By Bill Samaras
Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer
After two consecutive losses, Sequoyah will face a tough challenge when it faces East Paulding, the undefeated Region 5AAAA leader and fourth-ranked team in the state, on Friday in Dallas.
The Raiders, who have only allowed three points in their last two games, are allowing only 8.3 points per game while the offense is scoring 23.1 points per game. Sequoyah is allowing 15.5 points per game while scoring 26 points per game.
The Chiefs' offense has been limited the past two weeks without running back Dalton Trevino who went down early in the Lithia Springs game two weeks ago.
"We are moving the ball - it is just trying to get it in the end zone the last two or three games," said Sequoyah head coach Sid Maxwell.
The success for Sequoyah (4-4, 4-3 Region 5AAAA) will depend on quarterback Nathan Grummer.
"Obviously, the quarterback is going to be the main focus and Nathan needs to make sure that we take care of the football and do something with it," said Maxwell. "In football your quarterback is usually the key component for success and ours we are counting on a little bit heavy this year because we have a lot of sophomores and some freshmen and we are running the football and we are counting on him a little bit more than we usually do."
The Chiefs bring youth to the skilled positions this year and for the first time in 17 years of coaching at Sequoyah, Maxwell is starting a freshman.
"Obviously, those are the ones that have to get it across the goal line," said Maxwell. "We have a lot of sophomores and even a freshman out there. They are getting better. If you saw us from day one, we have gotten better. Our running backs are starting to, at times, run where they are supposed to.
The Raiders (8-0, 7-0) are lead by senior quarterback Cole Paris, who is playing in his first season as a starter. Jahron Brown is coming off of a 156-yard rushing performance - including scoring runs of 70 and 84 yards in a dominating, 38-3 win over Cherokee last week.
"East Paulding is a good football team and is solid and did a number on Cherokee, so it is going to be a big challenge for us, but we have to play 48 minutes of football," said Maxwell.
"With East Paulding, we are going to have to tackle well. They are solid on their special teams. They are the best we have faced this year and they do a good job on offense and defense and are one of the more complete football teams that we play."
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