The Cherokee football team still has a shot at winning Region 5AAAA. But the Warriors will have to put their first loss of the season last week aside because their next opponent isn't any easier.

Cherokee (7-1, 6-1) will face an undefeated East Paulding team tonight at Tommy Baker Field with hopes of tying the Raiders for the 5AAAA lead. They're currently tied with Douglas County - the team they lost to last week - for second. Fourth-ranked East Paulding (7-0, 6-0) currently has sole possession of the region lead.

The game, set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, will be televised live throughout the state on CSS, marking Cherokee's second time on TV this season after the Warriors' win Oct. 5 over Sequoyah.

The race between the two teams will be suspenseful during the closing weeks of the regular season, regardless of tonight's outcome. The Warriors have Pebblebrook on the road next week before closing with Osborne. East Paulding will have Sequoyah and Lithia Springs, both at home.

"(Paulding County) beat us last year, and we're looking for some revenge," said Cherokee center Zach Fraysier, who is being looked at by Division I colleges. "It is a big game. It would be nice to come back after losing to Douglas. We want to show people that we can beat big teams."

There will be three areas the Warriors focus on when they take the field against the Raiders: cut down on turnovers, establish their own running game and stop the opponent's running game.

Cherokee was victimized with miscues last week against Douglas County and that played a vital role in their 48-21 loss.

The Warriors had four fumbles and an interception after going five straight games without a turnover. Their two fumbles in the first half last week resulted in Douglas County touchdowns.

"We're a grinding team, and we have to take care of the football if we're going to do well (tonight)," Cherokee coach Brian Dameron said. "We have to block well and tackle and do the 'ABCs' of football."

Cherokee has to run well against the Raiders to set up the passing game and will need strong performances from John Valentine and Matt Blaylock. Against Douglas County, Valentine rushed for 90 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown and Blaylock tacked on 72 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown.

The Warriors have a stacked offensive line of seniors behind Fraysier, guards Brandon McGovern and Josh Kemp and tackles Brandon Mangus and Dale Keyt.

"For us to be successful, we're going to have to run the football well and our passing game will have to come off the pass action fake," Dameron said.

Stopping the run is just as important as establishing it. Dameron said he is aware of what East Paulding fullback Jahron Brown and quarterback Cole Paris can do and is challenging his defensive unit to slow them down. The Warriors will run an eight-man front led by defensive ends Cody Morris and Ralston Flowers, who moved from linebacker to play defensive tackle.

"Whoever establishes the running game and stops the run will have a good game (tonight)," Dameron said.

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