By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

CENTRE – In football, almost everyone looks at the quarterback position as a leader.

First-year Cherokee County High School football coach Bayley Blanchard quickly found out what kind of a leader senior Adam Griffith is, and he didn’t even have to watch him take a snap or make a throw to figure it out.

Back in April, during the Warriors’ area baseball series opener against Alexandria, Griffith injured his right shoulder running out a grounder to third. He tumbled over first base and landed hard on his throwing shoulder, causing an injury that has kept him sidelined throughout the summer.

But Griffith hasn’t let that injury be an excuse not to concentrate on football. He’s become like another coach on the sideline, particularly for the other Warrior quarterbacks, including sophomore Tatum Perry.

“I can’t be on the field, but there are still things I can do,” Griffith said. “Being an older guy now, I’m kind of following what (former Warrior quarterback) Carson (Tittle) did for me the first year when he tore his ACL. He was that role model for me. He talked me through that, how offenses worked and why we did what we did.

“For Tatum, he’s a younger guy building his mind to become a quarterback. It’s a very difficult position. Even though people on TV see you throw the ball or hand the ball off, there’s a lot more that goes into it. I’m just trying to help him and kind of guide him through different things behind the scenes.”

But that’s not all Griffith has done during the summer. He shared his story to the other teams attending the Warriors’ Coach B. Memorial 7-on-7 passing tournament back in July.

“That’s my passion. I love speaking,” Griffith said. “Before all things I am a Christ follower. That’s the most important thing to me in my life. I build my life around it. There’s nothing more important.”

Griffith, one of 11 seniors the Warriors have this season, is the perfect example of what Blanchard wants his Warrior players to be.

“He’s the definition of a true leader,” Blanchard said. “He’s already come to me and said ‘Coach, it doesn’t matter what I do. I’ll wear a headset. I’ll go get the footballs. I’ll do whatever.’ He’s a great kid. You couldn’t ask for a better kid to be on your team.”

As mentioned, Perry has been taking most of the snaps behind center in Griffith’s absence this summer until he is cleared to play, which could be as soon as this week.

However, Blanchard can feel at ease with what he calls “a great talent” in Perry behind center.

“He’s done a really good job this summer,” said Blanchard, who also noted sophomore Easton Morgan and freshman Brantley Silver will provide depth at the quarterback position.

In the past few years, the Warriors have had some of the toughest and most talented running backs in Northeast Alabama, including Jacksonville State’s Jacob Cornejo and Shorter University signee Keyshawn Woods.

The next guys up for the Warriors this season are junior Jayshawn Stroup and senior JV Henderson.

“Jayshawn got a little bit of time last year behind Keyshawn Woods. We’re looking for him to have a big year, as well as JV,” Blanchard said. “He’ll play some running back for us, as well as Keshawn (Thomas), Isaiah (Young) and JJ (Kossar). We’ll have a lot of guys in the backfield, but right now, Jayshawn has kind of proven himself as that guy to play that role.”

Blanchard said the other guys he mentioned besides Stroup will also be playing in the receiver rotation along with others, including senior Tucker Wickham and sophomore Jace Betterton.

“It’s been a change since Coach Blanchard came in. He’s doing the stuff he needs to do to make us better,” Henderson said. “He’s making us better men.”

The Warriors will be young along the offensive line but do have a veteran returning in senior Layton Baggett. Baggett played at right tackle for the Warriors last season. Senior Nate Black will play at tight end.

“I think we will be balanced,” Blanchard said of the Warrior offense. “If we run the football we’ll be able to get on perimeter and use our speed. I think we’ve got a bunch of guys with a lot of speed and quickness. I think that’s kind of what you’ll see offensively.”

On the defensive side, Thomas returns at safety. The reigning All-Cherokee County Defensive Player of the Year  tallied 93 ½ tackles, including three for loss, with five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions last season. Henderson and Young will also patrol the Warrior secondary.

Other seniors expected to contribute on the Warrior defense are linebacker Black and defensive linemen Baggett, Dalton Duncan and Landon Hill. Junior Darrwin Ross is also expected to be another standout at defensive end.

The Warriors also got a big boost during the offseason with the addition of 6-foot-4, 290-pound senior defensive lineman transfer from Chattooga (Ga.) Kadin Fife.

Fife is considered one of the top prospects in the Class of 2027. He has committed to Louisville.

“Defensively I think we’ll be pretty good,” Blanchard said. “I think we’ll be fast and physical.”

Blanchard’s style of coaching isn’t the only thing the Warriors will have to get used to this season. They’re competing in an entirely new Class 4A, Region 8 with Scottsboro (Oct. 2), Fairview (Oct. 30), Good Hope (Oct. 16), Guntersville (Sept. 18), Sardis (Oct. 9), Brewer (Sept. 11), Hayden (Sept. 4) and Crossville (Oct. 23). Six of those schools dropped down from 5A.

Following a jamboree at Warrior Stadium against North Jackson on Friday, Cherokee County opens the 2026 season at home against Highway 9 rival and Blanchard’s alma mater Piedmont on Aug. 28.

The Warriors’ other non-region game this season is at Jacksonville on Sept. 25.

“I love to play the best and I want to see where we’re at,” Blanchard said. “Our region is tough. There are a lot of good coaches, a lot of good teams there, but I’m looking forward to it.”