Cedartown fans will long remember this season as one where the pieces came together and Cedartown made an impact on Georgia football, but one cut short too soon.

The Bulldogs hosted Bainbridge for the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Friday night, and watched the season conclude in a 21-10 loss.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to end, because the ultimate goal is the ultimate goal,” Head Coach Jamie Abrams began following the game and talking to the team in the locker room. “But winning a region title for the first time in 19 years, and going to the quarterfinals in 19 years… that group there won the state title two years ago, and they’re a dang good football team.”

He added that “We went toe to toe with them, got banged up a little bit. Didn’t give us any breaks really… obviously it wasn’t what we were looking for, but I told the seniors that they left the program better than they found it. It’s not just about the team for 2020, but about building a program. And the teams that we’ve lost to, they’re kind of established programs. And this bunch here (Bainbridge,) they’ve been doing it for a little while.”

A 10-0 Bulldog lead in the first half got whittled away by the Bearcats who scored 21 unanswered points – not without Cedartown trying. The difference was with questionable officiating and a Bainbridge defense that held tough limited production in the second half for the Bulldogs with only 249 yards overall for the entire game.

Cedartown’s two scores came off of the boot of Eri Velasquez with a first quarter field goal, and then a touchdown between Reece Tanner and Jeremiah Johnson in the second gave the Bulldogs the lead through much of the first half.

“That was actually just a really good play, a really good head’s up play between Reece and Jeremiah,” Abrams said. “Jeremiah saw it, but the corner didn’t for whatever reason didn’t cover him, which Jeremiah didn’t make a scene about it. And Reece saw it and they just kind of connected on it. That wasn’t the design, that was just a head’s up play by those two.”

Injuries also impacted this game. Both Jai Barnes and Harlem Diamond both played on hurt ankles throughout the four quarters. It showed in the stats.

Bainbridge’s offense put up 342 yards combined on the night, punted only three times, and picked up 18 first downs. The Bulldogs’ 260 yards was made up from 16 first downs, but Cedartown punted the ball away four times, and were penalized nine times for 60 yards.

The Bearcats in their win advance to the semifinals and get to host Marist this coming Friday night.

Key Takeaways

The Bulldogs finished a big year at 8-3 overall, with a lot of talent returning for their senior season to Cedartown’s lineup. That includes Georgia-commit CJ Washington, rising junior Harlem Diamond, Patrick Gardner and many more. Also back on the defense: Jai Barnes. Expect the Bulldogs to continue to dominate in 7-AAAA play for that reason.

In his first season as Cedartown’s head coach, Abrams ends with a region championship and a playoff run under his belt. Yet he said he sees room for improvement.

“The two things that we’ll focus on in the off-season are discipline and toughness. We got dinged up a little bit. We’ve got to have some other guys be able to step up,” he said. “We didn’t have an offseason this year. Hopefully, we’ll have one this year with what has been going on with the virus and everything. These guys haven’t been through it.”

He did add that the Bulldogs have been working hard in the weight room throughout the year, and but the “other things that go along with it” like building camaraderie wasn’t part of this year’s program interrupted by COVID.

Another notable spot in the backfield that saw talent develop this season was Reece Tanner, who will likely head into his junior season with the starting spot as quarterback. He’s proven himself able to run and throw the ball effectively downfield. The question will be who will he be throwing to in 2021? One of his favorite targets in Micah Arbuthnot Jeremiah Johnson is graduating this year, as well as Jayden Johnson who played both a running and catching role this year. (Jayden changed his mind and pulled out of his commitment with South Carolina, and now is heading to Arkansas.)

Likely targets are junior Jordan Johnson, Taidji Neal and Dashawn Ware, among others.