Aurora – Thanks to speedy skill-position players, Cherokee Trail is rising rapidly to the top of the Metro League in just its second year of varsity football.
Conifer, ranked No. 5 in Class 3A this week, can attest to that.
Cherokee Trail’s Cougars struck with touchdown plays from scrimmage of 69, 66 and 55 yards Thursday night and knocked Conifer from the ranks of league unbeatens with a 31-14 victory.
“In 3A, we’ve got team speed. We rely on our big plays,” said Cherokee Trail receiver Manshell Jackson, who opened the game’s scoring with a 69-yard catch and run, one of three touchdown passes thrown by quarterback C.J. Williams.
Jackson conceded this was the biggest win in the program’s brief history, but he didn’t think it was a surprise.
“We came into the game thinking we could beat them,” Jackson said. “I don’t think anybody can cover all of our skill players.”
Josh Corbin, a junior like Jackson and Williams, added a 66-yard touchdown run and closed Cherokee Trail’s scoring by turning a short pass from Williams into a 55-yard touchdown.
“We knew they were fast; we just got our butts kicked,” said Conifer coach Larry Fitzmaurice, whose team had a four- game winning streak snapped and fell into a tie for first place in the Metro with Cherokee Trail at 4-1.
Defense also played a key role as Cherokee Trail (4-2 overall) won its fourth straight since a league loss to Evergreen.
Conifer quarterback Dan DeLay answered Jackson’s touchdown reception by breaking loose for a 66-yard scoring run, but the Cougars’ defense stiffened after that. DeLay, who had 680 yards rushing coming into the game, finished with 167 on 21 carries but also had two lost fumbles and an interception. He completed 4-of-13 passes for 29 yards.
“Our defense has really been coming on,” Cherokee Trail coach Monte Thelen said. “They’re a fullback-quarterback team, but having their tailback (Wade McManus) out with an injury really hurt them. They’re tough and physical up front, but we tried to take away the fullback and quarterback.”
Williams completed 16-of-23 passes for 240 yards.
Conifer 7 0 0 7 – 14
Cherokee Trail 14 3 14 0 – 31
CT – Jackson 69 pass from Williams (Dodson kick). C – DeLay 66 run (Flavin kick). CT – Corbin 66 run (Dodson kick). CT – FG Dodson 28. CT – Martin 4 pass from Williams (Dodson kick). CT – Corbin 55 pass from Williams (Dodson kick). C – Loeblein 4 run (Flavin kick).
