, linebacker Harrison Allen (junior), will lead the linebacker corps, and nose guard Lakwayme Jupiter returns to anchor the defensive line.
The special teams unit has strong-legged Oscar Hernandez returning to handle kicking duties. The Hurricanes also have a large pool of talented returners to choose from in 2019.
Coach Foster is mindful of the younger players, as he schedules both junior varsity games and the 9th grade football team’s games. “The focus on both programs is to continue to develop our culture, fine tune fundamentals and gain a keen understanding of Cartersville Football’s offensive and defensive concepts,” Foster explains.
Going a little younger, Foster follows their middle school and youth league Canes as well. “The 2018 Cartersville Middle School team won the BGMSAA football championship. They will have several starters returning from that team, and they have had a “tremendous off-season of workout,” Foster says. “The Cartersville youth program, CPRD, has produced some recreation state (GRPD) championship teams in recent years. We look forward to seeing those guys develop through the years.”
This is the 20-year anniversary of Cartersville’s 1999 championship, one run that Coach Foster is familiar with because he was in pads that season. The Hurricanes last won a state championship title in 2016, on the back end of a back-to-back championship. They have also won seven consecutive region championships.
Coach Foster has taken over one of the richest traditions and strongest programs in the State of Georgia. He knows all too well how the community will support the players and coaches, and he knows they have the watchful eyes of Region 5 AAAA opponents and Class 4 A on them.
Here’s to a great season and perhaps yet another state championship for Cartersville High School.
