Toss in the fact that one of the state's most dominant linemen -- Cartersville's Justin Floyd -- also played on that side of the ball, and it's not hard to see why the county's cumulative offense appeared to be quite loaded.
That's not to say that Bartow County teams did not have their fair share of talent on the defensive side of things because, as you will see below, linemen, linebackers and defensive backs turned in impressive seasons too, as their region selections and honorable mentions attest.
Here is The Daily Tribune News' 2010 All-County Football Team.
All-County Offense
Ashton Shelton, Woodland, Sr., ATH: After playing running back as a junior, Shelton made the shift to under center for his final season with the Wildcats, who benefited greatly from the switch. Getting the opportunity to touch the ball on each play, he toted the ball 186 times for 1,243 yards rushing, scoring a school-record 15 touchdowns. That rushing total was the third-highest in the county. Shelton also threw for 509 yards and added five more TDs. The first-time QB showed his development as a passer toward the end of the season, going 8 for 9 with 203 yards and a couple of TDs in Woodland's season-finale upset of Sequoyah, who fell short of the playoffs due to the loss. Make no mistake, though, Shelton did most of the damage when he kept the ball in his hands, rushing for 200-plus yards in a 38-21 win at Creekview -- 19 carries for 241 yards and three TDs -- and in a 55-44, shootout loss at Johns Creek, where he ran for 256 yards and five TDs on 22 carries and accounted for each of the Wildcats' six scores as well as three two-point conversions. Shelton was named to the 7-AAAA All-Region Team as the first-team quarterback. He signed to play at Tuskegee University.
Elijah Windom, Cass, Jr., QB: Thrust into the starting role, Windom displayed some raw talent early in the season as he took the reins of the Colonels' spread offense. He completed 55 percent of his passes (152 of 278) for 1,873 yards and 17 TDs. Windom's decision-making improved as the year wore on, evidenced by his low interception total (just six). He eclipsed the 200-yard mark passing a few times during the season, including vs. Chattahoochee (19 of 34, 204 yards), at Creekview (18 of 31, 221 yards, two TDs), vs. Forsyth Central (17 of 32, 226 yards, one TD), vs. Rome (22 of 41, 209 yards, two TDs) and at Sequoyah (20 of 40, 256 yards, four TDs), perhaps his best game of the season. Windom, an all-region honorable mention in 7-AAAA, did not run the ball often, but used his legs to the tune of 105 rushing yards and three TDs.
Cambrell Turner, Woodland, Jr., RB: Turner erupted for the Wildcats in his first full-season as a starter. The junior running back, who shared time as a sophomore, rushed for a school-record 1,333 yards and scored 11 TDs while adding 210 receiving yards and three TDs. Turner averaged 10.3 yards per carry. Twice on the season, he rushed for more than 200 yards (at Forsyth Central, 11 carries for 202 yards and four TDs; at South Forsyth, 21 carries for 242 yards and one TD). Turner, last season's all-county offensive rookie of the year, was named honorable mention in Class AAAA for the Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State Team and was an all-region first team selection. With Shelton graduating in May, Turner could near the 1,500- to 1,600-yard mark, outgoing Wildcats coach Steve Hamilton said.
Jamie Jackson, Cartersville, Sr., RB: There may not have been another player in the county as explosive as Jackson, who rushed for 1,248 yards and had 462 receiving yards. Of his 21 TDs, five covered at least 50 yards -- a 65-yard run and 72-yard reception vs. Cedartown, an 88-yard run at Gilmer, a 50-yard run vs. LaFayette and a school-record, 99-yard run at Darlington. Jackson missed a couple of games during the Purple Hurricanes' 9-2 season but topped 100 yards a few times, including one game where he rushed for 200 yards. He also scored on a 31-yard interception return in a game vs. LaFayette, which sealed a 28-20 win. He was a co-leader in interceptions with five. Jackson left school in January to attend Copiah-Lincoln (known as CO-LIN) Community College in Mississippi.
