The opening contest of the 2013 Football season set the Class AAAAAA Region 5 Cherokee Warriors against Class AAAAA Region 7 Creekview Grizzlies on friday night. This two year old series is quickly becoming a great rivalry in the county. The FCA trophy was on the line and both teams came ready for inter-county play on a hot, muggy night in Georgia. There was a buzz in the air with the bands playing in the season opener with heavy drum beats and blaring horns filling the thick muggy air and building up the anticipation to the kick off at 7:30.
The fireworks started early for both teams and kept coming all night as a total of 87 points would be scored. Cherokee was dominant all night on the ground with the Warriors trio of backfield weapons of Senior Blake Johnston (#5), Sophomore Dwayne Tiller (#11) and Sophomore Brittain Brown (#28) all scoring on friday night. Junior standout QB Spencer Ashley (#4) started the 2013 campaign looking sharp and ready for a great year after getting trail by fire in his Sophomore year. Ashley scored in the air with his arm and on the ground with a keeper in the opener. Starting at WR Senior Blase Brown (#8) and Junior Andrew Harris (#10) both had big catches all night and look poised to have a great season. The Offense looks to be high powered this season with several quick strikes and explosive series throughout the opener.
The Defense wiped away some cobwebs as well, but played hard nosed football in shaking away the off season. Senior Linebacker Brandon Hrouda (#7) appears to be starting off where he left last season, getting up from the pile nearly every play.
Cherokee wanted to erase the memory of an opening game loss to Creekview last year and on this night they held high the FCA Trophy at midfield in victory 53-34.
Creekview, starts 2013 with a new coach and a promising Young QB in Sophomore Kyle Wilkie (#10). Wilkie and Creekview will try to bounce back next friday night against River Ridge. Cherokee will travel to Sequoyah to take on the Chiefs after Sequoyah dismissed River Ridge 56-7.
Friday Night Scoring:
Cherokee opened up the game with a TD from (#28) Brittain Brown at 9:21 of the first quarter (Cherokee 7 - Creekview 0).
Creekview countered when Senior Isaiah Rodgers (#27) made a long run up the Cherokee sidelines for a score at 8:15 of the 1st, Creekview missed the point after to make it (Cherokee 7 Creekview 6).
Late in the first quarter Creekview scored again with Rodgers to make the score (Creekview 13 - Cherokee 7) going into the 2nd quarter.
Cherokee then took over the game in the 2nd quarter with quick strikes scoring 4 times with touchdowns (2 TD's by Blake Johnston, another by Brittain Brown and Dwayne Tiller to make the halftime score (Cherokee 36 - Creekview 13).
Halftime had both bands coming onto the field and playing first movements of their performances, like the teams they both were shaking off the cobwebs and giving the freshman their first taste of playing before a capacity crowd at The View.
Freshman Brody Ross (#5) of Creekview started the second half by reeling in a TD pass from Kyle Wilkie to draw the deficit down to (Cherokee 36 - Creekview 20).
Cherokee immediately drove down the field and scored less than 2 minutes later on a keeper from Ashley (#4) taking the lead back to 23 at (43 - 20).
Cherokee added a 41 yard FG and Creekview then finished the 3rd quarter with a TD reception by Junior Trey Peppers (#48) from Wilkie to make the score (Cherokee 46 - Creekview 27).
The 4th quarter saw a more conservative approach and it became obvious that the Georgia hot & muggy evening was starting to take it's toll on both teams physically as play slowed. Creekview added a late TD Pass from Wilkie (#10), followed up by a quick score from Cherokee on Brittain Browns (#8) third score of the evening to make the final score
Cherokee 53 - Creekview 34
