CHEROKEE CO. WARRIORS
CLEBURNE CO. TIGERS
Class, Region: Class 4A, Region 5 Head Coach: Tripp Curry
2015 Record: 7-5 2015 Playoffs: Advanced to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs before falling at Hamilton 21-14
2015 Rewind: 2015 was a turnaround season for Cherokee County. The Warriors posted their first winning season since the 15-0 state title year in 2009. After losing their first three contests, CCHS won 7 of the last 9 games and advanced to the second round of the 4A playoffs.
Key Losses: Practically the entire Warrior team returns from last season. Centre only lost four players total and only two starters, the most notable being DE / TE Nahum Whorton.
Players to Watch: A bevy of talent returns all over the field. Junior QB Tyren Dupree( 6’ 2, 200) passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 last season. The Warriors may have the best receivers in Class 4A with All-Stater Cortez Henderson and Jacob Graves leading the way. Starting RB Brendan Bray leads the rushing attack and Zach Fife( 6’ 3, 255 Sr.) anchors the o-line. The defense is just as talented with the return of linebackers Riley Russell and
Jacob Graver Running Back
Dawson Foshee, and defensive backs Mason Rogers and Chris Roden. Senior James Sewell will be one of East Alabama’ s top kickers.
2016 Roundup: Head Coach Tripp Curry welcomes nine starters back on both offense and defense on a team that features 21 seniors. Coach Curry says this Warrior squad has more team speed than Centre has had in a long time. Curry notes that the biggest concern is for his team to learn to handle adversity. Expect Cherokee County to have one of the most explosive offenses in all of 4A football and the Warriors have the talent to make a run at the Super Seven.
Did You Know? Head Coach Tripp Curry is the second longest tenured coach in Cherokee County football history. 2016 will be Curry’ s 16th year at the helm in Centre, trailing only legendary Hall of Famer Bobby Joe Johnson in CCHS coaching longevity.
John Robinson Tackle
Class, Region: Class 5A, Region 4 Head Coach: Michael Shortt
Key Losses: WR Jeremiah Blake leaves Cleburne County after posting 49 catches, 18 of those for touchdowns, 1,223 receiving yards, and was first-team Class 4A All-State in 2015.
Players to Watch: Junior Quarterback Brock Swafford, who shattered many school passing records last season. The backfield of Jason Henson( Senior) and Cade Clark( Junior) return after providing an explosive 1-2 punch last season. They’ ll have the luxury of running behind 6’ 3” 295 lb. John Robinson, an All-State performer in 2015. Coach Shortt is also counting on Senior Guard Sam Pate, the strongest player on the team. Sta’ shon Henson will look to provide a big play threat at wide receiver. Inside Linebacker Mario Smith is back in the starting line-up for his third season in the middle of the defense. The emergence of Josh Henson on the defensive front is a huge key for the Tigers as many new faces will appear on the defense.
2015 Record: 9-3 2015 Playoffs: Advanced to the Class 4A second round before falling at home to state runner-up Fayette County 40-23
2015 Rewind: The Tigers finished the year at 9-3 after claiming back-to-back Class 4A Region 6 titles. The season drew to a close in round two of the playoffs with a 40-23 loss to Fayette County.
2016 Roundup:“ It’ s a little like going on a blind date for ten Friday nights this fall,” says Cleburne County Coach Michael Shortt. Due to their jump from Class 4A to 5A, the Tigers will see a totally new schedule in 2016. First-time ever opponents Central-Clay County and Valley await. The region race begins with Talladega who has not faced Cleburne County since 1945.“ We’ ve not seen any of these teams, so there will definitely be a learning curve,” said Shortt. Non-region match-ups include 2015 Class 4A State Champion Leeds, Class 5A Semi-finalist Alexandria, Class 2A Semifinalist Randolph County, and 2A State Runner-up Fyffe.
Did You Know? Cleburne County and Randolph County have met 37 times in history, but this fall’ s meeting will be the first meeting in this battle of Tigers since 1969!
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44 | 2016 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine