Warriors Look to Weather Raiders Offensive Storm
Walton Looks to Keep Rolling Against Cherokee
Scouting the Warriors
The Cherokee Warriors got off to a fast start last Friday night, showing they were ready to compete with one of the region's top teams. However, the Warriors ultimately could not keep pace with North Cobb. Cherokee's special teams helped keep the game close early, but the offense struggled to generate enough explosive plays to stay in contention.
Quarterback James Cochran was efficient in his second start, completing 8 of 12 passes, but Cherokee had difficulty pushing the ball downfield. On the season, the Warriors are averaging 135.8 yards per game through the air and 92.5 yards per game on the ground. Cochran has thrown for 171 yards and one touchdown.
Isaiah Gardner and Josiah Bobb continue to lead the Warriors with 14 receptions apiece, while Adyn Jackson and Chris Turner are tied for the team lead with two touchdowns each. In the ground game, Dez Murphy and Micah Spear continue to pace the Warriors with 174 and 170 rushing yards, respectively.
Defensively, Caleb Irwin (52 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks), Trenton Barnett (51 tackles), Jaxson Hearn (40 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack) and Chris Turner (28 tackles, 2 interceptions) continue to lead the way.
Walton Raiders
The Walton Raiders have won two straight games and have reinserted themselves into the region race with a statement victory over Marietta last week. The Raiders leaned heavily on their ground game, exploding for 35 points in the first quarter and piling up a season-high 369 rushing yards.
Quarterback Christian Peacock led the way with 278 rushing yards, showcasing the explosiveness of the Walton offense. On the season, the Raiders are averaging 242 passing yards and 137.8 rushing yards per game. Peacock has thrown for 1,393 yards and added 485 rushing yards, accounting for 21 combined touchdowns. His top receiving targets have been Aiden Opore (37 receptions, 592 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Jordan Peacock (31 receptions, 546 yards, 6 touchdowns). The Raiders are averaging 32.5 points per game and have found another gear offensively over the past two weeks.
Defensively, Walton is allowing 25.5 points per game. The Raiders have forced 10 turnovers and recorded six sacks this season. Christian Lavette leads the defense with 60 total tackles and 3 tackles for loss.
Keys to the Game
Cherokee
Establish the ground game behind Dez Murphy and Micah Spear to take pressure off Cochran.
Find ways to stretch the field and create explosive plays through the air.
Limit Walton's big plays and keep the Raiders' offense from building early momentum.
Turn sustained drives into touchdowns and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Walton
Continue to attack with the ground game and take advantage of Peacock's dual-threat ability.
Use the passing game to exploit defensive adjustments designed to stop the run.
Pressure Cochran and force Cherokee into difficult third-down situations.
Start fast and avoid giving the Warriors opportunities to hang around.
Pundit's Pick
The Cherokee Warriors have their hands full with another talented football team this week. To pull off the upset, Cherokee will need to establish the ground game and find a way to turn long drives into points. The Warriors also must avoid falling behind early against a Walton offense that has found its rhythm.
The Raiders have been on a tear offensively over the past two weeks, and their performance against Marietta showed just how dangerous they can be when the ground game gets rolling. If those performances are any indication of Walton's identity moving forward, it could be a long night for the Warriors. Cherokee will have opportunities to compete, but Walton's offensive firepower and recent momentum give the Raiders a clear advantage.
Prediction: Walton by 28.
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