Setting the stage
- Updated: October 17, 2020
Roundup: Cherokee County’s shut out of Cleburne County sets up playoff-bearing games for both next week; Saks also faces must-win situation
Calhoun County area games
Alexandria 57, Moody 20
Cherokee County 21, Cleburne County 0
Handley 1, Anniston 0, forfeit
Munford 52, White Plains 30
Ohatchee 39, Pleasant Valley 8
Oxford 63, Springville 6
Piedmont 40, Hokes Bluff 7
Saks 39, Glencoe 0
Wellborn 69, Weaver 0
Wadley 29, Donoho 7
By East Alabama Sports Today
HEFLIN – Cade Hopper threw a touchdown pass to Damien Ramsey and both players ran for a score as Cherokee County blanked Cleburne County 21-0 Friday sending both teams into huge playoff-bearing region finales next week.
Handley plays region winless White Plains in a homecoming of sorts for two coaches (Larry Strain and Chris White) who both used to be White Plains head coaches. Barring an upset in that game, Cherokee County and Jacksonville will be playing for the region’s No. 2 spot; the loser headed for a first-round playoff game in the Mobile area. Cherokee County is the northern most team in the South region, some 340 miles from Mobile.
Cleburne County travels to Anniston to battle for the fourth spot and a similarly long trip to the Mobile area. If Anniston wins, the spot is the Bulldogs. If Cleburne County wins, the spot falls into a three-way tie (with Munford) and non-region wins would determine the place. Anniston has one fewer non-region game than the others, but its non-region foes have a substantial number of victories. But the Bulldogs also forfeited its game with Handley Friday for precautionary COVID reasons and it’s uncertain what their health status will be for next week.
The Warriors (7-2, 4-1) bounced back after losing to Handley last week and have won six of their last seventh. Cleburne County (2-6, 1-4) has lost five in a row
Hopper opened the scoring Friday with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ramsey. Ramsey scored on a 5-yard run in the second quarter and Hopper scored on a 1-yard run in the third.
Ramsey rushed for 146 yards on 27 carries. The Warriors’ defense helped preserve the shutout with five interceptions, two by White Johnson.
Cherokee County 21, Cleburne County 0
Cherokee Co. 7 7 7 0 – 0
Cleburne Co. 0 0 0 0 – 21
Cher – Damien Ramsey 13 pass from Cade Hopper (Daniel Meija kick)
Cher – Damien Ramsey 5 run (Daniel Meija kick)
Cher – Cade Hopper 1 run (Daniel Meija kick)
| Cher (7-2, 4-1) | Cleb (2-6, 1-4) | |
| 17 | 1st Downs | 11 |
| 39-182 | Rushes-yds | 32-140 |
| 8-20-1 | C-A-I | 8-16-5 |
| 66 | Passing yds | 25 |
| 0-0 | Fum-lost | 0-0 |
| 3-39.0 | Punts-avg | 3-32.0 |
| 5-40 | Pen-yds | 5-45 |
Ohatchee 39, Pleasant Valley 8: Noah Fuller rushed for 80 yards, Trey Pesnell rushed for 70 and both scored two touchdowns as the Indians (7-1, 5-1) kept their hopes alive for a share of the region title.
The Indians travel to winless Weaver next week; a Piedmont win over Wellborn would throw the region into a three-way tie and wins over non-region opponents would determine the playoff seeds. In that scenario, it would appear the Indians would be the No. 2. Hunter Sallee scored PV’s touchdown after a long drive.
Saks 39, Glencoe 0: Will Mixson scored on a 70-yard punt return, Sean Parnell threw a couple touchdown passes and the Saks defense posted its second straight shutout.
The win sets up a showdown with Hokes Bluff next week for the fourth playoff spot in Class 3A Region 5; the winner’s in, the loser’s out. Saks leads the series 8-5 and has won the last six meetings, but the teams haven’t played since 2017.
Munford 52, White Plains 30: The Lions scored 44 points in the first half and stayed in control to snap a two-game losing streak. White Plains remained winless in the region and have lost its last eight region games.
Wadley 29, Donoho 7: Spencer Wigley gave Donoho the early lead with a 4-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, but it was all Wadley after that.
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