The Cartersville Middle School football team won its region title with a 49-26 whipping of Calhoun on Thursday evening.

Tiamon Pennymon scored three touchdowns and Jovren Byrd turned two Calhoun miscues into touchdowns in the win.

Robert Allen, Purple Hurricane coach, said the victory resulted from a season of hard work by his team and had its roots in its loss a year ago to Calhoun.

"We lost in the championship game last year and our players made it our goal to win it all this year," he said.

He said Calhoun kicked a field goal with 12 seconds left last year to earn a 17-14 victory.

Thursday's game was close early and the Yellow Jackets actually led briefly in the first quarter.

Cartersville, which finished its season 9-0, scored early in the game as Malik Riddick rambled 70 yards on a sweep on the team's second play from scrimmage. The Canes were up 6-0 after the PAT was missed, about halfway through the first quarter.

Calhoun responded quickly, returning the Cane kickoff to the Cartersville 30 and then evened the game at 6-all. After their PAT was made, they led 7-6.

Cartersville answered with 1:53 showing in first quarter when Byrd picked up a fumble and ran 48 yards. Pennymon converted on the two-point try, to help the Canes to a 14-7 lead that held up through the end of the period.

Calhoun drove down the field in the second quarter but stalled at the 5-yard line after the Cane defense stopped them on three plays.

The Jackets hit a 22-yard field goal to close to 14-10.

Pennymon led the next Cane drive as he scored on a 28-yard run. Greg Davis made the PAT and Cartersville led 21-10.

Byrd pulled off another defensive gem at that point, as he intercepted a Jacket pass at the 38-yard line and ran it in. The PAT was missed and Cartersville was up 27-10.

In the third quarter, Pennymon again scored, this time on a 48-yard run from scrimmage, to widen the Cartersville lead to 33-10 after the PAT failed.

The Canes held the Jackets on the next series but a punt put the ball deep in Cartersville territory at the 4-yard line. Calhoun scored on a safety that series, to close within 33-14.

The Jackets took the ensuing kick and scored on a 52-yard pass play, closing to 33-19 after making the PAT.

That score held until early in the final period when the Jackets scored again on a pass play, this time a 43-yarder, and threatened to make a game of it as they trailed 33-26 after a successful PAT.

The Canes responded by scoring two touchdowns and making two two-point conversions to pull away at 49-26.

Pennymon scored the first of those touchdowns on a 58-yard run. Eris Williams then hit Josh Farmer to convert on the two-point play.

The Canes' final score came after a Mason Heath interception that put Cartersville in business at the 28-yard line. Kalin Heath scored the next play, a 28-yard run, with 3:23 left in the game. Williams again hit Farmer on the two-point attempt.