Cherokee County junior quarterback Coty Blanchard said he watched the Warriors’ football state championship game for the first time last week. He said it got to him a little bit, especially after the television commentators were talking the Warriors up in their pre-game show.

The Warriors lost the Class 4A state championship to UMS-Wright, 41-7. But that game didn’t damper what Blanchard and his teammates accomplished in 2008.

Blanchard threw for 2,402 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. He also rushed for 978 yards and 13 touchdowns on 164 carries. Those numbers, in addition to his leadership on the field, helped Blanchard earn The Herald’s All-Cherokee County Offensive Most Valuable Player honor.

“There’s a lot of great athletes in this county, and to get this is a great honor,” Blanchard said. “We went out every Friday, didn’t look past a game and worked our tails off. We caught a lot of breaks this season, but we played good football the whole season. It’s tough to go 15 weeks in football. That’s a long season.”

Blanchard’s teammate, junior linebacker Caleb Crane, also turned in a stellar season. Crane posted 238 total tackles, including 25 for losses with three sacks, six pass break-ups, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception return for a touchdown.

Like Blanchard’s numbers, Crane’s totals were too hard to ignore. Crane earned the nod as The Herald’s All-Cherokee County Defensive Most Valuable Player.

“It feels good to get picked for this,” Crane said. “Every week, we just came out and gave it all we had every game. Coach (Tripp) Curry just does a such good job of getting us prepared.”

Speaking of Curry, he was selected as the All-Cherokee County Coach of the Year. In his seven years as Warrior head coach, Curry has guided Cherokee County to two state championship appearances.

Curry said being selected as Coach of the Year is flattering, but it’s “our kids who get us to where we’re going.”

Curry praised both Blanchard and Crane for helping the Warriors achieve what they did in 2008.

“I really think they deserve it,” Curry said. “Both of them are good kids. Coty and Caleb are really the same. Both of them are phenomenal at what they’re supposed to do, and they do it 100 percent. You don’t have to motivate them.

“The only thing bad about it is you start thinking that now they’re actually seniors. You don’t want to lose kids like that.”

The Warriors had the most selections on the team. They had 12 selections along with four honorable mentions.

Blanchard and Crane are joined by running backs D.J. Fife and Jacob Morgan, receiver Gabriel Chambers, linebackers Cole Sterling and Kirk Johnson, defensive backs Cameron Dupree and Tyler Stubbs, and offensive linemen Trei Shroud, Caleb Whorton and Daniel Miller.

Honorable mentions went to defensive linemen Matt Hill and Hudson Grimes, defensive back Brett Burgess and wide receiver Dillian Cabe.

Cedar Bluff had 10 selections and two honorable mentions. Tigers selected to the team are linebackers/running backs Jake Bevels, Jim Nelson and Skylar Boswell, running back Thomas Washington, offensive lineman Justin Wood and Kai Wen, quarterback Kyle Crane, and wide receivers/defensive backs Tyric Scales and Marcus Reese and Idral Bowen.

Offensive lineman Lawson Mize and linebacker Anthony Taylor were honorable mentions.

Eight Spring Garden Panthers made the team, including fullback/linebacker Tyler Messer, defensive lineman Bryant Law, running back Trey Littlefield, offensive linemen Dustin Musselman and Cody Crider, kicker Jake Scott, tight end/linebacker Bill Frey and defensive lineman Jeffrey Hammond.

The Panthers also had three honorable mentions in wingback Tyler Smart, quarterback Reese Johnson and offensive lineman Casey Steward.

Sand Rock had a total of seven players on the squad. Those selected were wide receiver/halfback Jake Thompson, quarterback Justin Mackey, guard Chris McMahan, tight end Shane Wells, running backs Andy Andrews and R.J. Thornberry and wide receiver Dex Clanton.

The Wildcats also had five honorable mentions in offensive linemen Andrew Humphrey, Chase Brisendine and Wesley Pruitt, defensive back Phillip Washburn and tight end Matt Cole.

Representing the Gaylesville Trojans are all-purpose back Cain Higgins, offensive lineman Jon Lemons and wide receiver Andrew Lindsey. Gaylesville also had three honorable mentions in wide receiver Nick Reed, running back Caleb McCord and offensive lineman Caleb Leach.