Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The playoff atmosphere in Cherryville has been electric all week. November 7, 2025, the Cherryville Ironmen hosted the South Stokes Sauras in the first round of the NCHSAA football playoffs. It had been seven years since Cherryville last made the playoffs. The energy was evident before the game began, as a community pep rally was held in the Rudisill Stadium parking lot. A mock ESPN GameDay Parody was presented with keys to the game and predictions. The celebrity guest's pick was made by Lee Roy Montgomery, who predicted a Cherryville victory. Food trucks were set up as fans partook in games and contests, such as cornhole. KTC Broadcasting was livestreaming their pregame show, and Wise News Network was reporting live as well and giving away glow sticks and other freebies. The award-winning Cherryville High School Cheerleaders were dancing for the crowd.
WNN Aerial LIVE View of Pre-game Event at Rudisill Stadium - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
WNN
The festivities were sponsored by the City of Cherryville, the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce, and Cherryville High School. WNN provided live updates throughout the night. The Cherryville Ironmen won 55-12 for their first playoff victory since 2013. They move on to face Starmount next week in round 2.
The Cherryville Marching Ironmen playing the National Anthem - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
The game began with a bang, literally, as the Cherryville New Year's Shooters welcomed the Ironmen to the field with a blast from black powder muskets. The home team won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. The Sauras executed a perfect onside kick, recovering the ball at the Ironmen's 48-yard line. The third pass by South Stokes' quarterback, Luke Amos, was intercepted by Elijah Proctor and returned 51 yards for a pick six. Cherryville went for the two-point conversion, but Tucker Monday stopped JJ McElhaney at the goal line. The Ironmen led 6-0. The rest of the quarter was mostly defense, although Cherryville's offense did get 18 yards rushing. The quarter ended with Cherryville leading South Stokes. 6-0.
The coaches celebrating Elijah Proctor's early touchdown - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
The quarter opened with Cherryville punting to the Sauras. The Ironmen came up big on defense, forcing South Stokes to punt. The Cherryville drive was all Elijah Proctor. He carried for a 15-yard gain, followed by him busting through the line to score a 51-yard touchdown. The Ironmen went for and made the two-point conversions and jumped out 14-0. South Stokes fumbled on their next possession, which Elijah Proctor picked up, and he raced for his third score of the night. The Cole Kelly kick was just slightly off, keeping the score at 20-0. At this point, Elijah had scored all of the points in the game so far.
#2 QB Jayden Adams making a pass - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
Jayden Adams would end the South Stokes' next drive with an interception of a Luke Amos pass. Cherryville would stall a bit on their drive, punting back to Stokes. The Sauras were forced to punt again. Jordan Gill blocked the punt, which was deflected to a waiting Jayden Adams, who ran it back around 43 yards for a touchdown that pushed the score to 28-0 after Elijah Proctor scored the two-point conversion. South Stokes was able to get on the scoreboard with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Luke Amos to Nick Turner. Their two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score 28-6 in favor of the Ironmen. The Ironmen were not through yet; Jayden Adams passed to JJ McElhaney, who took it down to the 5-yard line for a 45-yard gain. JJ ran it in from the 5, and after the Cole Kelly kick, the halftime score was 35-6.
At the half Elijah Proctor had around 218 total yards. His two turnover recoveries totaled around 101 yards. JJ McElhaney had 45 yards receiving and 27 rushing yards. Defensively, Justin Harris led in tackles with 6, followed by Maddox Carrigan and JJ McElhaney with 4 each.
WNN's Rusty Wise spoke with Coach Bowman during the halftime break and asked how he thought the game was going. "I thought our defense played really well right there. Offensively, we had some good drives. Also had some that weren't too good. We've got to get better on that end. We've got to put drives together, you know, we had some big plays right there, but I would like to see us put drives together, together, together in the second half, but overall our defense played great in that half, so we have to keep it up on that end."
Jayden Adams threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Talon Dalton to begin the scoring for the third quarter. The kick was blocked, and with the score 41-6, the running clock rule went into effect. Things got a little crazy on the Ironmen's next possession. It appeared several times that they had scored, yet they were called back due to penalties. The first, it seemed Elijah Proctor had another pick-six for his fourth touchdown; however, a block in the back nullified it. KJ Kelly had a rushing touchdown called back for a penalty, and a Davin Digh touchdown pass to Talon Dalton was also called back for a penalty. However, a touchdown finally counted as Davin Digh passed 32 yards to Enijahe Whitworth. Cole Kelly kicked the extra point to raise the score to 48-6. Cherryville's final score would come on South Stokes' next drive. The Sauras were driving deep into Ironmen territory when Diego Gutierrez intercepted a Luke Amos pass two yards deep in the end zone and returned it 102 yards for a touchdown to give Cherryville a 55-6 lead. South Stokes would add another touchdown as time was expiring on a pass from Luke Amos to Ethan Newsome. The two-point attempt failed, resulting in a final score of 55-12. Cherryville will travel to Boonville, NC, to play Starmount on November 14 in the second round of the NCHSAA State Playoffs.
