CHARLESTON — The Charleston High School Tigers defeated the West Tallahatchie High School Choctaws 50-12 in Tiger Stadium here Friday night, Sept. 15.
Charleston has won 35 consecutive games in the long-running cross-county series dubbed the “Battle of the Golden Egg.”
The Tigers improved to 3-1 on the season while the Choctaws fell to 1-3.
“The kids did a great job as far as preparation this week, and just carrying out their assignments,” said CHS head coach LaDon Taylor. “As always, I’m proud of our guys and proud of our coaches.”
West Tally head coach Shane Hargett said his team got down too much, too early, but noted the guys fought hard.
“We had some bright spots. We played well during some possessions on both sides,” Hargett said, while adding that, overall, his defense “didn’t play good football.”
Charleston never punted.
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The Tigers won the toss but deferred.
West Tally’s first play of the night was a 7-yard run by Isaac Day. Tristian Hill picked up the first down on a 6-yard carry, but the Tigers clamped down and forced a punt moments later.
Charleston’s Devon Olive ran for an 11-yard gain on the Tigers’ first offensive snap. Three plays later, Marcus “Deuce” Flowers scored on a 35-yard run. The two-point try failed, but CHS led 6-0 at 6:47 in the first quarter.
After a West Tally three and out, the Tigers covered 59 yards in three plays, including a 29-yard pass from Olive to Omar Wilson and an 18-yard scoring strike from Olive to Kashwaun Drain. Olive hit Eric Hampton on the two-point pass completion for a 14-0 lead at 3:25 in the first.
After a Choctaw turnover gave CHS the ball at the West Tally 30, Quentin Carter broke a 25-yard run to set up his own 6-yard TD carry. Olive hit Dre Riley for the two-pointer and 22-0 lead with 1:20 in the first period.
A holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff set the Choc-taws back to their own 20, and three negative plays caused them to end up punting on fourth-and-27 from their 3. CHS started the drive at the West Tally 26, and two plays later Olive hit Riley for an 18-yard TD. Olive passed to David Ray for the conversion and 30-0 advantage with 10:13 in the second quarter.
The Choctaws responded with a four-play, 69-yard drive that included a 37-yard run by Day on the first snap, and a 12-yard tote by Hill. After a 5-yard run, an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Tigers for a late hit pushed the ball to the CHS 8, where Hill covered the distance. The conversion failed. The Tigers led 30-6 with 8:27 in the half.
The Choctaws’ Hill scored an apparent touchdown on a 28-yard run, tiptoeing along the north sideline as the first half clock expired, but the play was nullified by a flag for holding. One untimed play resulted in a Hill sack.
Charleston took the second half kickoff and mounted an eight-play, 63-yard drive. The big play was a 27-yard pass from Olive to Riley that set the Tigers up first and goal at the West Tally 2-yard line. Olive carried for the score. The conversion failed, but CHS led 36-6 at 7:59 in the third quarter.
West Tally’s next possession ended with an interception by Deon Woodall at the Charleston 21.
The Tigers then mounted a 10-play, 79-yard drive that featured a 30-yard pass from Olive to Riley. Flowers scored on an 8-yard carry. The conversion failed, but Charleston extended its lead to 42-6 at 3:15 in the third.
With the clock now continuously running, the Choc-taws’ next drive was ended by a Riley interception near the Charleston 40 and returned about 20 yards.
On the first play from the West Tally 40, backup quarterback Latese Edwards threw a picture-perfect pass to Riley for a 40-yard TD. Edwards ran for the conversion and a 50-6 CHS lead with 8:45 in the fourth period.
Day returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a holding penalty wiped out the score and the Choctaws started from their own 27. Two face mask penalties and one offsides infraction by CHS aided the West Tally drive. Hill broke a 31-yard run to the Tigers’ 16-yard line and he eventually scored on a 3-yard carry with 1:49 in the game.
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Statistically for Charleston, Olive completed 9-of-15 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Edwards was 1-of-1 for the 40-yard TD.
Riley caught six passes for 136 yards and two scores, Wilson had two grabs for 32 yards and Drain one for 18.
For West Tally, Hill was 2-of-9 for 5 yards and two interceptions.
Flowers led all runners in the game with 16 carries for 113 yards and two scores. Carter had six totes for 47 yards and one touchdown.
For West Tally, Day carried 13 times for 50 yards. Hill had 10 runs for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
Charleston also provided defensive stats that showed Montra Sanford leading the Tigers with three solo and four assisted tackles, for a total of seven. Timothy Kirk and Hampton had four total stops apiece. Carter, Lamarion Brown and Kameron Andrews had three tackles.
Charleston had seven sacks. Kirk and Don Harris had 1½ sacks apiece. Wilson, Carter, Andrews and Elijah Buckley had one sack each.
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Friday, Sept. 22, Charleston will travel to face the Class 5A Cleveland Central Wolves in Bolivar County.
Cleveland Central sports a 4-0 record after edging winless Southaven 34-33 Friday.
“We’re expecting a battle,” said Taylor.
West Tallahatchie will have an open date this week. The Choctaws will resume play Sept. 29 when they begin their Region 5-1A slate with an away game at McEvans School in Shaw. The Warriors were 0-3 heading into Friday night's Sept. 22 battle with 1-3 North Panola.
Hargett said he will use the week off to “study film, tweak some things and get our guys motivated to play football.”
