With a new coach and a new game plan, Creekview had high hopes of defeating local rival Cherokee for the second year in a row. What the Grizzlies found, was a much improved Warrior team.
Cherokee scored a touchdown to start 7-0. Creekview quickly responded with a 75 yard run from Senior RB (27) Isaiah Rodgers. There was no extra point. This had the Grizzlies behind by a score of 7-6.
Next, Isaiah Rodgers struck again with a two yard run to make it 13-7 Creekview. That was all for Creekview in the first half. Cherokee would score the rest of the points for the half to make it 36-13 at the half.
The second half started out with a huge 60+ yard kickoff return from Junior Dawson Ewers (4). This was followed up with a 10 yard touchdown run by Senior Connor Dulmage (5). This would bring the Grizzlies a little closer at 36-20.
The Warriors would go on to get a touchdown and a field goal before Creekview would strike again. Junior, Trey Peppers, TE (48) would catch a pair of 40+ yard touchdown passes to bring the Grizzlies within 2 scores to go ahead of the Warriors.
Cherokee scored one more time with 55 seconds left in the game to make the final 53-34.
Quarterback Kyle Wilkie (10) a Sophmore, handled himself very well and should have a good season as he adjusts to his team. In addition to two touchdown passes, he had no interceptions.
There is no doubt that this first game could have been much closer. The Grizzlies were leading 7-13 at the end of the first quarter. It looks like the Creekview squad has the talent to win and Coach Terry Crowder certainly has the right stuff as well. He led his former team to the playoffs 5 times since 2004, two Region Championships and a State title in 2010.
When asked what he thought he brought away from tonight's contest, He said " I wanted the players to know that we are never going to quit. We are going to keep playing hard. We aren't going to lay down. We'll keep fighting".
The Grizzlies certainly never quit on Friday and that attitude should certainly to carry them to victories in the new season.
