The Wheeler Wildcats will head out to square off against the Cherokee Warriors at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have had a bumpy ride up to this point with three consecutive losses apiece.
Last Friday, Wheeler came up short against Walton and fell 34-21.
Brock Adams
| 09/19/25 @ Walton | 118 |
| 09/12/25 vs Marietta | 88 |
| 08/22/25 @ Harrison | 78 |
| 08/29/25 vs North Atlanta | 63 |
| 08/15/25 @ North Forsyth | 9 |
Despite the loss, Wheeler got top-tier performance from Patrick McCollough, who threw for 246 yards and three TDs while completing 72% of his passes, and also rushed for 59 yards on only six carries. 118 of McCollough's passing yards were hauled in by Brock Adams, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.
Meanwhile, Cherokee also suffered a loss in their last game, falling to Etowah by a score of 40-27. Despite 102 more yards than the Eagles, the Warriors couldn't convert that extra yardage to scores.
Wheeler will have to contain Brandon Hamilton as he made an impact in Cherokee's last game. He rushed for 146 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 15 carries, and also picked up 42 receiving yards. Hamilton's rushing production has been exceptional recently as that marked his fourth straight game with at least 146 rushing yards. Another player making a difference was Jack Ruban, who picked up 148 receiving yards and one score.
While Cherokee came up short, they sure didn't make it easy for Etowah: they limited their QB to completion percentage of just 44.4%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from two players: Chris Turner and Zach Fullen, who each logged one passes deflected. Sadly, that's becoming something of a trend for Cherokee; they were averaging 58.2%completion percentage earlier this season, but in their last three games they've fallen to only 58.2%.
Wheeler's defeat dropped their record down to 1-5. As for Cherokee, their loss dropped their record down to an identical 1-5.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Wheeler has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 180.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Cherokee struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 204.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Wheeler barely slipped by Cherokee in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, winning 28-27. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Warriors' Tanner Savasir, who threw for 290 yards and a pair of TDs, and also rushed for 57 yards on only six carries. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Wildcats to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
