The defending 2A state champion Charleston High School Tigers, 1-0 after last week's win over Ripley, will travel to Sardis Friday night to take on the Class 3A North Panola Cougars.
North Panola defeated the M.S. Palmer Dragons 30-6 last week on the strength of a 14-point opening quarter and a 16-point closing stanza.
“North Panola is always going to be an athletic team,” said CHS head coach LaDon Taylor said. “Last week, we had to really focus on the run, and this week it will be totally opposite. North Panola likes to throw the ball around, so our secondary is going to have to be on top of their game this week.”
Kickoff for Friday night’s contest will be at 7.
Charleston will host Clarksdale during their home opener on Sept. 13.
During last week's season-opener on the road, Charleston defeated Class 4A Ripley convincingly, 28-6.
But the game, played in adverse weather conditions, did not start that way.
In fact, CHS fumbled the opening kickoff and Ripley recovered at the visitors’ 24-yard line. Five rushing plays later, Ripley scored on a 1-yard run to take a 6-0 lead after the PAT failed.
“Overall, I was happy with the outcome of the game, but in the first half I thought we came out not mentally ready to play ball,” said Taylor. “The elements were involved, as it rained the whole time, but we’ve got to be able to adjust to things like that which are going to happen throughout the year and be ready to go.”
With an assist from the defense on a fumble recovery at midfield, Charleston’s offense finally got in gear late in the second quarter and Marcus “Deuce” Flowers scored on a 12-yard run to cap a five-play drive. The conversion failed, but the game was tied 6 all at the intermission.
At the half, Taylor said he gave his team a heart to heart.
“We reminded them of all the hard work that had been put in by them all summer and the month of August just preparing for game one, and also that there are going to be some things that don’t go right, but we have to put that behind us and move to the next play,” Taylor explained.
In the second half, the coach said “we played much better on both sides of the ball. We played lights out on defense, keeping them from putting any more points on the board, and the offense got to moving a little bit and we were able to generate a few more points to win that game.”
It was a team effort, but Flowers, who had committed that earlier fumble on special teams, responded by scoring three of the team’s four touchdowns, including runs of 5 yards in the third period and 10 yards in the fourth. He also ran in a conversion attempt.
Flowers led the team in rushing, carrying 26 times for 135 yards. As a two-way player, he also set the pace for Charleston’s defense with eight total tackles including three solos and five assists, and he caused a Ripley fumble. On special teams, he notched 49 yards on kick returns and 28 yards on punt returns for the Tigers.
“He’s one of the leaders, and we’ve got to make sure that our leaders do the right things, take care of the ball and play hard at all times,” said Taylor, who noted that Flowers was very apologetic about his fumble even after his stellar play in the game.
“I told him, hey, it’s over and done with. We won,” the coach noted. “But that shows his character and what kind of player and kid he is.”
Tee Edwards scored the other Charleston touchdown on a 3-yard run in the third quarter and carried the ball for the two-point conversion.
“I’m proud to get a victory and proud of the kids’ effort,” said Taylor of his team. “Hopefully, we can continue to prepare and be ready for our opponent this week.”
Charleston was led through the air last week by quarterback Devon Olive, who completed 5-of-15 passes for 48 yards. Edwards attempted one pass that fell incomplete.
Timothy Kirk was on the receiving end of three Olive passes for 19 yards. Brandon Henderson caught one ball for 32 yards.
After Flowers, Olive was next on the stat sheet in rushing yardage, carrying the pigskin twice for 30 yards. Quay Kimble had three runs for 14 yards and Edwards had two for 7 yards.
Other defensive performers for CHS were Timothy Kirk Jr. and Kameron Andrews, who had four individual tackles and three assists each; and Lamarion Brown, with four solos and two assisted stops. Edwards, Lemar Frost and C.J. Westbrooks added two tackles apiece. Henderson, Demarion Johnson and Kelby James had one tackle each.
