The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes and the Thomson Bulldogs are the only two remaining Class AAA football teams throughout the state of Georgia which are unbeaten and untied. Both have identical 12-0 records. Both are ranked in the top five in the state. Both possess high powered offenses and stalwart defenses. Thomson has won four state championships; Cartersville, two.

All of which will be on display tonight at Weinman Stadium, as the Hurricanes host the Bulldogs in their heavyweight clash that will decide who moves on to the semifinal round of the Class AAA state playoffs. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

“It’s going to be a 48-minute war,” Thomson coach Milan Turner said.

That “war” Turner is expecting is a product of two, battle-tested football teams who have survived a grueling regular season schedule and the first two rounds of the Class AAA state playoffs. Because both teams were the No. 1 seed in their respective region, a coin flip was necessary to decide who would be the host team.

“No matter who would have won the coin toss, they (the Canes) by far are one of the best teams we will have played this season,” he said. “They are loaded with talent and tradition. It’s going to take everything we’ve got to beat this team.”

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