Senior Bowl Celebrates Graduating Cherokee Students

WOODSTOCK, GA — More than 200 senior football players, cheerleaders, marching band members and JROTC cadets had one last night under the lights as Cherokee County high schools came together at Etowah High School stadium Thursday for the sixth annual Cherokee County School District Senior Bowl.

The Blue team, formed from Cherokee, River Ridge and Sequoyah, claimed the win 24-14 over the Black team, comprised of players from Etowah, Woodstock and Creekview high schools.

River Ridge's Head Coach Mike Collins led the Blue team, while Creekview's Head Coach Trevor Williams led the Black team.

A combined JROTC color guard presented the flags before the game, and combined band and cheer groups provided the perfect fall football atmosphere for students and parents with musical numbers, cheers and chants.

Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram of Canton provided four $500 scholarships, which were awarded at half time to:

• Ella Elbeck, Woodstock High School, for band
• Lilly Steiner, Creekview High School, for cheer
• Jack Oktavec, River Ridge High School, for football
• Logan Trevor Shirley, Sequoyah High School, for JROTC

Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram of Canton donated a Jeep Wrangler Sahara (valued at $46,000) for all six high schools to raffle off as a fundraiser for the various student programs. Schools were offered the opportunity to sell $5 raffle tickets and keep all the proceeds for their athletic and band programs. Cherokee County high schools raised more than $200,000 through the raffle. The winning ticket, drawn at halftime, belonged to Heath Holcomb of Cumming, Georgia.

Game awards presented at the conclusion included MVP Aiden Ali of River Ridge; Defensive Player of Game, Raymone Devezin of Etowah; and Offensive Player of Game Chase Begin of River Ridge.

All proceeds from the charity game went to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.