Just over a month ago, the Cherokee flag football team was 2-6 and was coming off a 39-0 loss to Columbus.

Since then, the Warriors have been among Georgia’s hottest teams.

Led by head coach Tom Stringfellow, Cherokee has won seven games in a row, as its defense – spearheaded by Cambrie Cagle and Rowan Scissel – has allowed just over five points per game over the span. Most recently, Cherokee blanked Wheeler 19-0, its second shutout in as many games.

Stringfellow identifies one game in particular that turned the tide of the Warriors’ season.

“The turning point for us was the South Forsyth Invitational,” Stringfellow said. “We wound up playing Blessed Trinity, who for the last four years has been right there as a deep playoff team. To that point, they had pretty much done whatever they wanted to against us. We ended up losing 7-6, but it showed our kids that we can play with anybody. We’ve been fortunate to have some bounces go our way, but the kids have done what we’ve asked them to do. They’ve been coachable and come to work every day. As a coach, that’s all I can ask for.”

Cherokee began the year at Milton – MaxPreps’ seventh-ranked team in the state – and fell 33-0. After the tough start to the year, Stringfellow’s group has shown resolve, beginning with a pair of important pieces on offense.

“We knew that our quarterback Gracie Mayo had the potential and it was just going to be about her getting comfortable with the offense, but it didn’t help to start with Milton,” Stringfellow laughed. “She’s settled in now and responded exceptionally well since. But with the offense, it starts with Elizabeth Waller. She’s a three-year starter for us that we got from the track program, but she’s found a home with flag. She runs good routes, attacks the ball with her hands and takes that ‘it’s my ball, mentality.’ She’s given Gracie that security blanket with the offense.”

Stringfellow and the Cherokee program aren’t new to the sport. The Warriors began playing in 2019 as a club sport, one year before flag football became GHSA-sanctioned. From there, it didn’t take long for Stringfellow to know that this sport was for real.

“The growth has been absolutely phenomenal in the way that flag football has taken off,” Stringfellow added. “I don’t think anybody, to be quite honest, at any level expected this. When (athletic director) Jeremy Adams came to me after I had given up coaching the varsity boys and asked if I’d be interested, I wondered how competitive this could really be. I found out in a hurry. Just to see the numbers of girls that are out at tournaments, and to see it grow to the NAIA level, people are obviously paying attention. Of course, it's coming to the Olympics in ‘28. The University of Georgia now has a club team that one of our previous players is playing on. As a coach, it’s just been really exciting to watch how this thing has taken off.”

Streaming on GPB.org: This week’s flag football tripleheader from West Forsyth will be aired on Tuesday at 6 p.m. West Forsyth plays North Forsyth in the first game, Alpharetta plays North Forsyth at 7 p.m., and West Forsyth plays Alpharetta at 8 p.m.

The state tournament in all four classifications begins on Dec. 5 with the first two rounds. The quarterfinals are Dec. 9, the semifinals will be Dec. 12 and the finals will be conducted during the GHSA championships Dec. 16-18.