CHEROKEE WARRIORS
RUSHING Att. Yds. Avg. TD
Aidan Moore 88 350 4 6
Zi Johnson 69 300 4.3 1
PASSING Com/Att Yds. TD INT
AJ Swann 176/283 2148 22 9
Tanner Savasir 7/11 76 1 0
RECEIVING Rec. Yds. Avg. TD
Adarrius Harshaw 36 529 14.7 5
Caleb Richardson 28 400 14.3 7
TACKLES Tac. Ast. Total
Tyler Goddard 81 39 127
Morgan Cox 90 26 119
SACKS No.
Javon Hobson 5
Kyan Simmons 2
INTERCEPTIONS No.
Keegan Baker 4
Jayce Jones 2
KICKOFF ‘22 53
706-928-0593
VARSITY
COACHING STAFF
Josh Shaw .......................HC
Kevin Burnette Jr ............ OC
Davis Harvey ...................DC
Brett O’Buck ....................OL
Justin Berutich ................OL
Niagel Curtis ...................RB
Jeremy Law ....................WR
Christopher Curtiss.........WR
Bobby Evans ................... DL
Mitch Smith ..................... LB
O’Bryan Shelley ............... LB
Julian Woodward.............DB
Jason McDaniel ...............DB
What other gym
flexes your
community spirit?
You Belong Here.
Cherokee Outdoor YMCA in Woodstock
G. Cecil Pruett YMCA in Canton
770.345.9622
2021 LEADERS
2021 RESULTS
Mays ...........................................52-6 .......W
Sequoyah ..................................26-25 .......W
Rome ........................................... 7-27 ........L
Creekview ..................................14-21 ........L
Cartersville ................................ 14-24 ........L
Woodstock ................................ 51-20 .......W
Roswell ......................................13-41 ........L
Etowah .......................................14-13 .......W
Alpharetta ................................. 31-25 .......W
Milton ........................................ 14-42 ........L
State Playos
Norcross .................................... 21-28 ........L
FIVE YEAR
RECORD
26-35
2021: 5-6
2020: 8-3
2019: 8-4
2018: 5-6
2017: 0-10
ALL TIME RECORD: 2714027
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS (1)
2002
Historical Info from Georgia High School Football Historians Assocation
Coach: Josh Shaw
11 Seasons at School • Record: 50-58 • Career: 50-58
Stadium: Tommy Baker Field
Young Cherokee squad
ready to figt or payos
By Griffin Callaghan
MDJ Sports Writer
Cherokee made its fourth straight
playoff appearance in 2021, though
it marked the end of a fruitful era for
the Warriors. Household names like
AJ Swann and Adarrius Harshaw are
gone, and a new group takes the reins.
Led by sophomores Tanner Savasir
at quarterback and Pops Jameson
at receiver, Cherokee’s roster does not
lack talent. Savasir was 7-for-11 passing
last year for 76 yards and a touchdown.
A successful 2022 season would
see development from the Warriors’
youth, with Savasir and Jameson as
building blocks.
“These guys are eager to learn,” coach
Josh Shaw said. “They want to be good;
we are j ust missing game experience. The
good thing about high school football
in our state is you have several non-region
games to get things straightened
out before the ones that really count.”
The Warriors finished with a 5-6 record
last year but qualified for the postseason
at 3-2 in Region 5AAAAAAA.
Cherokee’s three region wins in
2021 came against Alpharetta, Etowah
and Woodstock. It is the lone Cherokee
County team remaining in the region
after the Eagles and Wolverines
dropped to Class AAAAAA.
The Warriors kickoff region play
with Wheeler and O sborne in backto
back weeks, and Shaw is looking
to get off to a good start.
“O ur goal is always to get to G ame
11,” Shaw said. “You can not go where
you want to go without getting into the
dance. You have to win at least two
region games, and we have two early
games that we need to win.”
O n defense, two of Cherokee’s top
tacklers return in senior K yan Simmons
and junior Javon Hobson. Simmons
had 86 total tackles, with seven
going for a loss in 2021. Hobson led
the Warriors with five sacks.
“O ur defensive line is probably the
strongest point,” Shaw said. “We have the
most guys returning at that position, and
we have several upperclassmen as well.”
Shaw wants his defense to stop
the run. The Week 2 matchup with
Etowah will be an early challenge
and a benchmark opportunity.
Seniors G eorge Bogdady (three Q B
hurries, one TFL 2021) , Chris Lindeborg
( one TFL) and junior JD Burn
are also expected to be key pieces on
Cherokee’s defensive line.
However, outside of that unit, there
was quite a bit of turnover.
Sophomore receiver and defensive
back Jayce Jones is another player to
watch out for. His speed and route
running helped boost his connection
with Savasir.
Jones excelled during summer 7-on-
7 camps and made a great impression
at receiver during the Corky K ell 7-on-
7 tournament.
Jones caught five passes for 34 yards
in 2021. He tallied five tackles and two
interceptions on the defensive side.
Jameson has the chance to emerge
as Savasir’s go-to target after coming
on strong as a sophomore. He caught
23 passes for 239 yards and three
touchdowns last season and became
a reliable target for the now V anderbilt
quarterback, Swann.
Shaw raved about his sophomore
class and how those players have pushed
the upperclassmen.
“We are probably going to have more
depth this year, but it is inexperienced
depth,” Shaw said. “O ur guys know
they can not take plays off. We have
good players pushing good players.”
Cherokee opens the regular season
on Aug. 5 against Creekview and follows
it with Cartersville, which went
10-1 with a region title in 2021. The
Warriors will be tested early, but Shaw
said he knows his group’s connection
is a significant boost.
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