The Purple Hurricanes were 13-0 last season before falling victim to visiting Buford 21-10 in the semifinals. Head coach Frank Barden took over the Cartersville program in 1996 and led it to a state title in 1999. The veteran coach continues leading contenders into the playoffs, and this year’s group of players looks to be as good as any of them. His son, Brooks Barden, quarterbacked his way to Class AAA Player of the Year honors last season as a junior. Barden passed for 2,878 yards and threw 39 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
No. 6 Cartersville runs a spread offense with its armory of playmakers and the younger Barden manages it to near perfection. The 6-foot-3 quarterback has offers from Arkansas State and the University of Massachusetts. Wideout T.L. Ford is the playmaker of the offense, and at 6-foot-3, the flanker is the perfect target for Brooks. Ford has over 11 confirmed offers including Kansas State, Cincinnati and Appalachian State. The explosive duo paced an offense that averaged 38.0 points per game last season, and the sky is the limit for them this season.
With plenty of talent at the coach’s disposal, optimizing it is the challenge. “You do not look at your opponents,” said Barden. “Our biggest opponent is ourselves.”
Barden likes what he saw from his young players last year and hopes to see them develop into the type of leaders that will continue to be catalyst to the team’s success.
“We had a good group of seniors and young kids last year who were hungry and worked hard,” said Barden. “I want them to be one of those leaders this year.”
Rising sophomore Tiamon Pennymon is a guy that can find holes on offense and plug them on defense. Pennymon is an excellent ball carrier and uses his same field of vision to succeed at linebacker.
Kobie Whitfield is another key guy that, like Pennymon, made an impact as a freshman. Whitfield will be able to play receiver and defensive back this season. Rising senior, Mark Quattlebaum will also compliment the offense from receiver while starting in the secondary.
The early curb of this team could be on its line of scrimmage, Barden said. “We will need to find some offensive and defensive linemen to step up for us.”
With Cartersville’s rich football tradition, it is expected that Barden will find linemen on his roster to fill these roles, and will move guys around until they fit.
The Purple Hurricanes will play an identical schedule to last season with home and away games flipping being the only difference.
Barden believes that in order to surpass last year’s 13-1 run, “The leaders will have to find the identity of our team.”
Barden is familiar with the new region and the veteran coach is a perfect 7-0 in Region 5-AAA so far. Cartersville starts the season with Darlington, Cass and Rockmart before opening region play at home with North Murray.
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