Saturday, November 7, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The Cherryville Ironmen set one school record and tied another as they shut out the Buckin’ Elks in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A State playoffs on November 6, 2026. The 2026 Ironmen are the first team in school history to win playoff games in back-to-back seasons. Last season they went 1-1 in the playoffs. Cherryville tied a school record for most wins in a season at 7, which has happened only five other times. In 1934 Cherryville finished 7-0-3, 1935 7-1, 1953 7-3, 1977 7-3 and 2018 7-5. The 63 points fell just 5 shy of tying the record for most points scored, set against North Stokes on 8-22-25 with a score of 68-8. The 63-point differential is probably a record but has not yet been verified. Speaking of records, the Cherryville New Year’s Shooters probably set a record tonight for most black powder used in a game. They fire their muskets after each Ironmen score, and there were plenty of those tonight as blue-grey smoke floated over the field for most of the game. As the smoke dissipates, the 7-4 Ironmen will now travel to Sparta, NC, to face the Trojans of Alleghany High School on November 13.
Cherryville played its most complete game of the season, with standout performances across all phases. Saying they were clicking on all cylinders would be an understatement. The tone was set on Elkin’s first drive of the game when Jayden Adams returned an interception inside the 5-yard line. After that, the JJ McElhaney show began, as he scored his first touchdown on a night that became a personal highlight reel. McElhaney would finish the game with 5 touchdowns on 2 receptions for 83 yards, and 6 rushes for 22 yards. Elijah Proctor had 66 receiving yards and a touchdown; Korey Makupson had 53 receiving yards; Jackson Heavner scored a touchdown and rushed for 67 yards; while Jayden Adams also had a big night, completing 7 passes for around 200 yards and 1 touchdown, and adding 65 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Ironmen controlled the line of scrimmage all night. At halftime, the Buckin’ Elks had 9 yards of total offense, 3 yards rushing and 6 yards passing. John Hedgepeth recorded 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. Austin Shoemake, Elijah Proctor, Maddox Carrigan, Landry Pruitt, Navion Bush, and Jordan Gill were in on several tackles as well. Penalties were greatly reduced, with Cherryville only flagged three times for 25 yards.
Special teams came up big as well. Cole Kelly kicked a 24-yard field goal and connected on 6 extra points. Enijahe Whitworth opened the second half with an 81-yard kickoff return. A complete game like this helps build momentum heading into the next round. The competition increases each week from here, so the team will enjoy this one tonight and get back to work this weekend preparing for round two.
After the game, WNN’s Rusty Wise was able to interview the coaching staff and several players. All were excited about the huge first-round victory yet know there is still plenty of work left to be done. This is the real season, and each week is win or go home.
Ledford Gibson – Defensive Coordinator: He was asked his thoughts on this game. “We played pretty solid on defense, but we have to improve a little bit on tackling. As each week goes along in the playoffs, we have got to get better and better. Tonight was a solid game, and they did really good, I’m proud of them. We have to keep getting better and better each week.”
Will Puckett – Defensive Line Coach: He also gave his thoughts on how it felt to get such a big win. “It’s a good feeling; it’s always fun when you’re on this side of the scoreboard when it’s 63 us and zero them. It’s always a good feeling. I’m proud of the boys; I’m glad for them. I’m glad they’re having a lot of fun.”
Taylor Crosby – Defensive Backs Coach: He was asked how the defense would prepare going forward. “Stay motivated, stay focused, and understand the task at hand. We want to go 1-0each week, and if we can continue to do that and continue to improve in the areas we need to in the secondary. Like I tell them, I trust you guys, y’all been doing it and y’all have been excelling every week and understanding the coverages, and if y’all keep trusting each other we’ll go as far as y’all want to go.”
