Season openers, games that allow for new starters to get on the field and make their mark, are typically plagued with penalties and turnovers.
In Friday night’s four games among Cherokee County’s teams, each saw several impact performers come to the forefront. In the lone intra-county battle, Creekview defeated Sequoyah 24-14 in a game that not only pitted the neighboring archrivals, but also had Region 7AAAA ramifications.
Sequoyah coach James Teter was one of the many who was watching his newest contributors at work.
“Three-fourths of our starters were probably seeing action for the first time,” he said.
Creekview wide receiver Riley Davis, a former home-schooled player making his debut as a public-school player, finished with two touchdown receptions and caught all six passes directed to him by Hayden Hall, amassing a total of 121 yards. On the ground, Davis was the Grizzlies’ second-leading rusher with 54 yards on nine carries.
“Since he’s a good athlete, we gave him a lot of opportunities,” Creekview coach Al Morrell said. “We called his number quite a bit. When we did, he made a lot of plays. He made around three to four big plays. Then, he also had (more than 170) total yards. That’s quite a night.”
Davis wasn’t alone in making a good first impression Friday.
Etowah running backs Brandon Engle and David Guerrero each were faced with carrying the load against Berkmar with the absence of Devonte Wheaton from the field.
Both players stepped up, with Guerrero running for 121 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and Engle running for 108 and two scores on just eight carries. In all, Etowah’s ground game accounted for 336 yards in their 49-14 rout of the Patriots.
Pryce Washington, who played the entirety of last season for the Woodstock basketball team after transferring in from Whitefield Academy last fall, made his debut for the football team. He also earned the start after Jonathan Wiener suffered an injury in the Wolverines’ scrimmage against McEachern.
Wiener was healthy enough to play Friday at wide receiver and quarterback, but Washington still got the nod. The senior was 7-of-11 passing for 88 yards and an interception, while also gaining 20 yards on six carries
“I thought Pryce stepped in there and got the start,” Woodstock coach Brent Budde said. “He made some plays for us and was able to lead our offense. He led us down the field, I believe, on a 12-play drive that ate up most of the first quarter.
“He did a great job extending some pass plays. He would look downfield. He and Jonathan Wiener hooked up a couple of times in passes. He did a good job.”
For the foreseeable future, Budde said the quarterback position would likely be a platoon between Washington and Wiener.
Defensively, Woodstock had several newer players step up and make plays, and Budde said he was most impressed with linebacker Johnny Clark and Trey Alexander.
“I think our front seven played well,” Budde said. “Trey Alexander is a junior linebacker for us that I think has a really bright future. He played well at inside linebacker (Friday) night. Trey filled the running lanes and the gaps really well. (They both) read their keys and did what were supposed to do. They blitzed sometimes and got pressure on the quarterback. They just played good, solid football for us. They just attacked and were being aggressive.”
Meanwhile, Cherokee was the lone county school to lose Friday after dropping its second game of the season to Milton, 38-14. But, while the final score may indicate a rout, Cherokee only trailed 17-14 early in the fourth quarter before the Eagles scored three unanswered touchdowns.
In the end, though, it was a penalties and turnovers that did Cherokee in.
“We forced them inside to punt and fumbled it inside of our own 10,” Dameron said. “It was a momentum breaker and gave them a first-and-goal at the 3. It put an inexperienced group of kids into panic, and it would go to 24-14. We probably panicked a little bit as a staff and did some things out of the ordinary.”
Dameron did have high praise for junior quarterback Mason Keyt, who making just his second start, and senior right tackle Tyler Radcliffe.
“You can’t really single out those (offensive linemen), but (Radcliffe) has played well the last two weeks. The offensive line has played well, so hopefully they will continue to do that.”
With the help of protection from Radcliffe, Keyt ran for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
“He scored two touchdowns against North Forsyth and two against Milton last night,” Dameron said. “Mason is doing a good job of not trying to do too much. I’ve been pleased with him.”
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