SUBMITTED By CHUCK PATTERSON
Last Thursday, Sept. 2, the JV Braves, coming off a season opening loss by two points, opened up their two- game home stand with a 42-20 win over Thomas Jefferson. TJ’s opening drive began with a big stop on fourth down by the Braves’ defense.
The first play on offense was a 40-yd run by first year fullback Silas “The Fridge” Reed-Littlejohn and was finished on the second play with the big man scoring a TD.
The Braves scored once more on the strength of a 60-yd TD run by the uncatchable Blake Wright to go up 14-0 half way through the first quarter.
The Braves had some trouble after that stopping TJ’s number 82 until he was matched up by new starting corner Tommy Lossiah.
“Tommy hasn’t played much for us until this year, but if he keeps it up,” Coach Chuck Patterson commented. “He could be one of the best defensive ball players to ever come out of CHS!”
The second half was more of a passing attack by the Braves with both running backs having a little injury trouble. New QB Justin Buchanan was 7 of 8 for 110 yds through the air finding four different receivers.
The offensive line improved dramatically this week with the relocation of Nick Swayney to center, Kirsh Bird and Taylor Davis to the guards, and Damion Cline and Jared Dolittle to the tackles.
The Braves amassed 275 yards on the ground with Blake Wright carrying most of the load in the first half with 150 of those yards. Kobe “mighty mouse” Toineeta also had a “welcome to high school football game” with a touchdown reception in the first half and two runs late in the fourth quarter that had even the opposing team watching in amazement.
Other notable performances included those of Damon Taylor who had a reception and four tackles, Chris Queen with two receptions, and Defensive linemen Shephard Martin, Raymond Taylor, and Stevie Sutton, who all contributed to the shutting down of the Thomas Jefferson running game.
The Braves surely have a strong test ahead this Thursday with a tough Robbinsville team coming to Ray Kinsland Stadium. Coach Patterson said,” If our kids come out of the gate with as much want and drive as they did against Thomas Jefferson we are going to be a force to reckon with the rest of the season.”
Chuck is the Head Coach for the Cherokee JV Braves.
