The Cherokee Indians took on the #15 ranked, 4-0, Mullin Bulldogs last Friday night and gave the Bulldogs all they could handle.

The Indians and Bulldogs battled back and forth during the 1st quarter. The Indians scored first in less than one minute into the game on a 26 yard pass from Tucker Corsi to Nieves Solis. The PAT failed. Mullin struck back on a 66 yard pass play and added the PAT. The Indians failed to cover the ensuing onside kick, but the defense stiffened and the Indians got the ball back. With 4:01 remaining in the quarter, Damion Cooks scored on a 14 yard run and Corsi kicked the PAT to put the Indians up 14-8. Mullin answered back with 2:56 showing on the clock on a 37 yard pass play but missed the PAT to tie the score at 14-14. At the 1:57 mark, Corsi crossed the goal line on a 21 yard run and tacked on the PAT to put the Indians up 22-14. With 0:02 remaining in the quarter, Mullin scored on a 6 yard run but missed the PAT keeping the Indians up by 2 at 22-20.

The Indians added to their lead three and a half minutes into the 2nd quarter on a 23 yard pass from Solis to Josh Perry. Corsi added the PAT to give the Indians a 10 point lead. Mullin quickly answered midway through the quarter on a 4 yard run. Their PAT failed leaving the Indians with a 4 point, 30-26, lead. Solis came up with a Bulldog interception with :51 remaining in the half but the Indians were unable to convert it into points.

The Indians scored first midway through the 3rd quarter on a 14 yard run by Damion Cooks. The PAT failed. Mullin scored just over 1 minute later with 3:52 on the clock on a 42 yard run. The Bulldogs added the PAT to cut the Indian’s lead to 36-34.

One minute into the 4th quarter, Mullin scored on a 14 yard pass play to take the lead, 36-42, for the first time. The teams battled back and forth with no scoring until the 2:42 mark when the Bulldogs scored on a 12 yard run and added the PAT to increase their lead to 36-50. The Indians lost their next possession on an interception but got the ball back on the next play when Duncan Roberts recovered a Bulldog fumble. With 2:16 left in the game, Corsi scored on a 36 yard run. The PAT failed and the Indians still trailed by 8 at 42-50. The Bulldogs were able to run the clock out and walk away with a hard fought victory.

All of the Indian players played their hearts out. Duncan Roberts had a big game both running and receiving. Shea Crawford went high in the air to block a Bulldog PAT.

The Indians will begin District play this Friday at Brookesmith. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.