By Staff
Roy Jones, Sports Correspondent
CHEROKEE – Playing a good hard game does not always result in a win. Just ask the Falkville Blue Devils.
"I'm very proud of this team," Falkville head coach Jeff Miller said. "They played with a lot of guts tonight."
Guts or not, the Blue Devils fell to 1-3 on the season with a 26-13 loss to Cherokee Friday night.
"This region win feels real good," Cherokee head coach Lonnie Robinson said of his team's first regional win of the season. "We needed to get that monkey off our back."
The Indians scored their first touchdown midway through the first quarter. Dorian Long, one of several quarterbacks to see action for Cherokee ran in for a score, putting CHS ahead 6-0. The extra point failed.
Minutes later, the Blue Devils picked up a fumble and took control deep in their own territory. With 1:44 remaining in the opening stanza, Bobby Holladay passed to Corey Simpson for a 65-yard touchdown strike. Brandon Stiles gave Falkville a 7-6 lead with PAT.
With 8:40 remaining in the second quarter and the Blue Devils still on top, runningback Ian Thompson was injured and subsequently taken to Helen Keller Hospital for further checkout. Prior to leaving the field, Ian was administered by Dr. Andre Taylor, a graduate of Cherokee High School. Ian was released from the hospital a few hours later and at press time no information was available on Thompson's condition.
The Blue Devils recovered an onside kick to open the second half, however a fumble later on the drive allowed the Indians to take control.
Cherokee's Michael Roberson scored later in the drive. The 25-yard scamper put the Indians ahead 12-7.
With two minutes left in the third quarter, Roberson picked up a fumble and rumbled 40 yards for another Indians touchdown. Again the PAT failed, but Cherokee led 18-7.
Falkville added its final touchdown of the contest early in the fourth quarter. Holladay hooked up with Steven Holt for a 40-yard touchdown completion, drawing Cherokee closer at 18-13. The extra point failed.
Cherokee's B.J. Taylor provided the dagger in the Blue Devils' comeback hope with a nine-yard touchdown run with 6:30 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion was good, making what would be the final score 26-13.
Friday night, the Blue Devils travel just a few miles south to take on Class 3A Vinemont.