High School Football:
Cherokee Freshmen Take Advantage Of Turnovers To Beat Eastern

Friday, October 8, 1999

By Boog Williams
SJSports Staff Writer

The last two Fridays, I've covered Freshmen Football. These players and coaches put in a lot of time and don't get any coverage. This Friday, I traveled to Eastern to see their Freshmen play Cherokee. Cherokee won the game by the score of 31 - 14. The game was closer than the score suggests. Since you don't get a program with all the names of the players, I try to get them from the fans. Since many players' names are missed or misspelled, corrections via e-mail are welcome. Since this is the internet, we can easily make the changes.

On Eastern's first possession, #14 QB Wasiluk hit #83 with a 15 yard pass. As #83 was trying to get more yardage, he was hit from behind. The ball came loose and Cherokee recovered. Cherokee QB #16 could not move the ball against the Eastern defense. On the second possession, Eastern #34 Zhao fumbled the ball. This time, Cherokee's offense made them pay for it. Cherokee's QB #16 pitched the ball to #30 who scored his first of four touchdowns on a 6 yard run. The extra point was wide to the left and the score was Cherokee 6 - Eastern 0. Near the end of the first quarter, Eastern's QB #14 Wasiluk hit #31 Landing with a 20 yard pass. With the last play of the quarter, Eastern's #20 Carter took a pitch to the right and ran down to the 5 and a half yard line. The second quarter saw Eastern starting from Cherokee's own 5 and a half yard line. Eastern's #20 Carter scored on a 1 yard pitch to the left. The extra point was missed, and the game was tied 6-6. On the ensuing kick off, Eastern successfully completed an on side kick that was recovered by #80 Strain. Cherokee's defense would not let Eastern move the ball. Eastern had to punt and then stopped Cherokee on a fourth down fake punt. #52 for Eastern was not fooled as he made the tackle. The half ended on a sack by #73 for Eastern and the score 6-6.

On the opening drive by Cherokee in the second half, the backs #30 and #33 led Cherokee down the field. Cherokee's #30 scored on a 1 yard run, which was the last play of a 70 yard drive. The extra point was missed, with the score 12 - 6 in favor of Cherokee. Eastern's #20 Carter, took a pitch to the left and ran for 45 yards into the endzone. Eastern went for two and made it, also scored by Carter. With 5:25 left in the game, Cherokee's # 30 scored his third touchdown, on a 4 yard run. On the 2 point try, #34 Zhao stopped #30 for Cherokee and the score was now Cherokee 18 - Eastern 14. Eastern fumbled the ball again and Cherokee took advantage of it again. Cherokee's #30 scored his fourth touchdown of the day on a 17 yard run. This time #41's extra point kick was good, the score now 25 - 14. With Eastern trying to score quickly, #23 for Cherokee intercepted a pass and gave the ball to Cherokee with around one minute left to play. Cherokee's QB #4, handed the ball off to #26 (the smallest player on the field) and he scored on the last play of the game on a sweep to the left. The game ended with the score Cherokee 31 - Eastern 14.

As a former coach, and a current parent, I noticed, and was impressed by, the coaches' effort to ensure that everybody got to play in the game. At the Freshman level, playing time for all is more important than the final score.

Photos by Boog Williams

Click here for more game photos.