By Zack Maio, Andalusia Star-News
ANDALUSIA – The Cherokee County Warriors made several crucial plays and held on for a 34-26 Class 4A first-round playoff win at Straughn Friday night.
It was the Warriors’ first playoff win since 2017, but the Tigers made them earn it.
Straughn began the game on its own 18-yard line, but scored quickly. Abram Guilford threw a 69-yard strike to Micah Turner on the first play. He then found Turner a second time on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Brenden Bartholomew added the extra point for a 7-0 lead a minute and 38 seconds into the game.
The Warriors took over and moved downfield on three first-down runs by Damien Ramsey. Lamycal Mitchell pushed the ball inside the red zone before a fumble ended the drive at the 9.
Cherokee County (7-3) regained possession right back after an interception from Dalton Chestnut and took advantage. Ramsey scored a 13-yard touchdown run, and the PAT was good to tie the score at 7.
Straughn (7-4) needed just five minutes to reclaim the lead. Jaylon Guilford had an 11-yard reception as Olhava picked up a 4-yard first down run before Turner caught a 34-yard pass. Abram Guilford added a 13-yard run, and a face mask penalty ended the first quarter.
Olhava found the end zone from 3 yards out and capped the 10-play, 80-yard drive early in the second. Bartholomew’s PAT made it 14-7.
But the Warriors answered. Quarterback Cade Hopper found Malachi Horton from 32 yards out to force another tie at 14-14 with 8:51 left in the half.
Cherokee County later took a 21-14 halftime lead after a 3-yard touchdown run by Ramsey.
Straughn fell further behind after the break, as Hopper found CJ Gresham on a 19-yard score on the Warriors’ first drive of the third quarter. The PAT was good and widened the Warrior lead to 28-14.
The Tigers cut their deficit back to single digits on their next possession. Abram Guilford found Jaylon Guilford open for 26 yards to start the drive. Aaron Olhava finished it off with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Warriors blocked the extra point, keeping the score at 28-20.
Three plays into the fourth, Cherokee County saw its lead slip to two after a 9-yard run from Jaylon Guilford, but the Warriors stayed in front 28-26 after a failed conversion.
Cherokee County went three-and-out later in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers hope. Abram Guilford hit Turner on a 46-yard play, but Straughn ran into a roadblock when the Warriors forced a turnover on downs.
Ramsey then extended the Warrior lead to 34-26 with a 9-yard run, but the extra point was wide, leaving Straughn with a chance.
Abram Guilford threw an 11-yard pass to Olhava near midfield, but Cherokee County made another stop, then took a knee to end the game.
The Warriors return home to host third-ranked Vigor (10-1) in the second round. Vigor blanked West Blocton 40-0 in other first-round action on Friday.