Tarris Batiste, Cass, Sr., WR: Batiste caught 28 receptions, second on the team, for 325 yards (11.6 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. He also ran the ball 10 times for 67 yards. While Batiste never topped the 100-yard receiving mark, he did have a season-high 81 yards on two catches at South Forsyth, when he outran the defense for a score on an 80-yard screen. He caught his most passes -- seven for 64 yards -- in the game vs. Chattahoochee. Batiste made the 7-AAAA All-Region second team as a wide receiver. He signed with Indiana State University.
Jay Stephens, Cass, Sr., WR: Stephens caught 24 passes for the Colonels, gaining 394 yards (16.4 yards per reception) and scoring six TDs. He also proved key to Cass's running game out of its spread offense, rushing 13 times for 49 yards and adding another four TDs. Stephens had his biggest game in the season opener when he caught three passes for 156 yards, all resulting in TDs, against county rival Woodland. He was named honorable mention for Region 7-AAAA.
Justin Floyd, Cartersville, Sr., OL: Floyd was not only the best offensive lineman in the county, he was one of the best in the state, making the all-state first team as he was selected to play in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North/South All-Star Football Classic in Columbus in December. The 6-foot-5 Floyd, who committed to Furman, helped open plenty of running lanes for Jackson as well as Talique Cochran and Kendall Martinez, who also rushed for plenty of yards behind the Canes' offensive line. He graded out in the mid-80s. Floyd, the unquestioned leader of that line, helped Cartersville control the tempo of most games with his play in the trenches. He was named to the 7-AAA All-Region First Team. Voted the team's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman, Floyd also had the highest GPA on the team.
Caleb Gentry, Woodland, Jr., OL: Gentry paved the way for many of Shelton's and Turner's forays into the teeth of the defense. Woodland moved the ball against most of the teams it faced, and while Shelton and Turner were dynamic players, it would be hard not to acknowledge the line's role in it all. Gentry graded out at 86 percent and registered 30 pancake blocks. He was named to the 7-AAAA All-Region First Team.
Clint Lemon, Woodland, Jr., OL: Much like his linemate, Lemon opened up seams for a Wildcat offense that averaged nearly 25 points a game, the third-highest total in Region 7-AAAA. He graded out at 83 percent with 18 pancake blocks. Lemon was named honorable mention in the region on both sides of the ball. As a defensive lineman, he registered 38 tackles (five for loss), two sacks and one batted pass.
Corey Fuleki, Adairsville, Sr., OL: The 6-foot-4 Fuleki was an unwelcome sight for many defensive linemen. Grading out at 83 percent, one of the highest grades in the county, Fuleki made 15 pancake blocks.
Christian Fairbanks, Cass, Sr., OL: With the Colonels in the shotgun formation at all times, Fairbanks proved to be very reliable, making just two bad snaps all season. He graded out at 76 percent.
Preston Slemp, Cartersville, So., K: Slemp, along with punter Colin Barber, gave the Canes the best kicking combination and special teams in the county. Slemp did not miss many extra points and hit his field goals when called upon, including a 32-yarder at Cedar Grove, 40-yarder vs. Cedartown and 35-yarder at Gilmer. He was named to the 7-AAA All-Region First Team.
All-County Defense
Talique Cochran, Cartersville, Sr., ATH: Truth be told, Cochran could have been used anywhere, and the Canes certainly tried to do that. He played running back for a spell -- most notably rushing 21 times for 243 yards at LaFayette in the playoff-clinching win -- and even registered a few catches during the year. But Cochran, who returned punts too, also excelled on the defensive side of the ball, grabbing five interceptions, including two in a 27-7 win at Pickens. Canes coach Frank Barden said Cochran tied for the team lead in picks along with Jackson. He also had 53 tackles. Cochran was voted Cartersville's Most Valuable Player.
Justin Jones, Adairsville, Sr., DL: Jones finished second on his team with seven sacks. He also had 43 tackles and three fumble recoveries.
Albert Catron, Cass, Sr., DL: Catron, one of the Colonels' most physical players, recorded 44 tackles (13 for loss), one sack, one fumble and one interception, which he returned 48 yards for a touchdown vs. Forsyth Central. Catron was an all-region honorable mention.
Shelby Townsend, Woodland, Jr., DL: Townsend helped clog up the middle for the Wildcats defense, making 56 tackles (six for loss) to go along with one sack and one fumble recovery. Townsend was named honorable mention in Region 7-AAAA.
