SCOTTSBORO – In this day and age of high school football, undefeated regular seasons are a rare feat.

On Thursday night, the 2008 Cherokee County Warriors added their names to the school record book by defeating Class 5A Scottsboro, 40-18.

The Class 4A, fifth-ranked Warriors (10-0) became only the third Cherokee County High School football team since 1949 to finish the regular season undefeated and untied.

It’s the first time the school has posted an undefeated regular season mark since 1987, when the Warriors were 9-0 under former head coach Bobby Joe Johnson.

It’s also the first time a Warrior team has gone 10-0 in the regular season since 1973, also coached by Johnson.

“It’s about the kids and what they do,” said Warrior head coach Tripp Curry. “It’s about the support this community gives them. It’s about a bunch of things. It’s just wonderful to be a part of something like that. It’s a great feeling that these kids know when they get out and work, it pays off.”

But before this tribe of Warriors added their names to the school record book, they had to fight to earn it.

The Warriors were flagged 17 times for 145 yards, which didn’t have Curry too happy following the game. He vehemently went on the record about the game’s officiating.

“I am really disappointed in the professionalism of those referees,” Curry said. “I don’t ever gripe or complain about officiating, but I am tonight. It was unbelievable what we went through. It’s the worst officiating I’ve seen in years.

“If the referees don’t like me, that’s one thing. But you’re penalizing kids, and it’s almost a shame the way they treated our kids tonight.”

Despite the penalties, the Warrior defense was able to force seven Scottsboro turnovers that led to 33 points.

“Our guys just had a spectacular night,” Curry said. “They (Scottsboro) run the option, and they’re well-coached. Their game plan was to keep our offense off the field. Our defense really shut them down, and I just can’t say enough about people like Caleb Crane, Cole Sterling, Hudson Grimes, Matt Hill and Kenny Akin. They had a good game.”

Scottsboro (5-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 38-yard field goal by Jay Benson. Cherokee County then scored 28 unanswered points to take a 28-3 lead into the fourth quarter.

Running back D.J. Fife got the Warriors on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run with 2:07 left in the first quarter. Issac Jones’s extra point made it 7-3 Warriors.

Quarterback Coty Blanchard accounted for the next two Warrior touchdowns. He had a 35-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors up 14-3 with 4:15 left before the half. Blanchard added a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dillion Cabe just before the half to put the Warriors up 21-3.

Blanchard finished the game completing 15-of-26 passes for 160 yards and a score. He also rushed for 89 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown.

Jacob Morgan opened the third-quarter scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 28-3 Warriors with 2:10 to go in the quarter. Morgan finished the night with 139 yards on nine carries with two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 33 yards.

Scottsboro finally ended the Warrior scoring run with a touchdown. J.J. Smith scored on a 13-yard run with 9:03 left in the game. The Wildcats were successful on the two-point conversion, as quarterback Trey Brizendine connected with John Austin Deerman to cut the Warrior lead to 28-11.

Scottsboro struck again on a 52-yard Benson to Parker Henegar touchdown pass. Benson’s PAT made it 28-18 Warriors with 7:27 to go. That would be as close as the Wildcats would come.

Morgan scored his second touchdown on a 57-yard run to up the Warrior lead to 34-18.

Warrior defender Brett Burgess capped off the night with a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the game for the final.