BLUE SPRINGS — The Charleston Tigers whipped the East Union Urchins 52-27 in a second-round playoff game here Friday night.
CHS improved to 9-4 on the year while East Union’s season ended at 9-3.
Charleston head coach Scott Martin said despite a “slow and sloppy” start, his team eventually “turned it on” and pulled away.
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This Friday, Charleston will host the 9-3 Calhoun City Wildcats, champs of Region 2-2A, in the quarterfinals.
The winner will advance to face the victor of this week’s 11-1 East Webster at 12-0 North Side. Charleston would have to travel in either case.
Martin said rush-heavy Calhoun City has “real good skill guys,” uses multiple formations and runs a 4-3 defense.
“When you get this deep in the playoffs, everybody has a lot of talent,” he noted.
Kickoff Friday is at 7 p.m.
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East Union drew first blood via a 24-yard passing TD with 11:55 in the second quarter. The PAT was good.
CHS responded with a 69-yard scoring drive capped with a 21-yard Kristian Gammage run. Chris Bradford carried for the two-point conversion and 8-7 lead at 9:56.
Lightning struck when an East Union return guy took the ensuing kickoff 72 yards for a TD. The PAT was good, and the Urchins led 14-8 with 8:44 in the second act.
CHS answered with a 65-yard drive to paydirt when Gammage ran for a 9-yard TD at 7:29 in the half. The conversion failed, and the score was knotted 14 all.
On the ensuing kickoff, the returner was stripped of the ball and Quinterrius Suggs recovered for CHS at the East Union 23. Two plays later, Gammage capitalized with an 8-yard TD carry. Markevious Prince passed to Bradford for the conversion and a 22-14 edge with 6:33 in the second.
The Tigers scored again on an 18-yard pass from Gammage to Bradford with 1:25 in the half, going up 28-14.
The Urchins ended the half on a high note with a 40-yard TD pass and PAT with 57 ticks on the clock, closing to within 28-21 at the break.
CHS scored on a 19-yard A.J. Wren run and Bradford conversion run with 9:07 in the fourth. Wren ran for a 31-yard TD at the 6:57 mark and Bradford hit Jamar Taylor for the two points and 44-21 lead.
East Union hit paydirt on a 2-yard carry with 4:57 left and CHS nailed the final coffin with a 2-yard Nathan Randolph TD and conversion with 2:30 remaining.
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Statistically, Gammage completed 3-of-6 passes for 26 yards and one touchdown. He led the team with 20 runs for 149 yards and three TDs.
Bradford had one catch for 18 yards, Wren one for 5 and Prince one for 3.
Wren had eight carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Prince ran 10 times for 51 yards, Keyshun Cashaw 10 for 39 and Randolph three for 32.
Wren led with six tackles. Alfernee Hankins, Ronquavious Greer, Prince, Enochius Harris, Dontavious Cashaw and Tyler Tellis had four each.
Prince snared three interceptions and Gammage one.
IN THE PHOTO: Charleston running back Markevious "Mook" Prince (No. 8) navigates a crowd Friday night on one of his 10 carries netting 51 yards. (Photo by Kelly Paris)
