Staff Reports

HANCEVILLE – Cherokee County High School senior quarterback Cade Hopper accounted four touchdowns, including two connections passing with Malachi Horton, in leading the Warriors to a 49-15 Class 4A, Region 6 football win at Hanceville on Friday night.

The game was the first meeting between the two teams.

Tae Diamond accounted for a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Warriors (3-1, 2-1), including Cherokee County’s first score of the night on a 5-yard run. Will Frampton’s extra point provided the Warriors a 7-0 lead with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Hanceville (2-3, 1-2) tied the game with 10:19 to go in the second quarter on quarterback Zachary Campbell’s 1-yard run.

Hopper connected with Horton for a 28-yard score later in the quarter to help the Warriors regain the lead at 13-7, but another Campbell touchdown run – this time a 3-yard score – tied the game again at 13. The Bulldogs were successful on a 2-point conversion following the touchdown, giving Hanceville its first lead at 15-13 with 4:27 remaining in the first half.

The Warriors regained the lead on their ensuing drive, as Hopper and Horton hooked up on a 17-yard score. Hopper ran in for the 2-point conversion to push the Warrior lead to 21-15.

Hopper scored again on a 1-yard run with 20 seconds to go in the first half, making the score 28-15.

The second half was all Warriors, as they outscored the Bulldogs 21-0. Hopper had another 1-yard run at the 6:48 mark of the third quarter. Diamond and Cornejo scored on runs of 20 and 4 yards in the fourth quarter for the final.

Cherokee County returns home to host non-region opponent Munford on Friday. Hanceville is at Lawrence County.