By Grant Benefield/Cherokee County Herald
After being sidelined the past three weeks while recovering from an emergency appendectomy, Cedar Bluff senior quarterback Josh Decker was itching to return to the football field.
Decker made his return to the Tigers on homecoming against Class 1A, Region 6 rival Coosa Christian last Friday (Oct. 7), and he didn’t disappoint.
Decker completed 7-of-15 pass attempts for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for another score in seventh-ranked Cedar Bluff’s 32-14 victory.
Cedar Bluff outgained Coosa in total yardage by a 340 to 334 margin.
Decker wasn’t the only Tiger to have a big night offensively. Sophomore running back Ivory Starr tallied 168 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns. Junior receiver Isaiha Jones had four receptions for 131 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown pass from Decker in the third quarter. Jones also had two interceptions on defense. Dylan Ogelsby, Davion Fife and Dalton Richardson each collected a pick.
Starr accounted for the first two Tiger scores of the night in the first quarter on runs of 40 and 2 yards. Decker’s first touchdown of the game came on a 1-yard run in the second quarter that put Cedar Bluff in front 18-0.
Starr closed out the half with a 12-yard run. Decker connected with Trey Wilson on the ensuing 2-point conversion pass for a 26-0 advantage.
The Conquerors (2-6, 2-2) finally got on the scoreboard at the 8:13 mark of third quarter on quarterback Jace Mills’ 3-yard touchdown run.
Decker connected with Jones for the game’s next score later in the third quarter. Coosa closed out the scoring on Mills’ 13-yard touchdown pass to Caden Davidson with 4:52 remaining in the game.
Mills ran the ball 10 times for 90 yards, while Dartavious Britton had 73 yards on 19 carries.
Mills was 7 of 27 in passing for 171 yards. Caleb Garrett had three receptions for 41 yards.
Caiden Lipscomb and Teppei Daisaku each had eight tackles.
The Conquerors host region rival Gaylesville this week.
