Nov. 9, 2009

Warriors tame Lions; will play at home again Friday

By Kurt Duryea

CENTRE — The Haleyville Lions came roaring into the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on the crest of a six-game win streak, their stout defense yielding only 9.9 points per game. Cherokee County, with a 10-0 record and a number one ranking, knew they were going to be hunted. But the Warrior offense and defense both went into overdrive, posting a 51-13 win.

Field position played a vital role in the early minutes.

“On our kickoff returns, we're averaging a start on our own 48,” Warriors coach Tripp Curry said. “I told our kids all week that I would expect an onside kick before someone takes a chance kicking deep against us. Then, if we don't score, we can pin them deep in their own territory.”

The Warriors won the toss and chose to put the ball in the hands of Coty Blanchard.

The onsides kick Curry had anticipated was recovered by the Adam Hundley on the Haleyville 46. Cherokee County then took only five plays to take the lead on a five-yard Blanchard pass to Desmond Brown. The kick was blocked.

The Lions surprised the Warriors on their ensuing possession, as Drew Whiteside hooked up with a wide-open Hayden Pugh on a 48-yard touchdown. With 7:06 left in the first, the Lions led 7-6, and the Warriors trailed for the first time since week one.

“You never really get scared when you're down with this team,” Curry said. “We try to get the ball to guys who can make plays and they just do it. They are good at doing that and don't think they can lose.”

The Warriors next points came at 9:28 of the second quarter, when Blanchard connected with Brown again from 19 yards out. The conversion failed.

The turning point for the Warriors came on the next Haleyville possession. Back-to-back sacks by Caleb Hays pushed the Lions back to their own 9.

“We were able to stuff the run and knew they were in a situation where they had to throw,” Curry said. “Then we can send people from anywhere.”

Forced to punt, the Lions could not stop the Warriors. Blanchard raced in from 17 yards out and the Warrior lead was 18 -7 with 5:30 left in the half.

The Warriors put the game out of reach when Caleb Crane pounded the pigskin into the end zone from seven yards with two minutes left in the half. Isaac Jones kicked the PAT and the Warriors led 25-7.

The Lions opened the second half with an impressive 68- yard drive that culminated in a 31-yard run by Whiteside. The two point conversion failed but the lead was reduced to 25-13.

The Warriors gave the Lions exactly 16 seconds to celebrate before Coty Blanchard connected with Brown for his third TD catch of the game. The 52-yard heave and a Jones PAT made it 31-13.

The Cherokee defense forced the Lions to go three-and-out. Blanchard provided another thrill as he burst up the middle and outraced the entire Lions secondary for a 60-yard touchdown with 2:10 left in the third.

Brett Burgess silenced the Lions' roar for good when he intercepted Whiteside inside the Haleyville 20 and cruised in for the touchdown. Late in the fourth, Tanner Young threw a 5-yard pass late to Denzel Johnson to close the scoring.

The Warriors host Fayette County (8-3) Friday. A year ago, the Warriors beat the Tigers 47-15 in the playoffs.