Austin Treadway – Wide Receivers Coach: When he was asked about the possibility of any trick plays, he responded, “No, we’re just going to keep doing what we do. We have a good offense, high-powered; we have some speed; that’s our strength. Those guys out wide, just keep doing what we do.” He went on to discuss how they would approach preparing for the next game. “Like we say, just focus on us, we tell them every week go 1-0. Really, we’re playing ourselves; we’re not playing the other team. We think the only people that can beat us is ourselves. If we keep doing what we do and execute, we like our chances.”
Will Manning – Offensive Line Coach: He was asked about scoring so much more this season. “Yes sir, we come to work every day, we grind, and we just watch a lot of film, and we just learn, and we get very good at what we do.” In preparation for the next game, he said they would watch and study film to help to get better at what they do.
LeRoy Montgomery – Ball Boy/Equipment Manager: He gave his thoughts on the game and how they would prepare this week. “We played a good ball game. Offense and defense looked good; everybody did their jobs. Get better every day, get better step by step. Something new might come Friday night.”
Patrick Bowman – Head Coach: He discussed the game, his support staff, preparing for Alleghany, and playing some substitutes. “We have a standard we want to play each and every Friday night. I thought we did a good job for the most part on that. It’s my job to make sure we’re going to reach that standard. We’ve got a great group, I think we made a good run, but we’ve got to put it altogether for weeks to come. Very blessed to have those guys on staff; obviously, makes my job very easy. They’re all great in their own way and very blessed to have them. Yeah, they’re (Alleghany) a tough-nosed bunch, very good football team, and they don’t have a bye for no reason. So, we have to have our best week, try to play our best game next Friday, and try to come out 1-0. I like our younger group a lot, they come out and practice every day just like everybody. They serve to play tonight, I thought they executed when they got the chance. Like I said, I like them a lot.”
Jackson Heavner – Running Back/Defensive Back: He was asked about the team scoring so many points, allowing starters to get some rest, and how to prepare for potentially colder weather in the mountains. “We come out here, and that’s what we’re supposed to do, so I knew it was going to happen. They let the other guys get in, get their experience. They took all of us out so we could be ready next week for the game. It’s a big game next week. First, we have to accept the fact it’s going to be cold. If we accept the fact that it’s going to be cold early in it’s going to be easier to play in. I think we’re definitely go harder at practice, because this team, I hear, is more competitive, so definitely going harder.” He also complimented his offensive line, “without them nothing works on the team. D-line, they have to stop the run, O-line they have to allow us to run, pass, the boys do everything. I’m glad they’re finally getting their credit.” He talked about his favorite part of his north-south running style. “I like to be physical; I like to feel the contact just to know I’m going to get through you. I just love running that way.”
Josue Varela – Center: He discussed the win, being a central part of controlling the offense and preparation for the next game. “Obviously, we dominated, went out there and dominated. Every week we’re just going to put in the work. We know what to do, so it’s going to be like this every week hopefully. It’s a lot of pressure, but I take it with a lot of heart. I love that it’s all up to me, so it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s pretty nice to have the pressure on me. We’re just going to work hard, practice hard, be healthy hopefully.”
Korey Makupson – Wide Receiver/Linebacker: He gave his thoughts on the game. “Honestly, I just feel good, everybody picks us to lose every week, everybody thinks that they’re going to come in and upset us, but I mean just look at this scoreboard. We practice this all week, it’s just hard work every week, all my guys, we just so excited every week at practice, just ready to play. That’s how it’s supposed to be.” Lastly, he was asked about preparing for the game and for possible cold weather. “Just practice how we been practicing every week. The standard is the standard, win. In practice it just starts, we have to push each other. If we don’t push each other, you’ve to think, who’s going to do it. It’s just a big team thing, we always have to be together, everybody has to be bought in. You can’t prepare for the cold, but you can prepare for the game.”
The next game will be played in Sparta, NC, at Alleghany High School on Friday, November 13, at 7:30 pm. The Trojans entered the playoffs as the number 5 seed in the West, and Cherryville came in as the No. 12 seed in the West.
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