Cherokee uses takeaways to down PC

By Staff
Bart Moss
Franklin County Times
CHEROKEE – Anytime you turn the ball over in a football game it can lead to bad things happening to your team. When you turn the ball over seven times in one game it is a recipe for disaster.
That is exactly what happened to the Phil Campbell Bobcats on Friday night – the turnovers started early in the game and didn't end until the Cherokee Indians walked away with 61-18 victory.
Phil Campbell committed four turnovers in the first half – three of which Cherokee converted into 20 points. The Bobcats also couldn't find an answer to Dominique Croom, who scored four times in the first half and caught four passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for one score and intercepted a pass that he returned 60 yards to pay dirt.
Phil Campbell scored on its first possession when Jonathan Dill hit Caleb Thompson in stride for a 57-yard touchdown pass.
The Bobcats held the Indians and mounted another drive only to fumble on their own 11-yard line. The Indians converted the turnover into points when Kelvin Martin ran the ball into the end zone from five yards out for the score, which gave Cherokee a 14-6 lead. It was a lead the Indians would never relinquish.
Down 21-6 midway through the second quarter, Phil Campbell closed the gap to 21-12 when Dill found Thompson again on a 3-yard pass.
Cherokee went on a scoring barrage late in the first half, scoring three touchdowns in the final 3:15.
The Bobcats wouldn't score again until the beginning of the fourth quarter when Dill connected with Thompson for their third touchdown of the night, who ended the game with eight catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns.
Seth Brown and Stephen Lacey led the team in tackles with six each.
Phil Campbell goes on the road next week to face seventh-ranked Addison in Class 2A, Region 8 play.