Written by Brandon Stephens

(Rogersville, Tennessee) – – Cherokee High, not the Braves from the Cherokee Indian Reservation (North Carolina), the 4-A high school in Rogersville, Tennessee will host the Murphy Bulldogs on Friday night (September 17, 2021).  This is one of the games that will consume most of the day getting there and prepping for kick-off and it feels like the Bulldogs are on a state play-off game trip.

How did we find Cherokee High?  “Randy Starnes, which is our IT guy that does all of our filming, came into the office.  I had been looking for a couple of weeks.  He comes into the office and was like, ‘are we still looking for a game?’ And I answer ‘yes Randy we are still looking,” Murphy Head Coach Joseph Watson began with telling the story how we found Cherokee High.  Eventually Randy Starnes threads together a relationship his family has with this high school, which is looking for a game this week.  Everything else fell into place according to Coach Watson.

The Cherokee High Chiefs football team is in the Tennessee Division 5A and has four games crossed of its schedule with a 1-and-3 record.  The Chiefs have only played two games.  The season opener was a win over Cocke County with a big margin 41-to-six.  The second game was a challenge to the Chiefs with Seymour.  It would have taken four good sized players just to tear the photo of Seymour’s running back in half.  It was a real chore for Cherokee High to contain Seymour and suffered it first loss of the season  37-to-14.  The last two games scheduled with Daniel Boone and Clinton were forfeits.  This is probably going to an advantage Murphy will have over Cherokee High. Murphy has not dealt with any interruptions to its play, except for the open date after the Franklin game three weeks ago.  Cherokee High is coached by Jason Lawson.

The Chiefs is probably a team that shows many of the characteristics Murphy saw in Georgia Force and Rabun County High.  Cherokee will work out of a spread offense but will split up its offensive plays 50-50 between pass and rush.  Senior Quarterback Micah Jones will share space in the offensive backfield with Senior Halfback Landon Jackson.  Jones favorite receivers are Junior Aidan Webb and Preston McNally.  The frontline has decent size and is very agile.  Defensively, the Chiefs like to stack up in a 44 or 43 set and align in a cover 4.  During its last game, Cherokee allowed too much space with Seymour and suffered for it.

“They are a big school.  They have some big kids up front.  They do a really good job of being physical up front and using their size.  They also run a little bit of spread concepts. So, they will spread you out.  Offensively they are a good ball team.  Their defense does really well too,” Coach Watson added.  Cherokee High is a team usually faces big schools and knows how to compete well.  Coach Watson adds the Chiefs are a good hybrid of Georgia Force and Rabun County High.

Preparation this week has been paramount for the Murphy Bulldogs.  Murphy Quarterback Kellen Rumfelt says the team didn’t take the 59-to-14 loss to Rabun lightly.  “We were a little bit sore over the weekend.  We came back Monday and got the rest of the soreness out.  We have really been using the loss as motivation this week and we are ready to go this Friday,” Rumfelt stated.

Spread offense, bubble screens, dives and traps from Cherokee High will keep the defense on its toes.  Just like last week, defensive backs like Juan Allen will be tested again to play assignment football. “I think we are developing well.  We just have to keep our heads up even after loss like the one last week.  I think we are going to have to expect anything because they are a mixed team.  They like to run and pass a lot,” Juan explained.

Moving the Bulldog offense against the Chief defense could be a challenging.  Senior Wide Receiver Payton McCracken explains, “We watched them on film some.  They are a balanced team.  They are not to be taken lightly.  They are a good football team.  We are just going to play our game when it comes to that (facing the Chief Defense).  Coach Watson and the coaching staff does a great job of setting our first eight plays.  We will play our game and see how that works.”  McCracken says the Bulldogs are ready to go.

https://youtu.be/67e8R–14Cg

Planning to go to the game?

Before you go, Cherokee High sells tickets online.  You can purchase tickets at https://gofan.co/app/school/TN24367 .  One of the best routes to go to the game is to take US 74 until you connect at Interstate 40 in Clyde and go west toward Knoxville.  You will take I-40 until you reach the junction for I-81 north.  Follow I-81 north to exit 23 and take a left onto US Highway 11E to Bullsgap. At Bullsgap take a right on state road 66.  Follow state road 66 to the state road 70 intersection and take a left.  The school and field should be close to the intersection.  Or just put this address in your GPS apps

Cherokee High School

2927 Highway 66 S

Rogersville, TN 37857