The Corinth High School Warriors put a damper on homecoming festivities at Tiger Stadium Friday night by defeating the Charleston High School Tigers 34-12.
Charleston dropped to 3-3 on the season while Corinth improved to 5-1.
It was the first homecoming loss for Charleston in two decades. The Tigers last dropped a varsity football homecoming game in 1999, losing 6-0 to Hollandale Simmons. In the 19 years since, prior to last week’s contest, Charleston outscored homecoming opponents 827-106.
It should be pointed out, however, that in nearly all of those 19 games — including 11 shutouts — the Tigers faced a much less capable foe, as homecoming tilts by design often do.
In Corinth, Class 2A Charleston hosted a team ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in a pair of statewide 2A polls.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Charleston head coach Scott Martin said. “Our schedule is pretty tough. We’ve got the toughest non-division schedule around.”
While the stiff lineup of opponents played outside of Charleston’s requisite Region 3-2A slate is designed to hone his team, win or lose, Martin said the Tigers too often shot themselves in the foot during Friday night’s game.
He cited Tiger penalties that extended Corinth drives or hindered Charleston opportunities, and four turnovers.
“Those are mistakes that you can’t have when you’re playing a good team,” Martin said. “You may get away with that when you’re playing a lesser opponent.”
Corinth went three-and-out and the two teams swapped fumbles in the first 3 minutes of the game before the Tigers’ Keyshun Cashaw exploded up the middle and outran defenders for a 76-yard touchdown with 8:30 in the first quarter. The conversion failed, but Charleston led 6-0.
The next five scores would be by Corinth: a 10-yard run by Tameron Patterson at 2:43 in the first quarter; a 12-play, 95-yard drive resulting in a 4-yard TD carry by Cayden Betts at 3:03 in the second period; a 14-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 7-yard Betts run at 5:22 in the third; a 50-yard rush by Nazarius Jones at 9:50 in the fourth; and a six-play, 74-yard drive that led to a 2-yard Patterson run at 4:36 in the fourth.
Charleston’s Enochius Harris returned a fumbled lateral pass 57 yards for a TD with 38 seconds in the game.
— * —
Statistically, Chris Bradford completed 9 of 23 passes for 66 yards while being intercepted twice.
Cashaw had one reception for 29 yards; A.J. Wren four, and Nathan Randolph one, for 14 yards apiece; Gammage two for 5 yards; and Markevious Prince one for 4.
On the ground, Cashaw ran 12 times for 102 yards, Prince six for 20, Wren one for 11 and Clay Taylor two for 10.
Defensively for Charleston, Jamar Taylor led the pack with eight individual tackles and four assists. Wren had seven solo stops and two assists, Kenthadeas Davis three solos and four assists; and Harris five individuals.
The Tigers’ Cameron Chambers racked up a sack for a 15-yard loss.
Harris and Gammage had one fumble recovery each.
— * —
Next up, Charleston treks to Greenville to face the 1-4 O’Bannon Greenwaves in the first of five Region 3-2A matches that will count down the end of the regular season.
“Our first season is over with and our second season starts this week,” said Martin.
At this juncture, past the halfway point, the coach said he feels good about the Tigers.
“I like our team,” he said. "We’re 3-3, but before this last game we were 15 points away from being undefeated.
“I think we’ve got a good team,” Martin continued. “We’ve just got to minimize our mistakes and take advantage when we get opportunities in the red zone.”
IN THE PHOTO: Charleston’s Kristian Gammage runs with the football after making a catch Friday night. Gammage had two receptions for 5 yards in the game. (Photo by Clay McFerrin)