JD Jones, Cartersville, Sr., DL: Jones was a handful for many opposing offensive linemen, as he helped steer a defensive line that yielded yards at times, but never a great deal of points. Jones made the all-region first team as a defensive lineman and also was selected to the second team as an offensive lineman. Jones, who was named Cartersville's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman, has committed to Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro. He had 47 tackles (11 for loss), four sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, according to the Blue Raiders' website.
Austin Harrell, Adairsville, Jr., LB: Harrell had a team-high eight sacks for the Tigers. The 6-foot-3 linebacker also recovered three fumbles and intercepted three passes, returning one of those picks for a touchdown.
Austin Chadwick, Woodland, Sr., LB: Chadwick posted a team-high 65 tackles (two for loss) -- a total that also led the county -- while coming up with one sack and one fumble recovery.
Aaron Foster, Cartersville, Sr., LB: The 6-foot-2 Foster, a rather menacing presence, showed the limitless range of any good linebacker, getting his hands on deflections and disturbing teams' offensive plans. Foster had a few fumble recoveries on the season. He was named to the 7-AAA All-Region Second Team. Foster made 43 tackles.
Desmond Chester, Adairsville, Sr., DB: Chester led all Tiger players in interceptions with five and also had 37 tackles. The 5-foot-9 cornerback returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score to end the Tigers' season finale with a 47-21 win over Gordon Central.
Trey Thompson, Woodland, Jr., DB: Thompson did not haul in a bunch of picks -- he had one interception, which he did return 45 yards for a TD vs. Northwest Whitfield -- but he provided exemplary coverage, breaking up eight passes. He also had 37 tackles, one fumble recovery and blocked a PAT. Thompson was an all-region honorable mention.
Tarris Batiste, Cass, Sr., DB: Batiste roamed the Colonels' defensive backfield, where he demonstrated his ball-hawking abilities as he intercepted three passes, two coming in a 38-21 win at Creekview. Batiste also demonstrated the other quality of a good safety, the ability to come up and make a stop. He led Cass with 53 tackles. Batiste was named to the 7-AAAA All-Region First Team.
Kendall Martinez, Cartersville, Sr., DB: To say that Martinez was willing to make a tackle would be a gross understatement. Running toward the action would be a better description as he proved to be as comfortable covering a receiver as he was delivering a hit. Martinez led the Canes in tackles with 61, the highest total for any defensive back in the county. At Cartersville's banquet last month, he was recognized as the Most Valuable Defensive Back. Martinez also filled in beautifully at running back when Jackson went down, rushing for a career-high 239 yards on 20 carries -- he scored four TDs -- at Murray County and totaling 104 yards on 19 carries to help the Canes clinch a postseason berth at LaFayette. He signed with Tusculum College in Morristown, Tenn.
Colin Barber, Cartersville, Jr., P: No punter boomed as many kicks as Barber, who routinely provided his team with a distinct field advantage. Barber had a 55-yard punt against Cedartown, and also kicked a 54-yard field goal at Murray County, which is a Canes' record. Surprisingly, Barber was left off the all-region team, which had to be an apparent oversight. After all, Barber was recently named the top punter in the nation following a showcase event in Florida, according to Barden.
Tarris Batiste, Cass, Sr., RET: Batiste returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown at Creekview -- he also nearly returned another kick for a score -- and went 63 yards for a touchdown at Woodland in Week 1. In that season-opening, 42-12 win, Batiste had 150 punt return yards. On the season, he averaged a whopping 16.5 yards on punt returns and 18.4 yards on kick returns.
Honorable mention -- Adairsville: Cody Kremer, Bradford Austin, Zach Coker, Ethan Abernathy, Rance Hightower, Aaron Hooks, Ricky Temples, Easton Jones, Jake Powell, Zach Brown; Cartersville: Reggie Douglas, TJ Turner, Charles Owens, Ricky Beachum; Cass: Jozelle Payne, Michael Saunders, Deion Loyal, Tyler Gates, Hunter Purvine, Morgan Ainsworth, Sam Taylor, Walter Johnson, Deion Loyal; Woodland: Steven Waits (OL).