Wolves Eye New Changes during bye week 

Article by: Austin Butler / 43Elite Recruiting (Photo by Bray Stevenson)

     
     The Rome Wolves were off to a very unusual start to their season in 2024 facing adversity from just about every angle from the bus accident to injuries. Even some of the injuries came within the early part of this season. The Wolves are always a heavy depth team but with injuries of this magnitude it may call for some guys to play both sides.
     It’s rare to see multiple guys play both sides for the Wolves in the past. However, this season that’s the look you will get at some positions at least until some guys come back healthy.
     The coaching staff at Rome have adjusted and moved a few pieces around which seems to have worked as the Wolves have gotten off to a (2-0) region start.
     Rome is shooting for its 4th straight region title this season and in recent years the region has been loaded. This season, there are some really good teams in the region and Rome has knocked off one of them already. Coming into this year, Rome have been the favorites to win the region and since they knocked off East Paulding in a region match up, that heightened the expectations. Two to possibly three other teams are still sitting there to challenge the Wolves and those teams are, New Manchester (4-1) overall, Villa Rica who stands at (2-0) in the region and a loaded South Paulding team who’s record doesn’t necessarily show the actual talent they have.
     The Wolves are looking to continue their region dominance for a fourth straight title. There are 41 region championships to go along with 9 state titles in Rome and the Wolves are looking to make it 42 this season.
Rome is coming off a season where they had the number 1 ranked defense in the state of Georgia last season and the number 1 scoring offense in Georgia posting about 50 points per game against other top tier opponents like then defending state champs Langston Hughes. The Wolves won that game 42-14 proving to be as always one of the premier programs in the state.
This year has brought a different look that Wolves fans aren’t familiar with. However, some new pieces are being put in new places and as everyone knows, Rome doesn’t “rebuild” they always “reload” each and every season.
     The Wolves look to a new leader in this bye week heading into the next game vs Villa Rica. Junior quarterback, Braxton Anderson. Anderson is a very poise quarterback who has shown signs of promise when he’s taken snaps. Anderson has battled an injury as of late due to the bus incident coming from the Rockmart scrimmage before the 2024 season officially begin.
     Anderson has the potential to show he can be the next big time quarterback at Rome. In John Reid’s seasons at Rome he has had 2 quarterbacks who were 4 year starters and both ended up with all school records at the quarterback position along with several state records as well.
     In Knox Kadums time leading the team, Rome went 40 straight games without a single loss and won back to back state titles in that run knocking off teams like Buford, Warner Robins, and other powerhouse programs that Rome faced in order to win a state title or to march into the state game. As a senior, Kadum threw for 1,700 yards with 21 touchdowns and no INTs, while also rushing for 620 yards and 11 touchdowns. Over his four-year career as a starter he completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 7,400 yards with 80 touchdowns and 15 interceptions and also rushed for 2,414 yards and 37 touchdowns. Kadum Led Rome to back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017 and finished his career with a 49-6 record as a starter. Knox went on the play quarterback for a D1 program in Virgina Tech.
     Reece Fountain took over as a freshman and was able to be a impact player breaking many of Knox Kadums records and becoming the schools all time leader in passing. Fountain went for over 11,000 yards and 100 touchdowns for his career. He went 41-7 as a starter and led Rome to consecutive 11-win seasons as a junior and senior. In 2023 Region 6-AAAAAA Player of the Year. He had 44 passing touchdowns and completed 74 percent of his passes as a senior in a tough region. He led an offense that averaged about 50 points per game – the fourth-highest mark in school history. He was named Robbie Hunter MVP following a win over Langston Hughes and played in the Georgia Elite Classic three times. Last season one could argue Rome was the best team in the state after a massive penalty was called on them and a last second field goal was kicked to defeat them. The penalty gave TCC the ball after a 4th down play that would have otherwise sealed them game for Rome to be the favorites to charge right into last years 6A state title. Fountain is now at D1 program East Tennesee State University.
     Anderson can surely be developed into a next level quarterback with the potential he brings to the table. Braxton Anderson brings athleticism and game IQ to the table just as Kadum and Fountain did. Though Anderson will not be under center for four years like Kadum and Fountain, just two seasons could bring similar success in a short amount of time. Pairing Anderson up with Coach John Reid can be a receipt for success in the remaining two seasons for Anderson.