WGAA 1340AM Cedartown

       The Cedartown Bulldogs traveled to Toccoa, Georgia on Friday night to take on the Stephens County Indians. It marked the first time since 2007 that the Dawgs have been to the state playoffs. Their last two trips were ended by Stephens County, in 2004 and 2007.

       Cedartown was hoping to write a new story this past Friday, but unfortunately the script didn’t change.

       The Dawgs fought to the very end, but couldn’t muster enough offense or get a final defensive stop in the waning moments of the game.

       The Indians jumped out to an early lead after a touchdown run by standout Chaz Thornton. Cedartown would answer back with a touchdown drive of their own, and, after a defensive stop, Zach Chubb gave Cedartown the lead on a 92 yard touchdown carry.

       The score would remain 14-7 until halftime, but in the second half everything turned against the Dawgs. Costly turnovers, lapses in officiating, and an inability to run the ball allowed Stephens County to storm back and put Cedartown away.

       The Dawgs had one final shot to try and tie it, but a dropped pass deep in Stephens County put all chances of a comeback to rest.

       In a way, the dropped pass summarized the game for Cedartown: almost. The throw from Chubb grazed the fingertips of a Stephens County defender and fell right into the hands of a Cedartown receiver. The ball fell to the ground incomplete, and so did the Dawgs season.

       A new era has begun in Cedartown, and, from the looks of things, Dawg fans should expect an annual trip to the playoffs to be a given.