Week three of the high school football season is upon us in Cherokee County. Here are our Cherokee County Football Previews as all six county teams are in action this week.
Sequoyah travels to Cass this week as they’ll face a Colonels team that is coming off of a heartbreaking game of their own. Which team has recovered and which team will have the hangover? Woodstock will travel to Creekview in search of their first victory this season. Will the Grizzlies have rust from the off week or will they be able to stymie the Woodstock air attack? The Etowah Eagles will host the River Ridge Knights. Etowah is looking to build momentum; will the have an answer for the talented River Ridge squad? Finally Cherokee travels to Rome. The Warriors escaped Hickory Flat last week but a Rome Wolves team is up in Baron Stadium waiting to ambush them and exact revenge from last year.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
The Sequoyah Chiefs will be on the road this week in their last test before the region schedule begins. Sequoyah, executed their offense to perfection, using a combination of backs like Peyton Lucas, Jack Piscorz, Jackson Hancock, Tyler Bell and of course quarterback Matthew Traynor. Traynor rolled up 140 total yards and rushed for two TDs and threw for another last week. Meanwhile, the defense limited Cherokee to 135 yards passing. The defensive front will have their work cut out for them again as they will be busy trying to apply pressure to Cass’ dual threat quarterback.
The Cass Colonels also lost a heartbreaker last week as they will try to recoup. Cass is lead by quarterback Devin Henderson. As we mentioned, he can beat team’s with both his arm and his legs. Henderson’s primary receiver is Sacovie White, who has put up some impressive numbers in the first two weeks of the season. He is already over 260 yards receiving coming into this Friday.
This game will be a contrast of styles. We saw Sequoyah’s Wing-T run almost flawlessly last week with all scoring drives covering more than 10 plays and chewing up a lot of clock. If they can repeat that performance, it might be enough to keep the explosive Henderson and the Cass offense on the sidelines. We believe Sequoyah does just enough this week. Chiefs by 6.
The Creekview Grizzlies will be back in action this Friday after an early season bye week. The Grizzlies are coming off of a big game in which their defense seemed to already be in mid-season form. Mason Hicks had his coming out party, throwing for 4-TDs to help lead the way on offense. While success in the passing game was a welcome sight for Grizzly fans, let’s not forget about their bell-cow Tyler Stevens. For the Grizzlies to have success over the course of the year, the Grizzlies will need to have continued success on the ground.
Woodstock comes into this game after finding a little more success last week. The Wolverines were able to get on the board against River Ridge to record their first points of the season. We saw Adonis Garcia get involved in the passing game. He along with the growth of receivers Nick Rule, Ryan Burke and Brady Williams should help steady the Woodstock air attack. Defensively, Woodstock will have another tough test in trying to slow down Tyler Stevens and the Creekview ground game. Expect Carson Gray, Preston Lawrence and Benji Shackleford to help lead the defensive effort again this week.
For Creekview to win, they will need to get pressure on Woodstock’s Comeau and force him to rush his throws. For Woodstock to win, they’ll need to take care of the football and slow down Stevens. We believe Woodstock will be improved, but we like the Grizzlies defense early in the season. Creekview by 24.
The Etowah Eagles get back on the field this week as they host the RIver Ridge Knights. Not much changes from last week with regards to the game plan. The Eagles will need to take care of the football and not get behind the chains if they want to be successful on offense. Defensively it is going to be an uphill battle slowing down the potent River Ridge offense.
Speaking of River Ridge, the Knights went over to Woodstock last week and walked away with a 49-14 victory. Amhere Morrison rushed for 96 yards and 3-TDs and added 27 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to help lead the way. Quarterback Carson Lathem has thrown for 274 yards and 4-TDs with no interceptions on the young season. Defensive linemen Dylan Persuad leads the team in total tackles while Brian Bradley has already recorded seven tackles for loss.
Perhaps ball control will be the key for Etowah to keep the potent Knights offense on the sideline. That’s probably a bit too much to ask for the Etowah offense this week. River Ridge has a spoil of riches on both sides of the ball. We like River Ridge by four touchdowns.
The Rome Wolves return from the bye week ready to avenge last season’s loss to the Cherokee Warriors. The Wolves defeated Rockmart in Week-1 as Reece Fountain looked sharp completing 64.7% of his passes for 195 yards and 3-TDs with no interceptions. Martel Height was his main target so we wouldn’t be surprised if Rome will look to exploit any advantage in the secondary. Shaun Nelson is the workhouse on the ground for Rome. Expect him to test the Warriors front seven.
The Cherokee Warriors come into this game after surviving a wild game against rival Sequoyah. The Warriors were able to establish a bit of a run game against the Chiefs and we expect them to lean on Zi Johnson to help balance the passing game. Johnson rushed for 134 yards in last weeks victory. Credit the offensive line for making holes for Johnson!
We haven’t talked much about defenses yet, but this one will come down to whether or not Rome can force Cherokee to be one dimensional or vice versa. Even if they do, will it be enough to stop A.J. Swann, one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the state? The home field of Baron Stadium should come into play here. We like the Wolves by 1.