CENTRE — West Limestone suffered a heart-breaking 39-38 defeat Friday night in the second round of the 4A high school football playoffs at the Cherokee County Warriors stadium.

In a game with eight lead changes, West Limestone fell just short to end one of the most successful seasons in school history.

The Wildcats (10-2) took the lead late in the game on fourth-and-goal with a 4-yard pass from quarterback Chase Lancaster to receiver Jackson Gowan. Lancaster ran in the 2-point conversion to make the score 38-33.

The Warriors needed a touchdown to reclaim the lead, and quarterback Tyren Dupree delivered, scoring on a 10-yard keeper to make the score 39-38 with 1:51 remaining.

West responded with a drive to the Warriors 5, but had a field goal blocked to end their season.

“West Limestone has a great football team,” said Warriors head coach Tripp Curry. “They are very well coached, and they hit us where we didn’t need to be hit. We’re fortunate to come back and win the ballgame in the end.”

Cherokee County fell behind 15-12 in the first half, and after giving up a long touchdown on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage in the second half, appeared to be ready for the taking.

“I told the seniors at halftime that this could be the last time they step on a field in front of a crowd like this, and that they needed to respond,” said Curry.

And respond they did.

The Warriors scored two consecutive touchdowns to take a 26-22 lead in the third quarter. Both scores came via passes from quarterback Tyren Dupree to receiver Quartez Powell-Henderson, 35 and 42 yards respectively. James Sewell connected on both PATs.

Henderson finished with 116 reception yards and two touchdowns on five catches. He also collected an interception on defense.

The Wildcats regained the lead with a 36-yard dash from Reed Blankenship. Austin Hobson then ran it in to convert the 2-point attempt, making the score 30-26.

Blankenship finished the game with 131 yards rushing on 11 carries and 102 yards receiving on four catches. He added an interception to his night on defense.

The lead changed again in the fourth quarter after what could have been a deflating 55-yard touchdown rush from Cherokee County running back Jacob Graves. A successful Sewell PAT made the score 33-30.

Graves finished with 117 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. He also collected 47 reception yards and a touchdown reception on two catches.

The Wildcats responded in a big way with Lancaster’s late touchdown, but Cherokee County answered as the Warriors had all game.

It was now up to the Warriors defense to stop the Wildcats’ ensuing drive.

They marched to the Warriors 5-yard line, where they would attempt the 22-yard field goal with 7 seconds on the clock and no timeouts remaining.

Quartez Powell-Henderson fired off the edge to block the kick, saving the game and securing the 39-38 win.

“A lot of things didn’t go our way tonight,” said Curry. “But we kept fighting and kept going, and I’m tickled to death with the kids.”

Chase Lancaster finished with 78 yards rushing on 13 carries. He would also pass for 178 yards, hitting on 9 of 12 attempts.

Tyron Dupree finished with 179 rushing yards and one touchdown on 22 carries for the Warriors, and was 7 of 10 passing for 163 yards and three touchdowns.

The Warriors now advance to the third round of the state playoffs, where they will host a familiar foe in 4A Region 5 opponent Hokes Bluff.