Staff Reports

CENTRE – Bayley Blanchard won his unofficial football debut with the Cherokee County Warriors Friday night in jamboree action against North Jackson at Warrior Stadium. The final was 14-0.

North Jackson took the opening possession of the scrimmage and drove it 55 yards in 17 plays, but the Warriors’ Easton Morgan picked off a Keyton Long pass at the 22-yard line to kill the drive.

The turnover led to Cherokee County’s first touchdown, a 2-yard run by Jayshawn Stroup with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter. Stroup also had a 50-yard run on the third play of the five-play drive. Hugh Miller connected on the extra point for a 7-0 Warrior lead.

Stroup led the Warrior ground game with 68 yards and a score on eight carries.

Tatum Perry ran in for a 9-yard touchdown with 9:28 remaining in the first half. Miller added the point after for the final.

Perry led the Warrior passing game by throwing for 69 yards on five completions.

Long went 5-of-12 passing for 33 yards and also ran for 10 yards on seven carries for the Chiefs. Ace Jones led the Chiefs’ running game with 24 yards on six carries.

Both teams played their reserves for most of the second half. Luis Berry accumulated 66 yards on eight carries in the second half for the Warriors.

North Jackson opens the 2026 football season on Thursday at Grissom. Cherokee County hosts Class 2A, No. 1 Piedmont on Aug. 28.

Cedar Bluff splits with Saks, Etowah

CEDAR BLUFF – The Cedar Bluff Tigers split a pair of football scrimmages in Cole Murphy’s unofficial debut on Friday night. They defeated Saks 7-6, but fell in the nightcap to Etowah 14-7.

Jamison Miller accounted for the Tigers’ lone touchdown against Saks. Dallas Storey connected with Zach Jones on a touchdown pass against Etowah.

Cedar Bluff opens its football season on Friday at West End of Walnut Grove.

Spring Garden 13, Section 7

SECTION – The Spring Garden Panthers scored on their opening possession Friday night and held on for a 13-7 football jamboree victory at Section on Friday.

Ben Baker led the Panther ground game with 59 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown on the opening drive for the only score in the varsity half. He also made four tackles on defense. Hayden Smith added the Panthers other score in the junior varsity half.

Brady Ruark ran for 48 yards, threw for 44 yards and posted four tackles on defense for Spring Garden. Miguel Grizzard added 52 yards on the ground.

Cayden Thompson tallied nine tackles on defense. Wesley Williams made six stops and had a sack.

Spring Garden hosts Gaston on Thursday to open its 2026 season.

Collinsville 35, Appalachian 6

COLLINSVILLE – Collinsville senior quarterback Mason McAteer accounted for four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) in a 35-6 football jamboree win over visiting Appalachian on Friday night.

McAteer’s first touchdown pass went for 20 yards to Gavin Lang. McAteer ran in from five yards for the Panthers’ next score to make it a 14-6 game. He connected with Sylas Adams on a 75-yard touchdown and a 5-yard touchdown toss to Bentley Jones to make the score 28-6. Jackson Clanton scored the Panthers’ last touchdown on a 10-yard run for the final.

Collinsville opens the 2026 football season at Sylvania on Friday.

Piedmont dominates Munford, Weaver

ALEXANDRIA – The Piedmont Bulldogs turned in a pair of dominating football scrimmage performances at Alexandria on Friday. The Bulldogs blanked Munford 27-0 in their first scrimmage, then defeated Weaver 34-7.

In the win over Munford, Jaxson Howard scored Piedmont’s first touchdown on a 2-yard run. Cole Austin accounted for a pair of touchdowns on runs of 3 and 25 yards to make it 20-0 Bulldogs.

Isiah Pinto connected on a 38-yard scoring pass to Trevin Holley in the second quarter for Piedmont’s final touchdown.

In the win over Weaver, Austin connected with Carson Cleveland on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Following a Bearcat fumble, Howard added a 1-yard touchdown run to make it a 14-0 Bulldog lead.

Piedmont’s defense came up big again on Ben Tolbert’s 40-yard interception return for a touchdown. Howard added a 4-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter for a 28-0 Piedmont advantage.

Weaver finally got on the board on Connor Hyatt’s 29-yard touchdown toss to Junior Allen with just under a minute remaining in the first quarter to make the score 28-7 Bulldogs.

Noah Bolton scored on a 24-yard run for Piedmont with 3:45 remaining in the second quarter for the final.

Piedmont hosts Jacksonville in its season opener on Friday.