The Chiefs were soaked but smiling after an imposing 35-0 victory over Washington Township in a one-sided battle of Burlco/Olympic American and South Jersey Group 4 unbeatens.

"I always imagine a game like this," said Cherokee senior fullback/linebacker Tyler Powell, standing in the driving rain near midfield of the Minutemen's field. "But you never really think it's going to happen. Tonight was special."

This was a statement game for Cherokee (5-0, 4-0). The Chiefs used dominating defense, a punishing ground game, and some sensational special teams to put more of a damper on the Minutemen's homecoming than the miserable weather.

Cherokee was so dominant the Chiefs had a 35-point lead with 10 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, creating a running clock under the sport's version of the mercy rule.

"When it's happening, you don't even realize it because you are so in the moment," Cherokee senior running back Sean Farrell said. "But now looking back in retrospect, it was awesome."

Farrell and Powell made play after play on a cold, wet night that was made for their kind of straight-ahead football.

Farrell scored four touchdowns and ran for 139 yards. Powell scored the Chiefs' other touchdown, and also blocked a punt and made several tackles on defense.

"It was a hostile environment," Farrell said. "But we didn't let that bother us."

Washington Township (4-1, 3-1) managed just 20 total yards in the first half and just 57 yards in the first three quarters. The Minutemen also committed three turnovers.

Cherokee blocked a punt, recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage, and created field position with a quick kick.

Washington Township coach Mark Wechter said he thought the bye week affected his team's play.

"Just the flatness, the game speed," said Wechter, whose team was playing for the first time since Oct. 3. "It was the same thing last year after the bye."

Farrell, a powerful 6-3, 230-pound back, scored on runs of 10, 13, 8 and 24 yards.

"When he gets his shoulders squared he's tough to bring down," Cherokee coach P.J. Mehigan said.

There was a lot of buildup for this game, what with both teams being undefeated and tied for first place in the American Division, and angling for high seeding in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament. They are old rivals, too.

But it was not much of a contest.

"I think the weather was a little bit of a factor in our advantage, and we'll take that," Mehigan said.

Cherokee seized command of the game in the first half, using a dominating defensive effort as well as a powerful rushing attack to take a 21-0 lead.

Farrell ran 12 times for 83 yards, scoring all three touchdowns. The bruising back ran almost exclusively between the tackles, getting a head of steam thanks to some great work by the Cherokee offensive line.

Cherokee's front line of Jeffrey Long, Joe Moffitt, Justin Nykiel, Tim Swanson, and Anthony Alosi created lots of running room for Farrell, Powell, and Mike Zeuli.

"We challenged those guys this week and they responded," Mehigan said of his offensive line.

Defensively, Cherokee shut down Washington Township. The Chiefs sacked Minuteman quarterback Nick Valori three times in the first half and held the home team to a total of just 20 yards in the first 24 minutes.

It was 21-0 early in the third quarter when Powell broke through the line and blocked a punt, giving Cherokee possession on the 15-yard line. Three plays later, Powell was in the end zone and it was 28-0.

"He's our all-everything," Mehigan said of Powell. "He makes plays, and he has fun doing it."

All the Chiefs enjoyed themselves on this cold, wet and unforgettable night.

Cherokee 7 14 7 7 - 35

Washington Township 0 0 0 0 - 0

C: Farrell 10 run (Morrissey kick)

C: Farrell 13 run (Morrissey kick)

C: Farrell 8 run (Morrissey kick)

C: Powell 6 run (Morrissey kick)

C: Farrell 24 run (Morrissey kick)