ATHENS, Ga. – Cherokee Bluff jumped out to a 28-3 lead and held on for a big 8-4A win over Cedar Shoals Friday night, 36-23.
Caleb Cooper got the Bears on the board midway through the first quarter on a 5-yard plunge before Landon Kemp hooked up with Logan Holmes with seconds left in the first quarter to take an early 14-0 lead. After a Jaguar field goal, Conner Hulsey got Cherokee Bluff back in the endzone on a 6-yard run to push the lead out to 21-3.
Cooper got in the endzone again late in the first half on a 4-yard run, but Cedar Shoals answered with just 36 seconds left in the period on a 49-yard pass to trim the halftime deficit to 28-9.
Cedar Shoals scored early in the third period to get the game down to two possessions, but Hulsey iced the game with just under nine minutes left on a 4-yard rushing score.
The Bears tallied 255 yards on the ground, led by Hulsey's 139 yards on 29 carries.
Cherokee Bluff will battle East Forsyth next week at home in a massive 8-4A showdown.
