By Amy West

Sports Reporter

amy@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala    The Fort Payne Wildcats celebrated Senior night with a 35-16 win over the Cherokee Warriors. 

Fort Payne put the first points on the board with a 35-yard pass connection from Dax Varnadore to Marcus Ledford, with 2:53 remaining in the first quarter.  The point after attempt gave the Wildcats the 7-0 advantage to close out the first quarter of play.

In the second quarter, Cherokee scored from 1-yard out. The extra point attempt failed, to make the score 7-6 with 10:29 remaining in the half. Bennett Blanks scored from 3-yards out to give the Fort Payne Wildcats the 14-6 lead with 7:46 left in the second quarter. The Warriors nailed a 25-yard field goal, making the score 14-9 at halftime.

Blanks scored his second touchdown of the night when he dove into the endzone, to give the Wildcats the  21-9  lead, with 9:52 remaining in the third quarter.  Kaden Dubose scored from 3-yards out to extend the Wildcats lead to 28-9 with 5:53 remaining in the third. 

Cherokee County scored with 8:17 left in the fourth quarter, to narrow the Wildcat lead to 28-16. Varnadore found Blanks on a 17-yard touchdown pass to give the Wildcats the 35-16 cushion.

“It was a great team win against a very good Cherokee County team. We are proud of our team and their 8-2 record. We are looking forward to the challenge of the playoffs next hosting Decatur in the first round” stated Fort Payne Head Coach Chris Elmore.

Fort Payne will host Decatur in the first round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Playoffs on Friday night.