Welcome back to our Cherokee County High School Football Previews. After a week off for fall break, all six Cherokee County teams are back in action this week. First the Woodstock Wolverines host the Cherokee Warriors. Have the Wolverines dialed in a formula that might shock the county this season or will the Warriors get back on track? The Etowah Eagles travel to Roswell on Friday night. Will the Eagles defense wreak havoc this week or will Roswell’s passing game rule the day? Down in Woodstock, the River Ridge Knights will host the Riverwood Raiders. Riverwood gave the Ridge all they could handle last season. Will they pull the upset or will the Knights hold serve at home. Finally, the Creekview Grizzlies host rival Sequoyah. The Grizzlies have owned this series but the Chiefs are primed for a big game. Who will have bragging rights in the battle of East Cherokee?
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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 Skinny
The Woodstock Wolverines return from the bye week in search of their first win of the season. Woodstock has not had an easy non-region schedule. They young Wolverines are averaging 7.4 points per game while allowing 40.4 points per game. It’s evident the Wolverines are looking to find their stride this season. Look for Woodstock to continue to work to establish the run this week.
The Cherokee Warriors are also looking to reverse their fortunes as they are in the midst of a 3-game skid. Cherokee will looking to get their offense clicking after they have been held to no more than 14 points in each of their last three games. Quarterback A.J. Swann has thrown for 858 yards and 10-TDs. Caleb Richardson has been a welcome addition to the receiving corps, leading the team with 12 receptions for 224 yards and 3-TDs. Tyler Goddard leads the team in total tackles with 73. As a team the Warriors are allowing 20.6 points per game.
Both teams would like to get off to a fast start in the region and a win this week will go a long way. Cherokee is a little deeper and a little more talented this season. We believe the Warriors will get the run game going this week. Cherokee by four touchdowns.
The Skinny
The Roswell Hornets will look to bounce back after they took one on the chin last week against the Walton Raiders. Going into last week’s game, quarterback Robbie Roper was leading Class 7-A in passing yards, but in injury early an the game sidelined him for most of the contest. If Roper can’t go this week, expect them to turn to sophomore K.J. Smith. Whoever takes the snaps this week will look to get the ball to four talented receivers, Ethan Nation (21 receptions, 350 yards, 4-TDs), Shaun Spence (20 receptions, 362 yards, 3-TDs), Ethan Crite (14 receptions, 335 yards, 5-TDs) and tight end Zeke Moore (12 receptions, 179 yards, 3-TDs). Roswell’s defense is allowing 20.4 points per game.
The Etowah Eagles are looking to continue improvement coming off the bye week. The Eagles were shut out in their last two outings, so Coach Kemper will be looking to dial in the right combination to get points on the board this week. All eyes will be on the defense as they look to slow down Roswell’s air raid offense. The defense have allowed 30 points per game this season, but they’ve faced a few extremely potent offenses. Look for the offense to try and get Elijah Washington going on the ground to keep Roswell’s offense on the sidelines.
Roswell is a dangerous team even if Roper can’t go. Etowah will need to force a turnover or two and perhaps get a special teams score to keep it close this week. We believe it’s possible but not probably. We like the Hornets by four touchdowns.
The Skinny
The River Ridge Knights might be a little off their torrid offensive pace from a year ago, but their record is still unblemished through two games. The Knights are about as balanced as you can get on offense, averaging 161.3 yards through the air and 163.5 yards per game on the ground. Carson Lathem has thrown for 606 yards and 6-TDs. While Amhere Morrison has rushed for 486 yards and 6-TDs. Jackson Head continues to pace the receivers with 16 receptions for 248 yards. Perhaps the biggest improvement for River Ridge has been on defense as they are allowing 11 points per game through four games. That’s nine points better than last year’s defense through the same four game stretch.
The Riverwood Raiders got off to a fast start this season, winning their first four games before getting derailed last week at Johns Creek. Last year, as region play began, the Raiders offense seemed to bog down a bit. On the season, they are averaging 34.6 points per game, while scoring just below that in two region games, (32 ppg). The Raiders will lean on senior quarterback Avery Smith. He has a couple of speedy receivers in Levi Linowes and Tim Dorce that can certainly challenge the River Ridge secondary; so we will see if Smith has time in the pocket to take advantage of some mismatches.
Don’t expect Riverwood to be intimidated by River Ridge’s potent offense. They gave the Knights a scare last season, and we expect this game to be just as competitive. We believe the home field advantage is the difference maker this week. Knights by 3.
The Skinny
The Creekview Grizzlies host neighborhood rival Sequoyah this week. The Grizzlies have owned the series and look to run their streak to four straight wins. Creekview will look to get back on track this week on offense as they were shut out for the first time since 2017. Expect the Grizzlies to get running back Tyler Stevens involved early and often. Stevens leads the team with 186 yards and 6-TDs and has also caught 14 passes for 128 yards and 2-TDs. Tristan Summers leads the team in receiving with 18 catches for 199 yards and 1-TD. Creekview’s hallmark has been their defense. They are allowing 7 points per game.
The Sequoyah Chiefs will also be looking to bounce back from their loss their last time out. The Chiefs area averaging 296.8 yards per game on the ground and have had 12 different players carry the ball this season. Jackson Hancock (276 yards, 2-TDs), Peyton Lucas (238 yards, 1-TD), and Matthew Traynor (233 yards, 7-TDs) lead the way on the ground. The Chiefs have been without Jack Piskorz over the last two games and it remains to be seen if he will be available after the bye week. The Chiefs defense is allowing 22.5 points per game, but the secondary has intercepted 7 passes on the season.
Creekview has dominated this rivalry since its inception and have not lost to Sequoyah since 2017. Coincidentally, that was also the last time the Grizzlies lost back to back home games, and as we mentioned earlier, it was the last time the Grizzlies were shut out. If Sequoyah takes care of the ball, they have a pretty good chance…Give is the Chiefs by 2.