By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
The current popular expression among teenagers is 6-7. Some say it means so-so, but there’s nothing so-so about the Cherokee County Warriors’ 5-6 football duo of junior safety Keshawn Thomas (who wears jersey No. 5) and senior running back Keyshawn Woods (who wears jersey No. 6).
Last season, Thomas tallied 93 ½ tackles, including three for loss, with five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
Meanwhile, Woods churned out 2,255 yards on 278 carries with 22 touchdowns.
Thomas, who led the county in tackles, was recently chosen as the All-Cherokee County Defensive Player of the Year. Woods, who led the entire coverage area in yards rushing, was selected as the All-Cherokee County Offensive Player of the Year.
“It’s a real honor,” Thomas said of his selection. “There are a lot of people in the county, even on our own defense who could have gotten this award, so it’s a real honor to be selected.”
With Woods’ offensive selection, he carries on a Warrior running back lineage of recent all-county Offensive MVPs that includes Jacob Cornejo and Tae Diamond.
“Tae is like a brother to me, and he’d say ‘Look at this. I know you want one.’ I’d be like ‘I’m going to get one’ and I worked my butt off this year,” Woods said. “I knew this was the year to be that guy that carried the barrel. I just decided if I worked hard enough I could be one of those people. I could put my name on that list.”
Helping Woods put his name on that list was his offensive linemen. That line included two Division I signees in 6-foot-4 tight end Ben Moseley (Duke) and 6-foot-7 lineman Asa Holbert (Western Kentucky).
“Those are my big boys,” Woods said. “We’re all extremely close. It’s been a brotherhood all the way from kindergarten all the way up. Nobody talks about the two-hour film sessions with the O-line. I’m with them and I’m learning everything. We had amazing chemistry. We knew where the holes would be. We knew what plays to run and we would execute them. I’m very grateful for all of them.”
Both players are also grateful to each other for the seasons they’ve turned in and the honors they’ve received.
“Since peewee, people have lined us up and be like ‘Which Keyshawn is faster?” Woods said. “We’ve always competed to be better than each other, in the weight room, school, earning people’s respect. It’s more than football. That’s made us the people we are today.
“He’s like my little brother. He has so much heart. He’s small (5-foot-8) but mighty. I’ve always said that growing up playing peewee together. He works for everything he’s got, and I’m very proud of him.”
“It’s really helped me going against Keyshawn at practice since my freshman year,” Thomas said. “One day at practice, Keyshawn caught a pass and I’m just sitting there waiting. We’re in shells and can’t tackle him. He ran straight over me, but ever since day, it’s been a different switch turned on. He’s added a different switch to me.”
The switches that Thomas and Woods both turned on helped lead the Warriors to a 7-4 record and to the Class 4A state playoffs for the sixth straight season.
And there’s certainly nothing so-so about that.
Joining Thomas and Woods from Cherokee County High School on the all-county team is Holbert, Moseley, Dylan Duncan, Jayquan Diamond, James Hunter, Jackson Doeg, Ethan Glass, Nate Black, and Cooper Allen.
The Warriors also have honorable mention players in Case Hill, Evan Hill, Layton Baggett, Tatum Perry, Cayce Tittle, Adam Griffith, Jayshawn Stroup, Jayvierre Henderson, Darrwin Ross, Dalton Duncan, and Hugh Miller.
Chosen from Spring Garden (6-5) is Brady Ruark, Ben Baker, Bryant Williams, Brody Lemons, Zane Edwards, Clayton Sadler, Zack Scogin, and Colton Driskell. Panther honorable mention players are Jake Marlow, Hayes Guthrie, and Chandler Rogers.
Selected from Sand Rock (3-8) is Alec Ashley, Ryker Woodall, Brendon Lindsey, Nick Clanton, and Alex Stone. Wildcat honorable mention players are Grayson Lane, Lathan Amos, Ezra Robison, Bradley Stone, Jimmy Wells, and Landon Chadwick.
Cedar Bluff (3-7) has five selections in Hayden Tucker, Hudson Smith, Saw Jordan, Jamison Miller, and Sam Payne. Tiger honorable mention players are Jonas Brown, Zach Jones, Kadien Tracy, Isaac Roberts, Bryant Gravley, and Johnny Shaw.
Representing Gaylesville (3-7) is Jack Sentell, Aydn Heinrich, Jared Butts, Malachi Jennings, and Bradlee Smith. Trojan honorable mention players are Cole Hendon, Karrson Ray, Timmy Dawson, Parker Fletcher, and Drake Brown.
