Midway through the season, Cherokee has to be feeling pretty good.

Despite being ranked seventh in the latest Associated Press poll and sharing the top spot in Region 5AAAA, the Warriors aren't planning to take Friday night's game against Lithia Springs lightly.

Head coach Brian Dameron said the team's success is due largely to the fact that they don't look at any game as an easy win. He knows that there is always a good team on the other side of the football.

"We have a lot of stuff that we have been working on," said Dameron. "We have a lot more if we expect to play in December."

During the first half of the season, the Warriors (5-0, 3-0) have faced opponents with a combined record of 6-19, although they did have close calls against Starr's Mill and Sequoyah.

Aside from a Week 9 contest against No. 6 East Paulding, the second half of the schedule is just as favorable. Aside from the undefeated Raiders, Cherokee's upcoming opponents have an 8-12 record and they will face three of those teams - including Lithia Springs - inside the friendly confines of Tommy Baker Field.

After a crushing 23-0 loss to Griffin to open the season, Lithia Springs (3-2, 3-1 Region 5AAAA) has rebounded well. Averaging 25.6 points in their wins but just six points in losses, the key to the Lions' game is on the offensive side of the ball.

Throwing five interceptions during a 40-12 loss to Pebblebrook on Sept. 14, it was obvious that Lithia Springs quarterback Kelton Hill had trouble picking up his reads.

Completing 14 of 20 passes the following week for 234 yards and leading his team to a 42-34 victory despite having to overcome more than 500 yards given up by the defense, Hill obviously made some improvements.

This week the Lithia Springs defense, which has given up an average of 17.6 points per game, needs to step up. The Lions will be facing a Cherokee offense led by junior running back Matt Blaylock and quarterback John Valentine. Both players scored two touchdowns including runs of greater than 30 yards during last week's 35-28 victory over archrival Sequoyah.

Lithia Springs coach Steve Horton said last week's bye was a gift for his team, which saw three starters - tailback Rodney Cross, offensive tackle Josh White and defensive tackle Brian Davis - injured against Osborne two weeks ago.

"We have some guys that are healthier," said Horton. "That never does anything but help."

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