Saint leads Bobcats past Cherokee

PHIL CAMPBELL — The Bobcats scored early and often and kept their playoff hopes alive with a 40-7 homecoming victory against Cherokee Friday night.

Phil Campbell (4-3, 2-3) recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Craig Saint to take the early 7-0 lead. Cherokee fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Bobcats recovered again to set up another 1-yard touchdown run by Saint.

Corey Alexander then completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Saint to extend the Bobcats’ lead to 20-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Alexander found Dylan Rice on a 9-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Jamie Dorroh later returned a Cherokee punt 43-yards to set up a 16-yard touchdown run by Saint, giving Phil Campbell a 34-0 lead at halftime.

Alexander rounded out the Bobcats scoring with a 1-yard pass to Jake Dill in the third quarter.

Cherokee (1-6, 0-5) avoided the shutout with a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Saint finished the game with 22 carries for 137 yards, three rushing touchdowns, a receiving touchdown and a fumble recovery.

With the win Phil Campbell moves into a three-way tie for fifth in the region standings with Red Bay and Hatton.