ONE FEATHER STAFF REPORT
ELKIN – Cherokee RB Dorian Walkingstick ran for over 200 yards and scored three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough as the Elkin Elks (7-5) won 59-19 in the first round of the State 1A playoffs on Friday, Nov. 12.
Coach Craig Barker (left) and Ray Kinsland (right) pose with the seniors following their last game as a Brave on Friday, Nov. 12 in Elkin. (Photo courtesy of Debora Foerst)
Cherokee (3-9) committed a lot fewer mistakes in this game only turning the ball over twice on two interceptions compared to the last game where they turned the ball over eight times. But, Elkin’s high-powered offense stole the show with 563 yards of total offense and 24 first downs.
Cherokee gained 263 yards of total offense with Walkingstick attributing 206 of that himself.
Elkin jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on an 8-yard run by Chris Hudspeth and a 45-yard run by Jordan Coe. Walkingstick rounded out the scoring in the first quarter on a 26-yard score. Cherokee’s kick failed and the Elks led 14-6 going into the second quarter.
Elkin’s kicker Ben Cramm hit a 23-yard field goal early in the quarter to make it 17-6. Three minutes later, Walkingstick would score his second of the night on a 62-yard run. The two-point conversion failed and the Braves trailed 17-12 with seven minutes left in the half.
But, the Elks weren’t done and would score two more times before halftime on an 8-yard run by Coe and a 9-yard run by Sam Lane to go into the locker room with a 31-12 lead.
The third quarter was all Elkin as they would score twice. Donovan Smith ran 56 yards for a score followed by a 14-yard run by Zach Johnson.
The Elks kept it rolling in the fourth quarter with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Hudspeth to Johnson and a 60-yard touchdown run by Nick Phillips.
With two minutes left in the game, Elkin led 59-12.
But, Walkingstick wasn’t quite finished yet and jaunted 24 yards for a touchdown with just 15 ticks left in the game to make the final score 59-19 in favor of the Elks.
Elkin travels to Robbinsville (8-3) this Friday, Nov. 19 at 7:30pm for the District Round of the State 1A Playoffs. Also in the District Round on Friday, Andrews (7-6) travels to Murphy (10-2).
The entire North Carolina State 1A football tournament bracket can be seen on maxpreps at:
