Staff Reports

CENTRE – The Shades Valley Mounties took a touchdown lead in the second quarter, but the Cherokee County Warriors rallied for a 19-7 victory in Class 4A first-round football playoff action on Friday night.

The Warriors (8-3) will travel to fourth-ranked Leeds (9-1) next Friday. The Green Wave washed out Brooks 45-7 in other playoff action on Friday.

After a scoreless first quarter, Shades Valley (5-6) scored the game’s first touchdown on Antwan Kelser’s 40-yard pass to Jordan Howard. The extra point provided the Mounties a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

Kelser led the Mounties by completing 14-of-27 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Howard had five catches for 86 yards and a score.

The Warriors got on the scoreboard on a Hugh Miller 39-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game, then Cherokee County took the lead on Tatum Perry’s 6-yard touchdown run. Following Miller’s extra point, the Warriors led 10-7.

Perry later added a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to take a 16-7 advantage at halftime.

Perry led the Warriors with 86 yards on 17 carries and two scores. He was also 8-of-13 passing for 32 yards.

Miller added a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter for the final.

Jayshawn Stroup accounted for 65 yards on 21 carries for the Warriors.