The Shelby North Side Gators topped the Charleston High School Tigers 22-8 in an important Region 3-2A game at Tiger Stadium Friday night.
North Side remained undefeated at 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the region, while Charleston fell to 4-4 and 1-1.
The Gators relied on a productive passing game as well as persistent defensive pressure to stifle the Tigers.
“They played well on defense, and we had trouble blocking them up front,” said CHS head coach Scott Martin. “They did a lot of stunting.”
The Tigers converted only one of 12 third-down opportunities, and numerous errant throws by CHS quarterback Chris Bradford were due to defensive pressure — “someone in his face,” the coach noted.
The short to intermediate passes that have been a staple of Charleston’s offensive mix this season were not there because Bradford did not have the time, Martin explained.
One of the more troubling takeaways for Martin was that the Gators seemed more determined than the Tiger players.
“Overall, I think they played a whole lot harder than we did,” he said. “That makes a difference.”
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North Side capitalized on a punt from Charleston’s end zone to begin their first scoring push at the Tiger 43. The seven-play, 43-yard drive ended with a Ja’Terrance Moore pass of 15 yards to Deves Seaberry. The duo repeated the connection for the 2-point conversion and an 8-0 North Side lead at 3:29 in the first quarter.
The Gators launched a nine-play, 66-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. Other than the score, the highlight for the visitors was a leaping catch by Thaddeus Latham over the back of a Tiger defender for a 34-yard gain to the CHS 14. A couple of plays later, Moore hit Latham for an 8-yard touchdown, then found Jalen Ward for the conversion and a 16-0 lead at 7:28 before the intermission.
On the ensuing possession, knowing that his team needed a spark, Martin gambled on a fourth-and-4 play from the CHS 36. The Tigers lined up to punt, but A.J. Wren took the direct snap and ran for 21 yards to the North Side 43.
“That was a big play for us,” the coach said.
Perhaps the energy spilled over to the next play, because Keyshun Cashaw exploded for a 43-yard touchdown run, capping a five-play, 71-yard drive. Bradford ran for the conversion, cutting the deficit to 16-8 at 5:33 in the first half.
However, several possessions later, with the clock ticking down toward the break, the Gators responded with a little magic of their own. On a third-and-17 play, Moore fired a bullet to a receiver at midfield. After evading two defenders, the receiver raced down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. The 2-point run by Moore failed, but the 22-8 lead would prove insurmountable, as neither team managed to score in the second half.
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Statistically, Bradford hit 2-of-9 passes for 19 yards. Gammage had two completions for 1 yard.
Cashaw led CHS runners with nine totes for 61 yards. Gammage ran 13 times for 54 yards and Wren twice for 14.
Jamar Taylor keyed the Tiger defense with nine solo and three assisted tackles. Wren had six individuals and two assists. Dontavious Cashaw recorded five solos and one assist while Nathan Randolph had four solos and two assists. Tyler Tellis had four solos and one assist.
Randolph recorded three sacks for 23 yards in losses. Quintavious Davis and Brandon Smith had one sack each.
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Friday, CHS will host the 1-6 Coahoma County Red Panthers in the Tigers’ last regular-season home game of 2019.
“They’ve got some athletes, and we’ve got to be ready to play,” said Martin.
IN THE PHOTO: Charleston’s Kristian Gammage tries to escape a North Side defender in Friday night action at Tiger Stadium. Gammage had 13 carries for 54 yards. (Photo by Kelly Paris)
