MARKS — The visiting Charleston Tigers snuffed out the fire of the M.S. Palmer Dragons, beating them 38-0 during the regular-season finale here Friday night, Nov. 1.
The Tigers improved to 7-4 while Palmer slipped to 5-5.
The Marks team had been a contender for the Region 3-2A runner-up title, but Charleston sewed up the second seed for themselves with last week’s blowout win.
“We played really, really good,” said CHS head coach Scott Martin. “Our defense played very good again.”
The Tigers hope to continue the momentum gained from three straight victories at the end of the campaign.
This week, they will host the 8-3 Pisgah Dragons, the third-place team in Region 4-2A, during a first-round playoff game at Tiger Stadium.
Pisgah, fresh from a 28-19 loss to 9-1 South Delta, bears some similarities to Charleston.
The Dragons are a run-first team, averaging 307.5 rushing yards and just 71.2 passing yards per game this season.
Dual-threat senior quarterback Dillon Usry accounts for 47% of Pisgah’s offensive yardage, passing for 689 yards and rushing for 1,267, and has thrown or run for 25 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Kyshaun Gates has 1,089 rushing yards and 11 TDs.
“They’ve got a real good offensive line and good quarterback,” said Martin. “It’s going to be a challenge for our defense, but our defense thrives on challenges.”
Charleston has averaged 171.4 rushing and 71.9 passing yards per outing.
Defense may well decide this game, and as Martin said, the Tigers have been stout.
The winner of the Pisgah at CHS game will face the winner of Friday night’s 4-7 Bruce at 8-2 East Union contest.
The Tigers would have to travel the following week no matter which team wins, because Bruce hasn’t hosted a playoff game and East Union is a higher seed — No. 1 in Region 1-2A.
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At Marks, Charleston scored in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Kristian Gammage with 7:04 left. Chris Bradford passed to Gammage for the two-point conversion.
Bradford scored a 2-yard TD with 10:34 in the second period, but the conversion pass attempt was incomplete.
Markevious Prince scored the next three touchdowns for the Tigers — on a 4-yard run with 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter, a 13-yard run with 11:35 in the fourth and an 11-yard run with 9:40 in the fourth.
Keyshun Cashaw added the final points for the Tigers on an 8-yard scoring run with 6:48 left in the game.
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Statistically, Bradford completed 5-of-8 passes for 55 yards, Prince was 1-of-1 for 21 yards and Gammage did not connect on his lone pass attempt.
Gammage led the team with two receptions for 48 yards. Jamar Taylor had one grab for 21 yards, A.J. Wren two for 6 yards and Quinterrius Suggs caught one for 1.
Charleston exhibited a balanced ground attack, with seven Tigers gaining double-digit rushing yards.
Prince led the pack with 12 carries for 79 yards, Gammage had five totes for 44, Cashaw 11 for 36, Cam Chambers four for 30, Bradford five for 16, Suggs three for 13 and Wren three for 12. Anthony Harris had one carry for 6 yards in the game.
Defensively, Jamar Taylor led Charleston with four individual and two assisted tackles. Alfernee Hankins and Kenthadeas Davis posted three individual tackles apiece. Enochius Harris compiled two solo stops and two assists.
Hankins notched two quarterback sacks, while Lucas Edwards recorded one.
