AURORA | The Cherokee Trail football team continues to find its rhythm in an atypical season with a second straight strong performance that led to another victory.

The Cougars’ defense continued to put two rough opening games behind it by generating four turnovers — including key back-to-back interceptions from senior safety Elijah Graham — and coming up with a turnover on downs in the red zone as well and senior quarterback Jayden Lavigne and the offense took it from there in a 35-14 non-league win over Rocky Mountain at Legacy Stadium.

Cherokee Trail senior safety Elijah Graham, right, cuts in front of Rocky Mountain’s Tyler Jennings to make an interception during the third quarter of the Cougars’ 35-14 win Oct. 29. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado)
Cherokee Trail senior safety Elijah Graham, right, cuts in front of Rocky Mountain’s Tyler Jennings to make an interception during the third quarter of the Cougars’ 35-14 win Oct. 29. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado)

Junior Jack Pierce caught two touchdown passes from Lavigne, who hit senior Nate Burke with a go-ahead score in the final minute of the first half and found senior Sam Hart for some insurance, while junior Jack Love rushed for a score for coach Joe Johnson’s Cherokee Trail team, which even its record at 2-2.

Lavigne threw the 38 times on the evening for the Cougars and more than half of his 25 completions (for 309 yards and the four scores) went to Pierce, who had 15 receptions for a whopping 205 yards with two touchdowns.

Hart, an Ohio State-bound tight end, caught seven passes for 82 yards and his first offensive touchdown of the season.

Graham’s interception of Lobos’ quarterback Gage Brook in the end zone early in the third quarter preserved a seven-point lead for the Cougars and he came up with another one on the subsequent possession for Rocky Mountain (2-2), which set up Pierce’s second touchdown to give Cherokee Trail some breathing room.

The Cougars return to Centennial League play with a Nov. 6 contest against Grandview.

Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports

CHEROKEE TRAIL 35, ROCKY MOUNTAIN 14

Score by quarters:

Score by quarters:

Rocky Mountain    7  7  0  0 — 14

Cherokee Trail    14  7  7  7 — 35

SCORING

First quarter

Cherokee Trail — Jack Love 1 yard run (Noah Fischback kick), 8:05

Cherokee Trail — Jack Pierce 44 yard pass from Jayden Lavigne (Fischback kick), 3:12

Rocky Mountain — Sean Kidd 14 yard run (Nick Daub kick), 50.7

Second quarter

Rocky Mountain — Kidd 2 yard run (Daub kick), 8:05

Cherokee Trail — Nate Burke 10 yard pass from Lavigne (Fischback kick), 41.3

Third quarter

Cherokee Trail — Pierce 32 yard pass from Lavigne (Fischback kick), 3:40

Fourth quarter

Cherokee Trail — Sam Hart 1 yard pass from Lavigne (Fischback kick), 8:14

RUSHING

Rocky Mountain: Sean Kidd 21-140, Gage Brook 9-6

Cherokee Trail: Nate Gaye Jr. 22-99, Jack Pierce 3-13, Donovan Sanders 2-4, Jayden Lavigne 4-3, Jack Love 1-1, Logan Brook 1-(minus 7)

PASSING

Rocky Mountain: Gage Brook 12-31, 167 yards, 3 interceptions

Cherokee Trail: Lavigne 25-38, 309 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; Logan Brook 1-1, 5 yards

RECEIVING

Rocky Mountain: Tyler Jennings 4-89, Cole Griffin 2-31, Zack Fine 1-16, Kidd 2-10, Walker Nesbitt 1-10, Mac Marconni 1-7, Charlie Linsenmeyer 1-6

Cherokee Trail: Pierce 15-205, Sam Hart 7-82, Kaelen Bing 2-12, Nate Burke 1-10, Gage Gordon 1-5

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...