Andrews – Sometimes it comes down to the little things. When Donovan Bateman’s pass sailed over Isaac Weaver on fourth and 9 at the Cherokee 36 with 1:42 to go, it was the final small crack that allowed the Braves to come out of Hugh Hamilton Stadium with a 12-9 win.
Andrews’ final drive was its seventh in Cherokee territory, but only one ended in points. That made the difference.
“You can’t be in scoring position that many times and not get some kind of points out of it,” Andrews head coach James Phillips said. “You just can’t win.”
If somebody just moved to western North Carolina and wanted to know what “mountain football” looks like, this game would be a perfect introduction. Neither team gave at the line of scrimmage.
Andrews kept Cherokee’s running game in check, and Braves quarterback Don Bradley was limited until the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outgained the Braves 278-152, but Cherokee’s size advantage upfront held up in the big moments.
“It felt like they got more push than we did upfront,” Phillips said. That’s what it seemed like … I’ve gotta get better and find a way to get our team better.”
Weaver gave Andrews the lead in the final minute of the first quarter, catching a slant from Donovan Bateman and making a few defenders miss on his way to a 27-yard touchdown. Despite being less than 100 percent, Weaver almost carried the Wildcats to victory, finishing with 170 yards from scrimmage and two interceptions.
Andrews struggled to move the ball on its other drives, which usually ended with them backed up in Cherokee territory. The Braves finally capitalized on a drive that started at the Andrews 19, with a questionable pass interference call moving the ball 10 yards and Bradley getting the final nine and a touchdown on the next play. The extra point was blocked, and the Wildcats took the lead into the locker room.
In the second half, Andrews had every opportunity to get some breathing room but couldn’t. Weaver intercepted Bradley in Wildcats’ territory on Cherokee’s first drive of the half and returned the ball to the Braves 34. The drive ended at the 2-yard line on fourth and one with 4:56 to go in the third quarter.
Three plays later, Weaver intercepted Bradley again and gave Andrews even better field position at the Cherokee 27. That drive ended when a Bateman pass fell incomplete on fourth and 10. After stopping the Braves, Weaver’s 42-yard run moved the ball into Cherokee territory, but Andrews couldn’t finish and turned it over on downs at the Braves 26.
That’s when Bradley finally broke out. He took an option handoff 27 yards, stiff-arming a Wildcats defender for a few extra yards before finally being dragged down. The next play was the exact same call, and he picked up 35. Two plays later, he walked in for a 3-yard score.
Andrews stopped the two-point conversion, meaning a touchdown would win the game. A 44-yard run by Weaver pushed the ball into the red zone, then an 11-yard run by Kegan Ellis moved the ball to the Cherokee 5-yard line. But the Braves’ defensive line held tough again, stuffing the Wildcats inches short of the goal line on fourth and 1.
Andrews would tack on a safety two plays later, but couldn’t score again. It doesn’t get easier for the Wildcats, who travel to Robbinsville this Friday.
“You look at a couple plays here and there, and we’re 3-0 in the conference,” Phillips said. “But as much parity as there is in the conference, that’s all it is is a couple of plays in ballgames like this.”