The Cherokee Indians played a great football game last Friday night enroute to a 52-16 win over the Brookesmith Mustangs. This gives the Indians a 1-0 start in District 13A. The Indians have moved to #11 in Sixman Division II. The Indians started the season ranked 26th. Zephyr and Panther Creek are district opponents who are ranked higher, with PC coming in at 8th and Zephyr is 5th in DII. This should set the stage for some great football games in the coming weeks, especially since Lohn and Paint Rock can’t be ruled out either.

The victory over the Mustangs was a total team effort. Interceptions by Hector Jimenez and Dillon Epperson and fumble recoveries by Josh Perry and Tucker Corsi kept the Mustangs’ offense stymied. The Indians had two other great plays on defense as Duncan Roberts broke up a pass near the endzone and on another Mustang possession, the defense held on 4th and goal from the 3 yard line.

The Indians’ first play from scrimmage was a 60 yard TD pass play from Dillon Epperson to Duncan Roberts. The PAT failed, giving the Indians a 6-0 lead. The Mustangs’ possession ended with an interception by Jimenez. This was quickly converted to a TD on a 27 yard run by Jesse Perez. The PAT failed, but the Indians were up 12-0. Brookesmith got their first points on a 4 yard run and PAT conversion. They still trailed 12-8. The Indians turned the ball over on an interception on their next series, but in a few plays, got it back on a fumble recovery by Perry. On the next play, Perez took it to the house on a 43 yard TD run. Epperson booted the PAT to give the Indians a 20-8 lead. With 0:38 remaining in the 1st quarter, Corsi scored on a 16 yard run. The PAT failed and the quarter ended with the Indians leading 26-8.

The 2nd quarter saw the Mustangs score early on a 40 yard run and add their PAT to cut the Indians’ lead to 10 at 26-16. From that point on, it was all Indians. Epperson passed to Perry for a 24 yard scoring play. With :10 remaining in the half, the Indians held the Mustangs on 4th down from the 3 yard line. The Indians lead 32-16 at halftime.

Less than 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter, Corsi recovered a Mustang fumble. This led to a 4 yard TD pass from Epperson to Roberts. The PAT failed. Midway through the quarter, Epperson intercepted a Mustang pass. The Indians led 38-16 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

1:31 into the 4th quarter, Corsi scored on a 34 yard run. The PAT failed. With 4:35 remaining in the game, Nieves Solis scored on a 30 yard run. Epperson kicked the PAT to make the final score 52-16.

The Indians will take on the Paint Rock Indians Friday night at Paint Rock. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m..