The fans who made the trip to Paint Rock Friday night were treated to a tremendous football game between the Cherokee Indians and Paint Rock Indians. The Cherokee Indians came away with the victory and are now 2-0 in district play. The back and forth battle resulted in 86 points being put on the board in the first half alone. When the game ended, 134 points were scored between the two teams.

Fast scoring barely does justice to the first three minutes of the game. Paint Rock scored just 32 seconds after the kickoff on a 1 foot run. Their PAT was good. Cherokee followed 12 seconds later as Hector Jimenez scored on a 5 yard run. Dillon Epperson booted the PAT. With 2:30 gone in the 1st quarter, Cherokee scored on a 21 yard connection from Epperson to a wide open Duncan Roberts. Epperson tacked on the PAT to give the Indians a 16-8 lead. 12 seconds later PR scored on a 3 yard run and added the PAT. Cherokee scored again with 1:04 remaining in the quarter when Epperson and Jimenez teamed up for a 23 yard scoring reception. Epperson added the PAT to put the Indians up 24-16. With :50 remaining Jimenez recovered a PR fumble.

With a minute gone in the 2nd quarter, Epperson threw a 40 yard bomb to Josh Perry who stepped over PR defenders to get to the endzone. Epperson kicked the PAT and the Indians had doubled their lead. Ten seconds later PR scored on a 49 yard run but the PAT failed. Fifteen seconds later, Jimenez passed to Roberts for a 31 yard TD play. Epperson added the PAT to put the Indians up 40-22. PR scored on their next possession on a 40 yard pass play and added the PAT. One minute later, Jimenez broke loose on a 36 yard TD run. Epperson’s PAT was good, giving the Indians a 48-30 lead. With 2:58 remaining in the half, PR scored on a 1 yard run. Their PAT failed. Thirty seconds later, Nieves Solis answered for the Indians on a 31 yard run. The PAT failed. With :58 remaining, Jimenez scored on a 31 yard run. Epperson kicked the PAT, making the score 62-36. With :19 on the clock, PR scored on a 45 yard pass play. They missed their PAT, but a penalty gave them a re-kick which was good. The 1st half ended with Cherokee ahead 62-44.

The 3rd quarter was all Cherokee. Jesse Perez scored on a 2 yard run and Epperson kicked the PAT. Solis recovered a PR fumble which resulted in a 39 yard TD run by Solis a few plays later. The PAT failed. Perry recovered a PR fumble which led to a 6 yard TD run by Solis. Epperson’s PAT was good. The 3rd quarter ended with the Indians leading 84-44.

The game-ending TD came with 6:53 remaining in the game when Epperson passed to Jimenez who took it the distance for a 35 yard TD play. This put Cherokee up 90-44 and ended the game on the 45 point rule.

The PR defense landed some hard hits on the Indians, but the Indians bounced back and took advantage of what the PR defense gave. The entire Indian squad played a great ball game. Few mistakes were made and advantage was taken of opportunities.

The Indians meet # 5 Zephyr at home Friday at 7:30 p.m. Come support the Indians.