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Coty Blanchard was selected by the Cherokee County football coaches as their All-County Offensive Player of the Year.
Crane has good reason for making that statement. It’s backed up by the numbers the senior signal-caller produced in 2009, including 2,916 passing yards with 35 touchdowns and 1,161 rushing yards with 20 scores.
“You can’t just take away his throwing ability, because then he’s going to run,” Crane said of Blanchard. “You might can slow him down, but you’re not going to stop him.”
Blanchard has the same respect for Crane. When asked if he was faced with seeing Crane lurking on the other side of the field, Blanchard says without hesitation “I’d run away from him.”
“If there’s one person I see on defense, I find Caleb and see where he’s at,” Blanchard said. “I’d run away from him every time.”
Over 150 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception are enough to make any quarterback cringe.
With players like Blanchard and Crane, it’s no wonder the Warriors posted a 15-0 season and won their first state championship in 2009.
The Cherokee County football coaches recognized the duo’s talents by selecting Blanchard as their All-County Offensive Player of the Year and Crane as their All-County Defensive Player of the Year.
Cherokee County coach Tripp Curry was tabbed the coaches’ All-County Coach of the Year.
It’s the second consecutive year Blanchard, Crane and Curry have claimed their respective honors.
“We worked hard and had a great season,” Blanchard said. “We got all of this last season, but for us to come back and have an even better season this year, it just shows you how good of a team we’ve had. There’s a lot of great players in the county, so it means a lot for us to get that.”
Crane said it’s unusual to see a three-peat repeat within the county.
“It feels great to get an award like this,” he said “All three of us have worked so hard to do the best we can. It’s an honor to get these awards.”
Curry said both Blanchard and Crane are deserving players of the year.
“I thought they really deserved it because they’re good kids, they work hard and they’re disciplined,” he said. “They are head and shoulders above a lot of athletes. They really set the bar so high for any other athlete coming. Both of them have set records, and not only did they play good football, but they represented this county and this school very well.”
The Warriors have the most selections on the 2009 All-County Team. In addition to Blanchard and Crane, the Warriors had 13 other selections, as well as a pair of honorable mentions.
Joining Blanchard and Crane are: wide receivers Gabriel Chambers and Colin Perry, running back D.J. Fife, defensive backs Brett Burgess and Kenny Akin, running back/defensive back Desmond Brown, defensive linemen Matt Hill and Hudson Grimes, offensive linemen Seth Hill, Caleb Whorton and Daniel Miller, and linebackers Cole Sterling and Patrick Lowe.
Warrior honorable mentions are offensive lineman Za Wood and tight end John West.
Cedar Bluff (8-4) had eight selections in linebacker Jim Nelson, quarterback Kyle Crane, lineman Kai Wen, running back/linebacker Nick Reed, running back/defensive back Marcus Reese, and wide receivers/defensive backs Tyric Scales, Zach Taylor and Kyle Beck.
Spring Garden (6-6) garnered seven selections and three honorable mentions. Those selected were offensive guard/linebacker T.J. Brittain, tailback Trey Littlefield, kicker/tailback Jake Scott, tackles Bryatn Law and Casey Steward, wingback Kaleb Morris and quarterback Tyler Smart.
Panther honorable mentions are split end Kaleb Littlejohn, receiver Corey Anderson and offensive guard/linebacker Dillon Maddox.
Sand Rock (6-4) had six selected to the team, along with five honorable mentions. Wildcat selections are wide receiver/safety Brannon Burt, tight end/safety/kicker Matt Cole, tackles Chase Brisendine and Andrew Humphrey, running back/defensive back Justin Kyser and fullback Wesley Pruitt.
Sand Rock honorable mentions went to wide receiver Phillip Washburn, center/linebacker Justin Weaver, running back/linebacker Dylan Langley, nose tackle Jacob Blackwell and tight end/linebacker Luke Tinsley.
Gaylesville (6-5) garnered five selections along with four honorable mentions. Trojans making the team are quarterback/linebacker Luke Murphy, linemen Michael Zuber and A.J. Dean, wide receiver/linebacker Paul VanPelt and wide receiver/defensive back Levi Morgan.
Gaylesville honorable mentions went to wide receiver/defensive back Zack Cavin, running back/defensive back Josh Whitaker, tight end/defensive lineman Brian Sanford and running back/linebacker Justin Jennings.
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