The Cherokee Indians recorded their first win of the season last Friday night with a 76-48 victory over the Lometa Hornets. Among all 6-man teams, Lometa was ranked # 17 and the Indians were ranked at # 124 which led to the prediction that Cherokee would get 45-ed by the Hornets. Not so fast, Mr. Computer Ranking man.

The Indians always play well against Lometa and Friday night was no exception. The Indians were not mistake free, but intensity and resiliency brought the Indians out victorious. The teams had to endure a substantial suspension of play due to lightning in the area.

The Indians started the scoring frenzy with 5:10 remaining in the 1st quarter. Stephen Austermann connected with Burnam Sloan on a beautiful 39 yard pass play. Tucker Corsi added the PAT. Lometa answered with a TD from 1 yard out. The PAT failed. At the end of the 1st, the Indians led 8-6.

Less than 3 minutes into the 2nd quarter, Josh Brown scored on a 3 yard run. Corsi added the PAT. The Indians scored again with 5:15 remaining, on a 3 yard run by Corsi. The PAT failed. The Indians were up 22-6. Lometa rallied back on a 21 yard pass play. The PAT was good, closing the gap to 22-14. With 3:57 on the clock, Nieves Solis connected with Brown for a 50 yard TD pass play. The PAT failed. Cherokee went up 28-14. The Hornets answered with an 11 yard TD pass and added the PAT, making the score 28-22. With 2:27 left in the half, the Indians returned the favor as Brown scampered 22 yards for a TD. The PAT failed. Lometa scored on a 40 yard pass play as the first half drew to a close. Their PAT failed, giving the Indians a 34-28 halftime lead.

The Indians got a big break 45 seconds into the 3rd quarter as Damion Cooks recovered a Hornet fumble. The fumble led to a 25 yard TD run by Corsi. The PAT failed. The Hornets scored on their next possession on a 3 yard run. The PAT was good and the Hornets trailed by 4, 40-36. The Hornets took the lead for the first time on a 5 yard run with 2:48 remaining in the quarter. Brown blocked the PAT. The Hornets were up 40-42. With :17 left on the clock, the Indians regained the lead on an 11 yard run by Corsi. Cham Fox added the PAT to put the Indians up 48-42.

The Indians scored early in the 4th quarter on a 26 yard run by Corsi. Fox kicked the PAT to give the Indians some breathing room, 56-42. Lometa closed the gap on a 48 yard run. The PAT failed making the score 56-48. The Indians next possession ended with a fumble. The Indian defense stopped Lometa’s drive. With 6:41 remaining in the game, Corsi put it in overdrive and scored on a 60 yard run. Fox added the PAT and the Indians had their biggest lead of the night, 64-48. Corsi added another TD on a 20 yard run with 3:39 remaining. The PAT failed but the Indians had extended their lead to 70-48. The Hornets were on the move when Brown intercepted their pass and returned it 60 yards for a TD. The PAT failed. Austermann finished off the Hornets as he hauled in an interception. The Indians came away with a huge 76-48 victory.

The Indians will host Comanche Paradigm Charter this Friday for the Homecoming game. Kickoff is 7:30. Come enjoy Homecoming and support the Indians.