By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
For the second straight season, the Cherokee County Warriors battled their way to the Class 4A state championship game, where they finished runner-up to Catholic-Montgomery.
And, for the second straight year, the Warriors (13-2) were well represented on the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State teams.
Four Warriors earned first-team spots in senior running back Jacob Cornejo, senior offensive lineman Zack Gaylor, junior defensive lineman Tae Diamond and junior linebacker Tristan Brown. Cherokee County also has a second-team selection in senior defensive back Jace Turner.
The ASWA all-state teams were announced on Saturday morning. In all, 13 area football players received all-state recognition. Five of the seven WEIS coverage area teams had at least one all-state representative.
Cornejo set a Cherokee County High School record for rushing with 3,003 yards and 36 touchdowns on 321 carries. Gaylor, an all-state honorable mention last season, was one of Cornejo’s top blockers.
Diamond and Brown helped lead the Warriors on defense this season. Diamond delivered 130 tackles, including 33 for loss, with 22 sacks and forced four fumbles. Brown led the Warriors in tackles (164), including 35 for loss with 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Turner tallied 80 tackles with seven interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He also recovered a pair of fumbles.
In Class 3A, the Piedmont Bulldogs (5-7) had a pair of first-team selections in senior defensive lineman Chance Murphy and linebacker Luke Rhinehart. The Bulldogs also had an honorable mention in junior wide receiver Ish Bethel.
Murphy managed 88 total tackles with 62 solo stops including seven for loss with three sacks. Rhinehart posted 125 total tackles with 87 solo stops including five for loss with three sacks.
Bethel caught 39 passes for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In Class 2A, the Collinsville Panthers (8-3) had an honorable mention in sophomore running back Quintavious Rogers. Rogers ran for 1,093 yards on 116 carries with 19 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 309 yards and four scores and had three punt returns for touchdowns.
In Class 1A, the Spring Garden Panthers (8-3) and Cedar Bluff Tigers (5-6) both had a pair of second-team selections.
Representing Spring Garden is senior defensive back Chapel Pope and junior athlete John Welsh. Pope posted 51 total tackles with three interceptions. Welsh, who played at tight end and linebacker, caught 20 passes for 590 yards and five touchdowns. He also made 41 tackles with an interception.
Senior defensive lineman Carson Webb and senior kicker Carter Dillingham were selected from Cedar Bluff. Webb posted 97 total tackles, including 15 for loss with four sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked extra point. Dillingham delivered on 40-of-42 extra points and made 2-of-3 field goals with a long of 39 yards.
The complete 2023 ASWA All-State Football Teams can be found on the WEIS radio website (www.weisradio.com).