By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
The Mitchell Mountaineers (2-0) scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to secure their victory over the Cherokee Braves (0-2) at Ray Kinsland Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. Cherokee only trailed by 5 points, 13-8, until Mitchell scored two times in two minutes (10:05 and 8:11) in the fourth.
Overall, Mitchell gained a total of 235 yards while holding Cherokee to 53, only 10 of which were on the ground. Brandon Buchanan, Braves quarterback, completed 6 of 11 passes for 43 yards and 1 touchdown to lead the Braves. Mitchell was led by running back Cy Thomas who carried the ball 11 times for 90 yards.
Dustin Johnson (#22), Braves wide receiver, catches a ball in the end zone from Brandon Buchanan for a two-point conversion in the second quarter. The two connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass prior to the conversion. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
Kennan Panther led the Braves defensively with 16 tackles followed by Lloyd Mitchell with 9.
Mitchell got on the board first as Ben Young scored on a 1-yard run to give the Mountaineers a 7-0 lead at the 7:07 mark in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Zach Laws scored on a 2-yard run. The point after failed, and Mitchell led 13-0 about a minute into the quarter.
J.J. Benjamin returned the ensuing kickoff 20 yards to the Cherokee 31-yard line. Several plays later, Buchanan ran 36 yards to the Mitchell 34-yard line. But, the Braves drive failed following a sack, and they were forced to punt.
Mitchell couldn’t move the ball on their next drive, and a big sack by Cherokee’s Byron Locust pushed the Mountaineers into a punting situation at 4th and 20.
Brandon Buchanan (#9), Braves quarterback, runs out of a tackle in the first quarter. He completed 6 of 11 passes for 43 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Braves began to move the ball on their next possession which culminated in Buchanan finding Dustin Johnson on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The two connected for the two-point conversion to make it 13-8 near the end of the half.
The third quarter was dominated by both defenses including a big stop by the Braves defense midway through the quarter which resulted in the Mountaineers turning the ball over on downs following a failed 4th and 1 attempt.
Early in the fourth quarter, Mitchell got its offense cranking, and Thomas took off on a 52-yard run to the Cherokee 12-yard line. Several plays later, Dalton Beaver took it into the end zone from 4 yards out. He also ran for the two-point conversion to make it 21-8 at the 10:05 mark in the fourth.
Cherokee’s next drive stalled, and they were forced to punt. The punt was blocked by Will Atkins and Mitchell took over at the Cherokee 33-yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Braves moved the ball to their 18-yard line.
Two plays later, Jake Robinson ran it in from 9 yards out for the score with 8:11 left to play. The point-after kick failed and Mitchell led 27-8 which is how the game would end.
The Braves host the Choctaw Central Warriors in the annual “Battle of the Nations” at Ray Kinsland Stadium on Friday, Sept. 5.
Craig Barker (yellow shirt), Braves defensive coordinator, talks to the defense during a timeout in the first half of Friday’s game.
