Join us tonight for the 2025 season opener of the Emmy Award-winning GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia, as the defending Class 3A champion Calhoun Yellow Jackets (2-0) play the Class 4A second-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes (3-0) at historic Weinman Stadium in Cartersville.

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This kicks off 14 weeks of high school football coverage on Georgia Public Broadcasting all the way through the GHSA championship games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in mid-December.

First and foremost this is a huge rivalry game. The biggest in northwest Georgia. Tonight marks the 42nd all-time meeting dating back to 1926. Cartersville leads the series 33-7-1 and are 5-1 in the six consecutive seasons the two have played. That one win for Calhoun was an epic 50-48 triple-overtime victory in 2022. That is the only regular season loss for the Purple Hurricanes dating back to the 2020 season.

Coach Conor Foster’s Hurricanes have won 15 of their last 16 games overall with their only defeat coming at eventual state champion North Oconee 28-26 last November. It was the closest that any team played the Titans the entire season. In fact, each of Cartersville’s last five seasons dating back to 2020 have ended with a loss to either the eventual state champion or state finalist, including 2020 the last time Cartersville reached the state finals for the sixth time. The Canes have won four state titles.

Coach Clay Stephenson’s Yellow Jackets have won 13 straight dating back to last year’s 1-3 season start which included a 35-13 home loss to Cartersville 364 days ago. To make matters worse for Calhoun, the 1-3 season start last year followed a 6-4 season in 2023 as the Jackets missed the playoffs for the first time since 1999. But Calhoun rallied from all that to win the Class 3A championship with a 20-7 victory over Jefferson in the finals. It was the Jackets fifth all-time state championship and Calhoun returns 13 of 21 starters from that team that won it all.

That’s the game preview. Now let’s take a look at the Top Prospects to Watch.

Cartersville

Brady Marchese, Cartersville

Brady Marchese, Cartersville

Credit: 247 Sports

#1 Brady Marchese – 6-1, 185, Senior – 4-Star rated as high as No. 9 WR 2026 by ESPN – Committed to Georgia over 46 other offers including Michigan. Career Stats: 64-1,375 yards receiving, 15 TD. Matt Stewart Sports High School Football Podcast Preseason 4A All-State. Coach Foster: “He’s got unique mindset for WR. Physical, violent route runner and blocker.”

#24 Cole Crawford – 6-3, 200, Junior – 4-Star rated as high as No. 4 LB 2027 by ESPN – Ten offers including Georgia Tech, Georgia and Auburn. Big-time two sports star. Rated the No. 4 catcher in the country in 2027 by Prep Baseball Report. Also starts at TE. Career Stats: 69 TT, 6 TFL, 4 QBS, 1 INT. Dad Ryan is former Houston County Football Head Coach.

#73 Langston Hogg – 6-1, 270, Senior – 3-Star rated as high as No. 2 Center 2026 by ESPN – Committed to Tulane over 8 other offers including Vanderbilt. Three-year starter. MSS HSFB Podcast 4A Preseason All-State. Coach Foster: “Underrated. If he were 6-5 everybody in the country would be recruiting him.”

#25 Kylen Pope – 6-2, 230, Sophomore – 3-Star rated as high as No. 24 Edge 2028 in Rivals Industry Rankings – 17 offers including South Carolina. Still only 15 years old and has 80-inch wingspan. Coach Foster: “His ceiling is as high as anybody I’ve ever coached.”

#15 Maddox Davis – 5-11, 180, Sophomore WR – Offered by Ole Miss, Toledo and Kent State. First-year transfer from North Cobb Christian. 2025 Stats: 7-106 yards receiving, 1 TD. Coach Foster: “Electric. Only going to get bigger, stronger.”

#64 Elijah Peeks – 6-3, 290, Junior DL – Offered by Arkansas and UAB. Career Stats: 44 TT, 6 TFL. Coach Foster: “Really worked on his body this season.”

#7 Kaiden Kent – 5-8, 150, Sophomore CB – Offered by Purdue. Also starts at WR. Emerging star as 10th grader. Dynamic in return game.

#30 Reed Ezell – 6-2, 202, Senior SAF – Committed to Air Force. Career Stats: 65 TT, 4 TFL, 2 QB Sacks, 5 INT.

