CENTRE – Cherokee County’s defense turned in its best outing of the football season Friday, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Warriors to a win against Class 2A Ider on homecoming. The Hornets kept the Warriors winless on the season with a 14-13 victory.

Ider (4-1) struck first in the second quarter when Monroe Smith picked off Cherokee County senior quarterback Tanner Young and returned the ball 38 yards to set the Hornets up deep in Warrior territory.

Hornet senior quarterback Landry Gaddis punched it in from 1-yard away to put Ider up 7-0 with nine minutes to go in the second quarter.

The Warriors (0-5) tied the game when Young connected with junior receiver Wade Griffith for a 20-yard touchdown with a minute remaining before halftime. Eric Burgess added the extra point.

The game remained tied at 7 until the 9:50 mark of the fourth quarter. Warrior junior running back Ty Green took the ball off right end and went 25 yards for a touchdown to give Cherokee County its first lead, but Burgess missed the extra point, keeping the score at 13-7.

Green led the Warrior rushing attack with 97 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.

Ider responded on its next possession, as Gaddis connected with junior receiver Jacob West for a 59-yard touchdown. Justin Lea’s PAT put the Hornets out in front 14-13 with 8:44 remaining in the game.

Cherokee County made one last drive down to the Ider 17, but Burgess missed a 38-yard field goal with two minutes to go in the game. Ider took over from there and ran out the clock.

Cherokee County hosts Lincoln next Friday, while Ider hosts Section.