It’s been over a year now since the Cherokee County Warriors’ football season ended in heartbreak against Andalusia in Auburn.
And in that time, the Warriors have gotten bigger, faster and stronger, just to have another opportunity to win a state title.
Just one more win and the Warriors will be state champions.
But sometimes that last win is the toughest to obtain. And make no mistake, this will be the toughest challenge to date for the fourth-ranked Warriors to pass.
Top-ranked Catholic of Montgomery (14-0) has gone 40-2 over the past three seasons. The Knights have the AHSAA’s top-rated defense this season. The unit has eight shutouts, including six straight from Sept. 15 through Oct. 20.
In last week’s 28-0 victory over Booker T. Washington, junior defensive back Jo Pierce posted seven tackles and had an interception. Junior lineman KJ Washington tallied nine tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
The Knights have given up just 73 points all season, an average of 5.2 points per game. Their closest contest was a 24-14 win over T.R. Miller in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Knight offense is also a force, averaging 41.4 points per contest, led by Troy commitment Caleb McCreary. In last week’s win, McCreary, a senior, completed 8-of-14 pass attempts for 118 yards and 94 rushing yards on 22 carries with two rushing scores. Junior Josh Griffin added 92 yards and two scores on 15 carries. Sophomore JJ Williams finished with six catches for 75 yards.
But there’s also a lot to be said for the grit and determination this band of Warriors has.
Last week, Cherokee County limited Westminster Christian senior quarterback Brandon Musch – the state’s second all-time total yardage producer with over 14,000 yards for his career – to just 59 yards passing and a touchdown on the game’s final play in a 50-6 victory.
Caleb Harbour and Tristan Brown forced a turnover apiece on the Wildcats’ first two possessions. Harbour recovered a fumble on just the third play of the game, leading to a Tae Diamond 1-yard run to put the Warriors up 7-0.
Brown recovered a fumble on a high snap on a punt at the Wildcat 30. Four plays later, Jacob Cornejo ran it in from two yards to help give the Warriors a 15-0 lead.
Speaking of Cornejo, the senior running back has compiled 2,790 yards on 309 carries with 36 touchdowns this season. In just two years with the Warriors, Cornejo has accumulated a school record 5,370 yards and 69 touchdowns on 596 carries.
In the playoffs this season, Cornejo has 823 yards on 101 carries with 14 scores.
Complimenting Cornejo in the backfield is a tough-as-nails quarterback in junior Carson Tittle. Coming back from an ACL tear suffered two weeks ago, Tittle threw just three passes, but two of those went for touchdowns to sophomore receiver Ben Frampton. Tittle might not have the dazzling numbers McCreary has, but he tosses just enough passes to keep the defense from stacking the box all the time, allowing Cornejo and the rest of the Warrior rushers to gain their yards.
With all the talent that will be at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Friday morning at 11 a.m., the game could come down to the team that makes the least mistakes. I’m sure there’s going to be some nerves for the Knights, since none of them have experienced what the Warriors did last year.
Here’s thinking the Warriors get off to a good start and hold on for Cherokee County High School’s first football title since 2009.
The pick: Cherokee County.
WEIS Sports Director Shannon Fagan is 57-15 picking area prep football games for the 2023 season, a 79.2 correct picking percentage.