#23 Grayson Warmack – 6-0, 186, Junior SAF – Offered by Miami of Ohio. Stats: 60 TT, 4 TFL over last 16 games. Coach Foster: “This time a year ago thought he was offensive player who we threw into the fire on defense. He’s taken ownership of the position.”

#9 Nate Russell – 6-2, 190, Senior QB. Third-year starter plus got significant playing time as freshman. Named to 2025 GPB Sports Make Than Kid an Offer Preseason All-State Team. Winningest player Cartersville history in terms of QB wins and pitching wins in baseball. Rated by Prep Baseball Report No. 16 RHP in the State for 2026 with 91 mph fastball. Career Stats: 5,276 yards passing with 61 TD

Calhoun

Trace Hawkins, Calhoun

Trace Hawkins, Calhoun

Credit: 247 Sports

#16 Trace Hawkins – 6-0, 180, Sophomore – Four-Star rated as high as No. 6 QB 2028 by Rivals – Seven offers including Florida. Led Yellow Jackets to 2024 State Championship as freshman. Has grown inch-and-a-half and gained 20 lbs. since last season. Career Stats: Over 2,300 yards passing with 27 TD and just 2 INT. Coach Stephenson: “Got IT factor. Nothing’s been too big for him.”

#96 Sager Quinn – 6-1, 290, Senior – Three-star DL – Committed to South Florida over 7 other offers. Fourth-year player. Stats: 14 TFL, 6 QB Sacks last 17 games. Stats would be greater except always draws double teams. MSS HSFB Podcast 3A Preseason All State and 2024 All-State. Playing DE and Coach Stephenson says “in perfect world can move him to Nose when All-Region junior Johnny Williams returns from injury.”

#12 Alec Upshaw - 6-3, 235, Senior DE/LB - 9 Offers including Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and West Georgia. MSS HSFB Podcast Preseason 3A All-State and 2024 GPB Sports All-Finals Team. Stats: 90 TT, 7 TFL, 6 QBS last 17 games moving from linebacker to defensive end here in 2025. Coach Stephenson: “Last year college coaches really didn’t know where he fit but he now looks like that boundary DE going forward.”

#3 Justin Beasley- 5-10, 150, Senior WR – Offered by Campbell and Shorter. Four-year starter. MSS HSFB Podcast 3A Preseason All-State. Extraordinary 2024 State Championship season with over 70 catches, 1,000 yards receiving and 18 TD. Already 13-288 yards with 2 TD in two games this season. Coach Stephenson: “He has a natural ability to get open. Things you just can’t coach.”

#9 Isiah Nalls- 5-10, 180, Sophomore RB,DB – Offered by Florida State, Minnesota, Memphis. Also starts at FS. Former third-team QB that moved to RB last season because of injuries. It’s been a good move. Over 1,000 yards rushing with 8 TD despite missing games during the playoffs because of injury. Splits time in the backfield with the equally talented Hudson Chadwick, who also starts at LB. Nalls is the shiftier back. Chadwick is the bruiser.

#56 Trey Perkins- 6-2, 250, Senior OL/DL- Committed to Anderson University over 5 other offers. Anderson coached by Bobby Lamb who is the brother of legendary Calhoun Coach Hal Lamb. Returning starter and athletic enough to be starter on Yellow Jackets basketball team as well. Dad Franco is school’s athletics director. Coach Stephenson: “He may eventually be the best lineman we’ve ever had.”

#73 Tripp Steele – 6-4, 328, Senior Center – Offered by Suwanee. Returning starter. Coach Stephenson jokes “almost beat me in HORSE. Got 3-point shot for big guy. Offers starting to come in because of his size.”

So this is going to be a really fun game. It always is. Join Wayne Gandy, Jon Nelson and me for our Emmy Award-winning Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week as the Calhoun Yellow Jackets play at the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes.

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Remember, there are many ways you can watch Football Fridays in Georgia. Traditional TV (GPB), online at GPB.org, GPB Sports app, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Twitch.

Now if you miss the game live or just want to watch it again, don’t worry, we replay the entire Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week at 11:15 p.m. or you can watch it on demand anytime at GPB.org. 

Enjoy your Sept. 5 Football Friday in Georgia. We’re excited to be back!