YAZOO CITY — In a wild and wooly affair, Charleston defeated Yazoo County 20-13 here Friday night (Aug. 30).
The visiting Tigers struggled out of the gate and survived a shaky finish, but they played well enough in between to claim the win over the Panthers.
Charleston improved to 2-0 and Yazoo County fell to 1-1.
“I’m proud of our kids,” said CHS head coach Scott Martin. “We started out slow, but we fought hard and never gave up. An ugly win is better than a pretty loss any day.”
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At the home of the Class 3A Panthers, the Tigers tried a little razzle-dazzle early, onside-kicking the game’s opening kickoff. The ball took an ugly bounce, setting up Yazoo County at the CHS 32. But the Tiger defense stiffened and eventually forced a turnover on downs. No harm, no foul.
The Tigers also caught a break a couple of series later when Yazoo’s punter mishandled the long snap and was slammed down at his own 16-yard line by CHS’ Cameron Chambers before getting the kick off. Charleston started from there but eventually turned the ball over on downs.
The Panthers were the first to get on the scoreboard after completing a 43-yard pass to the CHS 31 and scoring two plays later on a 30-yard dart from Kobe Fisher to Corey Rucker. The PAT kick was blocked, but the Panthers led 6-0 with 2:00 in the first act.
The visitors went three-and-out and the Panthers began moving again. But CHS defensive lineman Alfernee Hankins (6-0, 225) used his wingspan to knock down a pass into the flat, corralling the ball for an interception and returning it 45 yards to the Yazoo 5-yard line.
Minutes later, Tiger quarterback Chris Bradford rolled out to the right and hit Kristian Gammage in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. The conversion pass failed, but the game was knotted at 6-6 with 9:27 in the second.
After a Panthers punt, another Charleston fumble was reeled in by Yazoo at the Tiger 46. The boys in powder blue drove 20 yards before the defense forced a turnover on downs at the CHS 26.
CHS defenders tackle a Yazoo County ball carrier Friday night. (Photo by Kelly Paris)
From there, the visitors mounted a 74-yard drive that featured a 58-yard pass play from Bradford to Gammage — Gammage ran for 30 yards after the catch — and was punctuated by a 1-yard Markevious Prince TD run with 4 seconds in the first half. Bradford’s conversion pass attempt failed, but Charleston led 12-6 at the break.
The Tigers would be the beneficiaries of a short punt late in the third quarter, starting at the Yazoo 39-yard line. Quinterrius Suggs ran for a 10-yard gain, and minutes later CHS parlayed the field position into points on a 10-yard scoring run by A.J. Wren. Wren carried for the two-pointer, giving Charleston a 20-6 lead at 11:34 in the fourth quarter.
On the Panthers’ ensuing drive, Fisher hit Rucker for a 50-yard touchdown pass after the defender trailing on the play fell around the 15 on a diving effort to deflect the ball. Fisher’s PAT kick gave Yazoo hope, trailing 20-13 with 9:39 left in the contest.
Charleston went three-and-out, and the Panthers, starting at their own 39, mounted a 37-yard drive to the Tiger 24. There, however, they would turn the ball over on downs when a fourth-and-7 pass fell incomplete.
Still, enough wackiness remained to make the home stretch interesting.
On the first play from their own 24, the Charleston runner was stripped of the ball and a Yazoo defender recovered at the CHS 30. Moments later, the Panthers converted a fourth-and-10 pass to the 19 for a first down. After a couple of plays moved the boys in blue to the 7. On a second down play, Fisher’s across-the-grain pass was intercepted by defender Nathan Randolph at the Tiger 2.
With about a minute left on the game clock, the Tigers went into victory formation and downed the football a few times to run out the clock, preserving a hard-fought road win.
Considering the stellar opponent and all of the adversity they faced in the game — including 100 yards of penalties — Martin said his team represented themselves well.
“It’s a great sign that the guys didn’t give up,” he noted.
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Statistically for Charleston, Bradford completed 5-of-11 passes for 102 yards. Gammage had three grabs for 80 yards, Wren one for 17 and Jamar Taylor one for 5.
Keyshun Cashaw led the CHS ground attack with five carries for 38 yards. Gammage had nine totes for 30 yards, Suggs three for 20, Wren three for 16 and Prince seven for 14.
Defensive stats were unavailable late Tuesday.
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This week, Charleston returns to the friendly confines of Tiger Stadium for their first home game of the season.
The 2-0 North Panola Cougars, who beat Tunica Rosa Fort 50-12 last week, will come calling.
The Tigers have a particular ax to grind with the Cougars, who ended their Class 3A playoff runs each of the last two postseasons.
“They’re always athletic and big up front,” Martin said of North Panola.
He said the Cougars beat Class 5A West Point 6-0 in a preseason jamboree.
“Anytime you beat West Point, even if it’s a jamboree or a scrimmage, you’ve got a good team,” Martin added.
Kickoff Friday night is at 7.
IN THE TOP PHOTO: CHS runner Markevious Prince (No. 8) glances back at a Yazoo County defender while carrying the football Friday night (Aug. 30). Prince had seven carries for 14 yards and scored a touchdown for the visiting Tigers. (Photo by Kelly Paris)
