By Stan Veitch

Herald Sports Correspondent

After a huge, emotional victory, high school football teams usually experience a letdown.

That was no different with Cherokee County last Friday.

Fortunately for the Warriors, reality set in soon enough for a 34-25 Class 4A, Region 6 win over Ashville.

“I thought we might come out a little flat,” said Centre coach Thomas Curry. “I hoped we wouldn’t, but I was afraid we would. Not 19 points flat, but a little flat.”

The 19 points mentioned is how much the Warriors (3-1, 3-0) spotted the Bulldogs (0-4, 0-3) before settling down.

In fact, Cherokee County was so flat in the beginning that after a quarter and a half, Ashville had more touchdowns (three) than the Warriors had first downs (two).

The Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and used 10 plays to cover 71 yards that culminated in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Barry Woods to Xavier Newton.

With his kick, David Harrison gave Ashville a 7-0 lead with 6:22 left in the first frame.

After a three-and-out by Centre, the Bulldogs got a quick touchdown on a 32-yard run by Debori Bothwell. It was only the second play of the drive, the first being a 21-yard Woods rush.

This time, the extra point try was wide right.

Once again, the Warriors responded with a punt on their fourth play. But at this point, it became evident that Cherokee County had finally arrived at the game.

After forcing a Bulldog three-and-out, the Warrior offense started clicking, but the ensuing drive ended with Will Bailey’s 26-yard field goal attempt being blocked by Newton on the second play of the second quarter.

Ashville wasn’t done, however, driving 80 yards in nine plays, to score on a 14-yard run by Christian Mosso.

Following a kick by Harrison with 6:44 to go in the half, the Bulldogs owned a 19-0 lead.

It became evident very quickly that Centre was ready to make it a game, though.

The Warriors broke their goose egg on their second play, the first being an incomplete pass.

The scoring play was also a pass, one that Gabriel Chambers turned into a 70-yard catch-and-run. At the 6:14 point, Bailey used his right foot to make it 19-7.

“I think that when we got our first touchdown, it broke the ice,” Curry said. “I thought we would be O.K. on offense - we can usually move the ball on most teams.

“We made some defensive adjustments at halftime that worked. We can’t win many games giving up as many points as we did tonight. We’ve got to improve our defense and that is what we will concentrate on this week in practice.”

Cherokee County got a break on the next play, as Bothwell fumbled and Wesley Carter landed on the ball, giving the Warriors possession at the Ashville 40-yard line.

Four plays later, Coty Blanchard connected with Keddrick Barrett for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Bailey’s extra point try was wide right.

The Bulldogs then tried for an insurance score, and was driving effectively, but with :13 to go before intermission, Caleb Crane snuffed the rally by intercepting a Woods pass.

Cherokee County finally grabbed the lead with 8:36 left in the third quarter, on a swift kick from Bailey.

Matt McElroy ran the ball in from three yards out for the touchdown.

The play finished a 10-play, 63-yard drive on the first possession of the period.

The remainder of the third quarter was a game of field position, but Centre extended its lead to 27-19 with 10:18 left to play.

The scoring play was a 35-yard pass from Blanchard to Barrett and it capped a 10-play drive that covered 69 yards of real estate.

When the Bulldogs got the ball back, they showed their desire to win the game, however, covering 68 yards on 12 plays and scoring on a five-yard rush by Eric Fuller with 3:14 remaining.

Down two points, Ashville lined up for the conversion attempt and Woods dropped back for a pass. With no open receiver and the defense breathing down his neck, Woods scrambled to the right sideline, only to find no running room. He then reversed field and sprinted to the left sideline, only to be tackled at the line of scrimmage.

Each team had one possession left and Cherokee County’s ended in a 39-yard touchdown run by D.J. Fife, with 1:17 left. Again, Bailey’s foot was accurate.

Ashville’s last-ditch efforts at a touchdown ended when Cameron Dupree got his hands around a long pass attempt.

Blanchard completed 15-of-23 passes for 213 yards.

For Ashville, Bothwell rushed for 107 yards on 20 carries.

Cherokee County, sitting atop Region 6, visits rival Cleburne County on Friday for a non-region game