After losing to Cherokee County last year for the first time in 13 years in 2004, the Valley Cubs secured a 39-18 victory last Friday at Bobby Joe Johnson Field.
Alexandria running back Chris Evans had 217 yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns.
The Warriors, though, were not slouches on the ground.
Behind a productive offensive line, juniors Chris Dupree and Hershel Hou-ston picked up a lot of real estate on the Valley Cub defense.
Dupree had 172 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, and Houston had 107 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.
“Our offensive line blocked well,” said CCHS head coach Tom Curry. “We had to replace two guys from last year and play through some injuries tonight.”
The first quarter looked more like a track meet with both teams breaking big runs.
Alexandria traveled 80 yards on 13 plays on the Val-ley Cubs’ opening drive, eating up the clock.
On first and goal from the CCHS 4-yard line, Evans took it in for the score with 6:53 left in the quarter. Jordan Warren added the PAT, making it 7-0.
Answering back, the Warriors traveled 80 yards of their own in seven plays for the score.
On first and 10 from the Valley Cub 20, Houston rumbled his way for the touchdown with 4:39 left in the quarter. A missed PAT left the score at 7-6.
Once again, Alexandria made an impressive drive to put points on the board.
The Valley Cub drive was kept alive with quarterback Jacob Welch finding T.J. Heath for gains of 12 and 24 yards.
On second and 1 from the Warrior 5, Evans scampered into the end zone with nine seconds in the first quarter. Warren split the up-rights to make it 14-6.
The second quarter started with yet another scoring drive by the Warriors.
With a 42-yard gain by Dupree, the Warriors were back in Alexandria territory.
On first and 10 from the Cub 29, Houston stepped it into fourth gear to get across the goal line.
With 10:46 left in the half, a missed two-point conversion left the score at 14-12.
With both teams exchan-ging fumbles, the game suddenly shifted to a defensive struggle.
The scoring resumed with the Valley Cubs notching a field goal by Warren as time expired. The score was 17-12 in favor of Alexandria at the half.
The Valley Cubs opened the second half with more offense.
With tough running by Evans, the Cubs traveled 86 yards in 11 plays for the six points.
Evans capped off the drive with a 10-yard jolt to the end zone with 6:19 left in the third. Warren added the PAT, making it 24-12.
With help from the legs of Zach Morgan, the Warriors battled down the field to tighten the score.
On first and 10 from the 16, Dupree glided across the goal line with 4:18 left in the quarter. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 24-18.
With some momentum going into the fourth quarter, the Warriors looked to take the lead. But a returned interception by Jesse Ashworth with 11:43 left in the game ended the drive.
Welch connected with Heath for the two-point conversion, making it 32-18.
Cherokee County sophomore Keddrick Barrett intercepted an errant Alexandria pass, giving the Warriors another chance.
The Warriors made a valiant effort, but their drive stalled out on the Cub 37.
On the next play, Evans went 63 yards for an Alexandria touchdown. With 5:44 left in the game Warren connected on his PAT, making it 39-18.
One last effort from the Warriors came up short, as the CCHS drive stalled out at the Valley Cub 25.
“I really thought we had an opportunity to come back a few times, but things kept going wrong for us,” said Curry. “We have a lot of work to do, but we’re still a solid football team.”
Region play starts this week for CCHS, as the Warriors host Sardis Friday night
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