Football Recap: McMinn County Comes Up Short

Cherokees

Previous 5 Games

10/03/25 vs Knoxville Central	21-24
09/26/25 @ Ooltewah	61-6
09/19/25 vs Soddy Daisy	48-7
09/12/25 @ Lenoir City	52-13
09/05/25 @ Walker Valley	42-54

If McMinn County was feeling good fresh off their 61-6 takedown of Ooltewah last Friday, their most recent game may have dampened their spirits a bit. The Cherokees fell just short of the Knoxville Central Bobcats by a score of 24-21 on Friday. The Cherokees' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Despite the loss, McMinn County still got an impressive performance from Jakaryn Dyer, who rushed for 280 yards and a pair of TDs while picking up 9.7 yards per carry. Dyer really tore up the turf during one magnificent 88-yard run.

Kaden Long had another great game (as he tends to do), rushing for 121 yards and one touchdown on only 15 carries, while also throwing for 301 yards and a pair of TDs for Knoxville Central. A healthy portion of Long's aerial production (113 yards to be exact) went to Javaston Badgett, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.

McMinn County's loss dropped their record down to 5-2. As for Knoxville Central, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 5-2.

McMinn County and Knoxville Central will both get a bit of extra prep time before their next games. The next time the Cherokees see the field they'll take on Red Bank at 7:00 p.m. on the 17th. As for Knoxville Central, their break will end when they face Halls on the 16th.