Sequoyah handles Cherokee with ease

Sequoyah made opening night a truly one-sided contest in the city of Canton with a 24-7 win over host Cherokee.

Sequoyah held Cherokee to just one first down in the first half while building a 24-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Ben Rogers threw touchdown passes of 9 and 10 yards to Dalton Trevino to open the scoring.

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Phil Skinner/pskinner@ajc.com

Sequoyah players celebrate their win over rival Cherokee.

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After Brett Snyder’s 19-yard field goal, Sequoyah needed only 33 seconds and three running plays to score its third touchdown, a 45-yard run by Kirk Medas. Medas’ touchdown capped off a three-play, 70-yard drive that began with 2:12 remaining in the second quarter.

Cherokee’s only first down of the half, a 22-yard quarterback keeper by Thomas Rhodes, came on the third play of its opening drive. Kenny Foster picked up Cherokee’s second first down with a 5-yard run three minutes into the second half.

After a Sequoyah turnover deep in Warriors territory, Jonathon Manous scored Cherokee’s lone touchdown with a 20-yard run at 11:31 of the fourth quarter.

• Lovett 32, Woodward Academy 21: Lovett’s Jonathan Carkhuff rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another two to lead the No. 7-ranked (Class AA) Lions. Carkhuff threw an 80-yard scoring pass to Max Williams and a 20-yarder to Drew Stockton. He also rushed for 4- and 1-yard touchdowns. Woodward’s Juwan Thompson scored on runs of 30 and 10 yards and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Craig Patton. Thompson rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries.

• Sandy Creek 24, East Coweta 17 (OT): Sandy Creek’s Rio Johnson rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown to lead the Patriots past the Indians. East Coweta’s Tyler Willis kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime, but the Patriots scored on their first possession and intercepted the Indians on their attempt. Sandy Creek’s Rajion Neal rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries. East Coweta quarterback Mac McKnight was 7-for-13 for 125 yards and a touchdown. Tay Willis rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

• Henry County 39, ELCA 12: Henry County’s Drew Miller threw three touchdown passes to lead the No. 4-ranked Warhawks (Class AA). Quan Jones had two touchdown catches and Jamal Patterson scored on an 80-yard catch for Henry County. Jonathan Holland added a 40-yard run and Coy Allen had a 70-yard interception return.

• Westminster 24, Carrollton 7: Westminster’s Ross Conway rushed for a touchdown and caught another to lead the No. 5-ranked Wildcats (Class AA) past the Trojans. Tom Moak threw two touchdown passes, going 8-for-14 for 222 yards. Moak threw a 36-yard scoring pass to Stephon Shelton and a 45-yard touchdown to Conway. Conway rushed for 51 yards on 11 carries.

• North Oconee 28, Prince Avenue 20: Down 20-0 at the half, the Titans scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to beat the Wolverines. Sophomore Lane Thompson scored all four touchdowns. He rushed for two, threw a 25-yard pass to Scott Annis and caught a 50-yard pass from Jamie Fullington.

• Jackson County 16, Our Lady of Mercy 10: Jackson County’s ground attack led the way as the Panthers rushed for 283 yards. Alex Crawford threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Baxter, and Rob Williams scored on a 25-yard touchdown run. Jarrell Bankhead scored on an 87-yard kickoff return for OLM.