Walking onto the field under the Friday night lights, there’s a certain electricity in the air—one that anyone who’s been part of a high-stakes game knows well. I’ve been around football long enough to recognize when a team isn’t just playing to win; they’re playing with a kind of belief that transcends raw talent or physical advantage. That’s exactly what I see in Cartersville High School’s football program this season. They’ve embraced the underdog mindset, and frankly, it’s paying off in ways that remind me of some of the great comeback stories in sports history. Take Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, for example—someone I’ve followed closely over the years. Back in 2011, when his Dallas Mavericks faced off against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and the star-studded Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, nobody gave them much of a chance. But Carlisle was comfortable in that role. He knew something about pressure, about turning low expectations into fuel. And that’s precisely the energy Cartersville has channeled this year.
Let’s talk about their defensive schemes first, because honestly, that’s where games are often won or lost. Cartersville’s coaching staff—and I’ve spoken with a few of them off the record—has implemented what I’d call a “bend but don’t break” philosophy. They’re allowing an average of just 14.2 points per game, which might not sound revolutionary, but when you look at how they’re doing it, the numbers tell a deeper story. They’ve forced 18 turnovers in their last six games alone, with interceptions accounting for nearly 60% of those. That’s not luck; that’s preparation. I remember watching one of their mid-season matchups where they were down by 10 at halftime. Instead of panicking, they stuck to their game plan, relying on disciplined zone coverage and well-timed blitzes. By the fourth quarter, they’d completely shut down the opponent’s passing game. It was a masterclass in defensive patience, something Carlisle’s Mavericks exemplified when they disrupted Miami’s offensive flow in those critical Finals games.
Offensively, Cartersville isn’t just relying on one or two star players—they’ve built a system that thrives on unpredictability. Their play-calling distribution this season has been roughly 55% run plays and 45% pass plays, but what’s fascinating is how they disguise their intentions. I’ve always believed that the best offenses keep defenses guessing, and Cartersville’s use of pre-snap motion and RPOs (run-pass options) does exactly that. In their last game, they ran 68 offensive snaps, and nearly 40% of those involved some form of misdirection. That’s a level of sophistication you don’t always see at the high school level. It reminds me of how Carlisle adjusted his offensive sets against Miami, using Dirk Nowitzki’s versatility to create mismatches all over the court. Similarly, Cartersville’s quarterback, a junior who’s thrown for over 1,800 yards this season, isn’t just a passer—he’s a decision-maker. And the coaching staff has empowered him to audible at the line, which I think is a huge reason they’ve averaged 34 points per game.
But strategy alone doesn’t win championships; mindset does. I’ve had the chance to speak with a few players after practices, and one thing that stands out is their collective buy-in to the underdog narrative. They’re not bothered by being overlooked in preseason rankings or by opponents who might have more five-star recruits. Instead, they use it as motivation. One senior lineman told me, “We know we’re not the biggest or the fastest, but we play like we’ve got something to prove every snap.” That kind of attitude is contagious, and it’s something Carlisle harnessed beautifully in 2011. His Mavericks weren’t the most athletic team on the floor, but they played with a cohesion and mental toughness that ultimately overwhelmed Miami’s superstars. Cartersville, in my view, has tapped into that same psychological edge. They’ve won seven of their last eight games, and in five of those, they were trailing at some point in the second half. That’s not a fluke—it’s resilience.
Of course, none of this happens without strong leadership from the top. Head Coach Mark Thompson, who’s been with the program for over a decade, has instilled a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. I’ve seen him run practices where every drill is timed to the second, and players are pushed to refine techniques they’ve already mastered. It’s a demanding environment, but the players respond to it because they trust the process. Thompson often references other sports for inspiration—basketball included—and I know he’s a fan of Carlisle’s approach to managing egos and roles. In fact, he once told me that coaching isn’t about having the best players; it’s about making the players you have believe they’re the best. That philosophy is evident in how Cartersville rotates personnel, giving meaningful minutes to second-string players who might not get the spotlight but contribute to the overall system. For instance, their special teams unit has blocked three punts this season, all by players who aren’t starters on offense or defense. That depth is a testament to Thompson’s ability to develop talent across the roster.
As the playoffs approach, I’m excited to see how far this team can go. They’ve built something special here—a blend of strategic innovation, mental fortitude, and old-fashioned hard work. While some might still see them as underdogs, I think they’ve proven that labels don’t win games; execution does. Looking back at Carlisle’s Mavericks, nobody expected them to beat the Heat, but they did because they believed in their system and each other. Cartersville High School football is on a similar path. They may not have the most recruits heading to Division I programs, but they’ve got heart, smarts, and a playbook that keeps opponents on their heels. In my book, that’s a winning combination—one that could very well lead them to a state title.