The Ironmen put on a defensive clinic in this game. A strange stat that they achieved was putting up 55 points while only recording 6 first downs. Special teams and defense scored most of the points, and the offensive scores mostly came on big plays. The community came out to support their team, and they were treated to an exciting home victory.
#28 Diego Gutierrec running the ball for a touchdown - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
Throughout the game, WNN was live with updates. Rusty Wise had several coaches and players offer their comments after the game. They were all naturally overjoyed with this victory. Here are some of those reactions.
The coaches after their first playoff game win - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
Coach Patrick Bowman: "Yes, sir, like I said at halftime, I thought our defense played great tonight. Our offense definitely picked it up in the second half, but I mean, you open the halves with defensive scores, it's hard to beat that."
Austin Treadway: "Yeah, it was a total team effort, you know, offense and defense. We preached all week, it's going to take everybody, and I'm just proud of our guys, they did something that hasn't been done in 12 years, they deserve it."
Chris Montgomery: "Hey, like he said, it's something that hasn't been done in 12 years, man, it's a fun feeling. I'm glad to be a part of these guys right here. I mean, we prepare the guys every week, they worked hard this week, so hey, it's a great win, I hope everybody will have a good time this weekend."
Ledford Gibson: "Defense stepped up and played a really good game, especially the first half. Yeah, and it's good for these kids. These kids are going to enjoy it and see if we can move on to the next one."
Will Pucket: "Feeling good, happy for the guys. It's a good game when everybody gets in and gets to play and have a good team. The camaraderie we have with this team is, the momentum is going to be there. I'm excited."
Taylor Crosby: "Happy my boys did good in that secondary, hey, we gave up some, but at the end of the day, we figured it out, and we made some changes that needed to be made. Then we turned it around and just shut them down. It was a good first and second half, so hey, I'm proud of my boys, it's one of those things, it's football, Friday night football. You gotta love it."
Will Manning: "I'm just glad we played well and that it was a complete team effort."
11 Elijah Proctor: "Yes, sir, you know it feels good. We won the first-round playoffs, we've got to come back Monday to practice, go hard the rest of the week, and come Friday and make it to the championship". He went on to say, "It feels good, but the job ain't finished to we make it and beat the state championship and come home with a ring. Like I said, we'll go back to practice, put in our work, keep getting better every day, and come back Friday and show what we can do on the field."
Elijah Proctor interviewing with WNN - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
9 Landry Pruitt: "Yes, sir, I think we (Defense) were electric in the first half. The offense played alright in the first half, but the defense really held it together allowing the offense to play really, really good in the second half. I think we need to have this mentality going into to Starmount, you know we're not we're not favored they're the two seed and we're about fifteenth, but I think we can put together a win if we really play as a team."
#9 Landry Pruitt interviewing with WNN - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
2 Jayden Adams: "I'm feeling good, ready onto round two, we've got Starmount. Looking forward to working hard all week at practice." He was asked about not only playing offense and defense but being in the unique position of quarterback and punter. He explained how that transpired, "We had punter tryouts and nobody else could punt it as far as me, not cocky wise but we just tried out and they picked me." He said they would work hard in practice and build on this win, and just get it going.
#2 Jadyen Adams interviewing with WNN - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
10 Enijahe Whitworth: "I'm feeling good, I'm glad we got the win. It took us time to adjust to the calls our coach was giving us, but we were able to adjust to it and get good." He also gave his thoughts on how the team would prepare for next week. "We're going to watch a lot of film on them, we're going to make sure we look at what they are doing, and we are going to dominate."
Enijahe Whitworth interviewing with WNN - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
#55 Maddox Carrigan: "I feel pretty good. I only had to play a half, I mean we got up real big early and that carried on to the second half and dominated." When asked about Starmount, he said, "We've been pumped up for that one for a while, kind of knew who we were going to have to face if we won the first round. So, we know what we've got coming. I think we're the better team, so just got to go out there and show it."
#55 Maddox Carrigan interviewing with WNN - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
28 Diego Gutierrez: "Run for my life, I think of that, because when I pick the ball, I say, 'oh my God, I have to run for my life' and there's going to be a free touchdown." When told he got faster and faster as he ran, he responded, "Oh yeah, I saw that, it was pretty good. I'm so proud of that, that's why I say it's unbelievable." He had a message for the fans before leaving, "Oh my God, I just want to say I love y'all, I'm so glad to be part of Cherryville."
Diego Gutierrec interviewing with WNN - Game 1 - NCHSAA Playoffs - Cherryville vs South Stokes - November 7th, 2025
William Phillips (WNN)
