Tigers host Cherokee for control of region

By Staff
Scot Beard
RED BAY – In high school football a team can suffer one region loss and still have a good chance of winning the region title.
Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys said Class 2A, Region 8 is much tougher.
"Since we've gone to region play it's been hard to win the region with a loss," Jeffreys said. "You lose and it hurts you. I think seven of eight times the champion ran the table."
Tonight fifth-ranked Red Bay will host Cherokee as both team look to take control of the race for the title. Both teams are 2-0 in region play with wins over Westminster Christian Academy and Hatton.
Red Bay has struggled from time to time throughout the season. In week one, the offense had difficulty finding a rhythm. Last week the defense struggled in the first half as Hatton put together several long drives.
The Tigers will have to play a complete game this week if they want to beat the Indians.
Cherokee features a triple threat on offense named Dominique Croom. He has accounted for 638 yards of offense in the first three games while splitting time playing time as a receiver, quarterback and running back.
He has rushed for three touchdowns, passed for three touchdowns and caught three touchdown passes.
"He's not the only one," Jeffreys said. "They have about four or five like him."
Jeffreys said the Tigers have not changed the game plan too much to try to eliminate Croom's impact on the game. Instead, Red Bay has been working on fundamentals.
During last week's game against Hatton, Jeffreys said several players on the defensive side of the ball were out of position on key plays.
"We have always prided ourselves on being where we are supposed to be," Jeffreys said. "We have also been working on tackling."