Cartersville
Cartersville, GA · Education
USA TODAY
How Ryan Seacrest is giving his old high school football team something it never had
The future of Dunwoody (GA) High School football is being built by more than just the players on the field. It's being built by hundreds of community members who have come together to give the Wildcats something they've never had before: a stadium of its own. Fueled by a donation from Dunwoody alum and television host Ryan Seacrest and a community-wide fundraising effort, Seacrest Stadium is officially set to break ground the week of Nov. 23, following county approval on Nov. 9. And when it opens next fall, the whole community will be able to call it their own. “I think we’re all kind of part owners of this,” said Steve Fortenberry, former teacher and president of the Dunwoody High School Community Association. “I think you’re really going to see that it wasn’t just the county building this and we show up. This is Dunwoody’s stadium. We are kind of the Green Bay Packers of the high schools.” The project has been years in the making, but it took a collective effort from the community to turn the vision into a reality. It started with a donation of more than $1 million from Seacrest, who played defensive back for the
fox5atlanta.com
Rome High School football parts ways with coach Bill Stewart
ROME, Ga. - The Rome City Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday to release head football coach Bill Stewart from his duties following a two-win season with the Wolves. Board members approved Stewart's release from his employment contract and coaching position during their Tuesday meeting. Stewart guided the Wolves to a 2-5 mark in region play and a 2-8 class record, according to standings from MaxPreps.
Rome News-Tribune
Lassiter romp ends Rome's season
When a victory on the football field in Game No. 10 of a 10-game high school season could go a long way toward getting you into the state playoffs, it’s not surprising that team pulls out all the stops. So yes, at Barron Stadium in Rome Friday, there were onside kickoffs and fake punts. Only, it was the 7-2 Lassiter High Trojans of Marietta using these “trick” plays as a way of building a huge halftime lead on the 3-6 Rome High Wolves. The Trojans won the Region 6-6A battle 42-7 behind the passing arm of sophomore quarterback Caden Jones and his four touchdown passes among the 35 times he threw in the first half alone. In fact, 42-7 was the score heading into halftime and stayed that was through a running clock the entire second half. Lassiter also controlled the turnover margin with two big second-quarter takeaways, and the Trojan special teams not only recovered two onside kickoffs and converted a fourth-down out of punt formation, but it also blocked a Rome field-goal try. Throw in several 15-yard penalties that mainly went against the home Wolves and it was a rather miserable night for football amid a low wind-chill
Rome News-Tribune
Senior-less Model girls team still expecting big season
Even after 21 seasons of leading the same program at the same high school, there’s still a learning curve, and there’s still a chance to encounter first-time situations. For Sally Echols, veteran leader of Model High Lady Blue Devil basketball team, the 2026-27 season provides an opportunity for both. It will be the first time she has a varsity roster without a senior. So while there’s a lot of girls looking to her to learn about the game at this level, Echols will be learning how to deal with so much youth and inexperience. However, it’s not like nobody wearing the light blue and white uniforms will know anything about winning. In 2025-26, Model had basically a sophomore-senior roster that went 18-10, finished runner-up in its region tournament and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. Some of those making up the now-junior class were significant contributors in both the frontcourt and the backcourt. “A lot of tradition here,” said Echols, who led the program to 10 region championships and had 14 teams win at least one game in the state tournament. That includes the 2009 squad that played for the championship. Echols could possibly write her own
Rome News-Tribune
Model's Schabort fourth at state meet
CARROLLTON — The Georgia High School Association’s cross country championships for 2026 took place over the past weekend at Carrollton High School. In the Class AA 5Ks, two runners from Floyd County schools placed in the top five, one in the girls and the other in the boys. Model High’s Sarah Schabort came in fourth for AA girls with a time of 20:53.29. With teammate Caroline Looney running 21st (22:39.44), the Model Lady Blue Devils as a team placed seventh. From the Armuchee High girls cross country team, which placed ninth in the team standings, Emma Teems ran 20th and Ellery McClain 35th. Armuchee High’s Joel Frederick was the fifth place finisher among AA boys with a time of 17:52.36. Right behind him was fellow Indian Sam Zagrabelny, his sixth-place time being 17:54.1. With Jack Pethel placing 17th (18:16.51), the Armuchee boys team placed fourth in the team standings. Model’s boys cross country team came in 12th place with Joseph Lee Black placing 21st individually and Ryan Rush 42nd.
coosavalleynews.com
Local Teams Learn Playoff Paths as Coosa Suffers Last-Minute Heartbreak
The road to a state championship is officially set, and several area football teams will be part of the postseason field when the GHSA playoffs kick off next week. From hosting first-round games to challenging road trips, local programs now know exactly where their championship journeys will begin. Perhaps the...