Ironmen Football Playoff and Community Pep Rally Friday

Cherryville, NC (WNN)- Playoff football returns to Rudisill Stadium in Cherryville, NC, on Friday night, November 7th, 2025, at 7:30 pm. The Cherryville High School Ironmen will host the Sauras of South Stokes High School in a first-round NCHSAA State Playoff game. The community and students alike are ecstatic about the first home playoff football game since 2018. The last state playoff victory for the team was a 7-0 contest in 2013 against Union Academy.

Community Pep Rally

The community and students are 100% behind the Ironmen in their quest. All over town, excitement for playoff football is in the air and in conversations. Friday night, when the lights come on, the battle will be on the field; however, before the opening kickoff, a huge community-wide pep rally will take place, like never before seen in Cherryville.

Storefront CHS decorations at Georgia Bea's Boutique in Cherryville. November 6th,2025

Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

Parents, fans, students, and players will be able to draw energy from the playoff frenzy. The Chamber of Commerce and Cherryville High School will be sponsoring a community pep rally from 5:00 to 7:30 pm in the Nixon Gym parking lot, adjacent to Rudisill Stadium.

All the stops are being pulled out for the celebration. WCSL will be on-site, and Wise News Network (WNN)  will provide live updates and offer free giveaways. Food trucks, face painting, music, and games will be plentiful. Pep rallies are not only to pump up the team before a game, but also to show school spirit, community pride, and to energize the crowd.

Cherryville Ironmen Proud sign and tumblers sold at Hendricks Laser Works in Downtown Cherryville, NC. November 6th,2025

Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

Sporting events have a way of bringing entire communities together, and this event should be spectacular. Cherryville has a long history of enthusiastically supporting its athletic teams, and Friday night will be no different. Rudisill Stadium needs to be standing room only as Cherryville shows its Ironmen pride.

The football field at Rudisill Stadium in Cherryville, NC. November 6th,2025

Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

The Opponent

The visiting team is from South Stokes High School in Walnut Cove, NC, but you might be wondering about their nickname. What is a Saura? The Sauras are a precolonial Native American tribe also known as the Cheraw.

Originally, they inhabited the colonial back country known today as the Piedmont of North and South Carolina. Their original language was of Siouan origin. They encountered Spanish explorers in the 16th century while living in villages along the riverbanks of the Catwaba and Dan rivers.

The Spanish, along with disease and conflicts with the Seneca tribes, would force them to migrate and merge with other tribes. Some joined the Keyauwee and the Catwaba nation as they migrated. A smaller amount remained in the east and contributed to the makeup of the Lumbee tribe.

The Teams by the Numbers

The Ironmen are entering the contest as the #15 seed, and South Stokes is seeded at #18. Cherryville has a record of 5-5, and the Sauras are 4-6. They have faced one common opponent this season, and that is North Stokes.

CHS defeated the Vikings 68-8 in the first game of the season, and South Stokes lost to North Stokes late in the season 14-12. The offensive approaches of each team are quite different. South Stokes is a heavy pass team and runs the ball sparingly, usually in short-yardage and goal-line situations. As a team, they passed for 1,280 yards and rushed for only 482 yards. Cherryville has relied heavily on the ground game, preferring to pound the ball more than passing.

#11 Elijah Proctor - Game 10 - Cherryville vs Bessemer City - Dixon Stadium - October 31st, 2025

Rusty Wise (WNN)

The Ironmen have had most of their running success from the wildcat formation, but have been known to mix it up at times. During the season, Cherryville rushed for 1633 yards, while passing for 677 yards. This game, at least on paper, seems to be pointing to a battle in the trenches. If the Ironmen can win the line of scrimmage, the running game will be successful; if not, they will need to rely on stopping the passing attack of the Sauras. One thing is guaranteed: since this is a playoff game, both teams will do whatever they need to win. This should be an exciting game.

Cherryville Ironmen Offense - Game 10 - Cherryville vs Bessemer City - Dixon Stadium - October 31st, 2025

Rusty Wise (WNN)

Some of the players to watch are, for South Stokes, QB Luke Amos, who has passed for 1,280 yards and thrown for nine touchdowns. WR/FS Jamison Canty has caught six touchdowns for 745 yards. WR/ILB Sawyer Scott has been a wrecking machine on defense with 93 tackles. RB/SS Tucker Monday has rushed for 341 yards on his way to scoring eight touchdowns. The Ironmen have several notable players to keep an eye on, too. Jackson Heavner, who has scored nine rushing touchdowns and averages 137.2 rushing yards per game, will unfortunately be unavailable again due to injury.

Jackson Heavner #5 - Cherryville vs Burns - Game 8 - October 17th, 2025

Rusty Wise (WNN)

Cherryville is, however, blessed to have Javarius JJ McElhaney, who has stepped in to fill that void without missing a beat. He has truly embodied the mantra of “next man up”. In his extended role on offense, JJ has been a force, with 11 rushing and three receiving touchdowns as he has amassed 892 all-purpose yards. He has also intercepted two passes while playing defense.

#6 JJ Mcelhaney - Game 10 - Cherryville vs Bessemer City - Dixon Stadium - October 31st, 2025

Rusty Wise (WNN)

#10 Enijahe Whitworth - Game 3 - Cherryville vs. Lincolnton - Rudisill Stadium - September 5th, 2025

Mason Beam (WNN)

Enijahe Whitworth has been receiving more targets and appears to be on the verge of having a breakout game. Hopefully, this will be the game. QB/FS Jayden Adams has been consistent on both sides of the ball. This season, he has intercepted four passes while also running the offense as quarterback. Maddox Carrigan, Landry Pruitt, and Elijah Proctor have also contributed both on offense and defense. Maddox not only helps open holes in the running game, but he also closes holes on defense and has averaged 6.1 tackles per game. Landry and Elijah each have 39 and 35 tackles, respectively.

#2 Jayden Adams moving the ball down the field - Game 7 Homecoming - Cherryville vs. East Gaston - Rudisill Stadium - October 10th, 2025

Mason Beam (WNN)

#55 Maddox Carrigan - Game 10 - Cherryville vs Bessemer City - Dixon Stadium - October 31st, 2025

Rusty Wise (WNN)

Cherryville's #9 Landry Pruitt celebrating his touchdown - Game 9 - Cherryville vs. Stuart W. Cramer - Rudisill Stadium - October 25th, 2025

Mason Beam (WNN)

There are so many players who have contributed week in and week out. Coach Patrick Bowman has instilled a band of brothers attitude in the team. Many players refer to each other as their brother or as family.

Coach Patrick Bowman discussing strategy with the players - Game 2 - Cherryville vs. Owens - Rudisill Stadium - August 29th, 2025

Mason Beam (WNN)

Win or lose, good or bad, they play as a team and take responsibility for mistakes as a team. No one player wins or loses a game; they live as one. Coach Bowman has only been coaching the Ironmen for two seasons, yet he has quickly instilled the concept of family and a winning culture.

This is one of the more athletic teams in recent years, and the players are a joy to watch. Come out Friday night and experience the thrill of Ironmen playoff football, complete with the Cherryville Shooters musket blasts as the Ironmen take the field and score. 

The Cherryville New Year's Shooters firing muskets as the Ironmen take the field at Rudisill Stadium - October 11th, 2025

Rusty Wise (WNN)