Kel Hightower of the Tigers corrals a 32-yard pass from Tyler Thompson for the first of his three touchdown pass receptions. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
Aja Jones breaks away from a Lexington defender and scores on a 14-yard pass play from Tyler Thompson. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By Rickey Clardy
Sports Writer
LEWISBURG — The Marshall County Tigers scored three second quarter touchdowns to break open a close game and the Tigers never looked back as Marshall County defeated the Lexington Tigers 42-5 in the opening round of the TSSAA Class 4A football playoffs Friday night.
A staunch defense, opportunities arising from special teams, and a little help from Lexington penalties propelled the Tigers to move out to a commanding halftime lead as Marshall County began its playoff journey in grand style.
Lexington had its backs to the wall after botching the opening kickoff and started its possession at its own 1-yard line.
The Marshall County defense forced a three-and-out as the Tigers started their first possession at the Lexington 31.
After a 1-yard loss, the Tigers found pay dirt on their second play from
Reid Mitchell stops a Lexington runner in his tracks. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
scrimmage as quarterback Tyler Thompson connected with Kel Hightower for 32 yards to put Marshall County on the board.
Luis Gonzalez, who was a perfect 6-of-6 on extra points, kicked the point after as the Tigers went up 7-0 with 9:38 remaining in the opening quarter.
Lexington took a gamble on its next possession after facing a fourth-and-two from its own 28, but the gamble paid off as Amarion Arnold found an opening and raced 62 yards to the Marshall County 10.
The Tiger defense stiffened as Lexington could not reach the end zone and Lexington settled for a 22-yard field goal by Blayne Carrington as the Tiger lead was cut to 7-3 with five minutes left.
Lexington threatened on its next drive as a 52-yard pass play from Jonathan Pritchard to Freddy Vega moved the ball to the Marshall County 25 as the first quarter ended.
Lexington gained minimal yardage on the drive as the game moved to the second quarter.
On fourth down, a Tiger sack stopped the drive and the Lexington momentum as Marshall County took over possession.
“There’s a bunch of games where we’re not the biggest team on the field, but tonight we had a size advantage and I felt that showed as the game went on,” Coach Thomas Osteen of the Tigers said.
Aided by a Lexington face mask penalty that nullified a Tiger loss and a pass interference call, Marshall County moved the ball into Lexington territory. A 14-yard pass play from Thompson to Hightower was a big play on the drive before D.J. Gardner punched the ball in from two yards out.
The extra point by Gonzalez put the Tigers up 14-3 with 6:18 remaining.
A penalty on the ensuing kickoff forced Lexington to start its next possession at its own 8.
Another three-and-out forced a punt and gave the Tigers great field possession at the Lexington 41.
A Lexington personal foul helped the cause before Thompson teamed up with Hightower for 11 yards and the score as Marshall County went up 21-3 with 3:52 left.
The Tiger special teams came up big on the kickoff as Tyler Railling recovered a Lexington muff, giving Marshall County the ball at the Lexington 21. The Tigers wasted little time before Aja Jones completed a 14-yard pass play from Thompson by breaking a tackle and crossing the goal line for the score as the Tigers finished the first half scoring and went up 28-3 with 2:09 left.
“We want to be a complementary football team, and our special teams were really good tonight,” Osteen said.
“Our kicker, Luis Gonzalez, had a great night and our kickoff team did a great job running down and being physical.”
Lexington found a ray of hope as a successful onside kick to start the second half gave Lexington possession at midfield.
But the Marshall County defense came up big as Lexington could only muster two yards on three plays before punting the ball to the Tigers.
The Tiger offense stayed hot as a 46-yard pass play from Thompson to Jones moved the ball into Lexington territory. Marshall County punctuated the drive as Thompson found Hightower for 33 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers forced a running clock and went up 35-3 with 8:03 left in the third quarter.
A Lexington fumble deep in its own territory gave the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Lexington 6.
Gardner finished the drive with a 1-yard run as the Tigers increased their advantage to 42-3 with 5:30 left.
With the running clock, the game moved quickly throughout the remainder of the second half.
Lexington salvaged two points with a safety in the fourth quarter as the Tigers advanced in the 4A playoffs.
“All wins are sweet, and playoff wins are that much sweeter,” Osteen said. “This team expected to be right here playing a home playoff game.”
“So happy with the way we came out and respected the process this week and respected our opponent,” Osteen added.
“Lexington was a scrappy team and gave us some fits in the first half. They’re coached well and they’ll be really good in the years to come.”
“Hopefully, our experience showed as the game went on,” Osteen said.
Marshall County will host region foe Station Camp in the second round of the playoffs on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Station Camp defeated Jackson North Side 47-24 in its opening round playoff game.
Lexington 3 0 0 2 — 5
Marshall County 7 21 14 0 — 42
First Quarter
MC — Kel Hightower 32 pass from Tyler Thompson (Luis Gonzalez kick) 9:38.
L — Blayne Carrington 22 field goal 5:00.
Second Quarter
MC — D.J. Gardner 2 run (Gonzalez kick) 6:18.
MC — Hightower 11 pass from Thompson (Gonzalez kick) 3:52.
MC — A. J. Jones 14 pass from Thompson (Gonzalez kick) 2:09.
Third Quarter
MC — Hightower 33 pass from Thompson (Gonzalez kick) 8:03.
MC — Gardner 1 run (Gonzalez kick) 5:30.
Fourth Quarter
L — Safety, 4:20.
