CENTRE — Neither rain nor sleet nor gloom of night could derail the Cherokee County victory train as it came one stop closer to claiming the Warriors' second straight 4A, Region 6 title. Cherokee County (7-0, 5-0) overcame the elements and a tenacious Jacksonville defense on their way to a 24-12 victory Friday night in Class 4A, Region 6 action.

Game officials moved up the start of the game by 15 minutes due to approaching storm cells being tracked from the west.

Desmond Brown opened the game for Cherokee County, returning the opening kick-off to the 41-yard line. D.J. Fife then capped a 59-yard, five-minute drive with a three-yard TD run. Isaac Jones booted the extra point and the Warriors lead with 6:47 remaining in the first quarter.

The Golden Eagles (5-2, 3-2) found out quickly that yardage against the Warrior defense is hard to come by. Cherokee County forced Jacksonville to go three and out on their first series.

Mother nature stopped the Warriors on their next drive. Straight-line winds and pounding rain punished everyone at Bobby Joe Johnson Field.

After the weather passes, Jacksonville drove 72 yards on 12 plays, all runs. Jackson Pearson covered the last nine yards for the TD. The point after was no good and the Warriors remained on top 7-6 at with 6:31 left in the first half.
After A Cherokee County drive stalled at the 27-yard line, Jacksonville took over, looking to gain the lead but the Warrior defense held firm.

“Our defense really did step up tonight,” said coach Trip Curry. “It seemed like Caleb Crane had a hundred tackles tonight.”

The Warrior offense produced on the next possession, as Blanchard completed five straight passes to four different receivers. Chambers made a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab on a 13-yard scoring completion and the Warriors went into halftime with a 14-6 cushion.

The Warriors scored their final TD late in the third quarter. Blanchard ran up the middle, spun to the outside, pushed a would-be tackler to the ground and sprinted away from the stunned defenders to complete a highlight reel-quality, 52-yard romp. With 2:36 left in the third Jones added his final extra point and the Warriors led 21-6.

The Eagles recovered a bobbled punt and Coryell Elston bolted 50 yards through the Warrior defense to the end zone. The two-point conversion was no good, giving the Warriors a 21-12 lead with 10:45 left in the game. Jones added a 25-yard field goal with 6:44 left in the game.

The No. 2-ranked Warriors travel to Locust Fork Friday.