Staff Reports

HUNTSVILLE – The Cherokee County Warriors are headed back to the Class 4A football state semifinals for the first time since the state championship season of 2009 with a 35-21 victory at Randolph on Friday night.

The Warriors (11-2) will face Region 6 rival Oneonta (11-1) for the right to go to Auburn this Friday in Centre. The Redskins won the two teams’ first matchup this season 17-14 back on Sept. 9.

Oneonta blew out previously-unbeaten Deshler 62-21 in other state quarterfinal action on Friday.

The Warriors’ Jacob Cornejo collected 195 yards on 29 carries and scored three touchdowns. Cade Hopper connected on 4-of-5 pass attempts for 74 yards and a touchdown to Malachi Horton.

The Raiders (10-3), who were making their first quarterfinal appearance in school history, took an early 7-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Nic Strong. The Warriors countered with Cornejo’s first touchdown – a 26-yard score – to pull the Cherokee County within a point. The PAT failed, keeping the score at 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Strong pushed the Raider lead to 14-6 with his 14-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter, but then Hopper found Horton for a 49-yard score. Cornejo ran in for the tying 2-point conversion to even the score at 14.

Jack Amos scored on a 1-yard run right before halftime. Will Frampton’s extra point gave the Warriors their first lead at 21-14.

Cornejo stretched Cherokee County’s advantage to 28-14 in the third quarter on his 11-yard touchdown run. Strong pulled the Raiders back within a score at 28-21 later in the quarter on another 1-yard run. He finished the game with 71 yards on 19 carries with three scores.

Cornejo capped the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the final.

Andrew Hunter completed 18-of-27 passes for 114 yards for the Raiders. He also added 69 yards on 12 carries. Grayson Davenport caught seven passes for 72 yards.

Horton had a pair of catches for 52 yards and touchdown for the Warriors.