Rome Routs Pope 35-7 in Region 6-6A

Jeremy Ferguson rushed for 169 yards as Rome High School beat Pope High School in a Region 6-6A football game.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football

Rome High School defeated Pope High School 35-7 in a Region 6-6A football game. Pope's final regular-season game at Greyhound Stadium ended in a loss after starting quarterback Hudson Marinko was injured near the end of the first half.

Why it matters

The loss affected Pope High School's playoff standing under the PSR system. Forfeits of three Douglas County High School wins also shifted the region's standings.

Pope managed only 10 rushing yards while Rome's Jeremy Ferguson rushed for 169 yards and a 54-yard opening touchdown. The extraction does not detail Marinko's injury severity or the expected length of his absence.

The players

Greyhound Stadium

Greyhound Stadium is the home venue where Pope High School played its final regular-season game of the year.

The details

Rome scored two touchdowns in the first three plays from scrimmage, including a 54-yard run by Ferguson. Pope's only score came on a 44-yard flea-flicker from Marinko to Braden Lex, while freshman Wyatt Schuck threw two second-half interceptions.

Sept. 25: Rome defeated Douglas County High School, a win Douglas County must now forfeit.
Thursday: The GHSA executive director confirmed the Douglas County forfeits.
Nov. 3: Rome defeated Pope 35-7 in the Region 6-6A game at Greyhound Stadium.

Season Trajectory

The GHSA's confirmed forfeits of three Douglas County wins, including one over Rome, reshape the Region 6-6A standings that Pope's loss also influences. Pope's playoff positioning under the PSR system now depends on both the lost game and these retroactive changes.

Pope's playoff standing under the PSR system is now tied to the loss and the Douglas County forfeits, which affects how the region's seeding looks. Fantasy and roster decisions for Rome's rushing attack should account for Ferguson's 169-yard performance.

The takeaway

Region seeding can shift well after the final whistle when forfeits are confirmed, so standings should be checked after official rulings. Pope's playoff chances now hinge on how the remaining region results are weighed under the PSR system.