By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
CHARLOTTE — Friday night’s Region 5-4A matchup at Creek Wood (5-2, 2-2) against the Marshall County Tigers certainly had its weird ebbs and flows to the game.
Marshall County (7-0, 4-0) outlasted a pair of lengthy scoring drives by Creek Wood, won the turnover battle and claimed the 35-13 Region 5-4A road win over the Red Hawks.
The Tigers took advantage of three Red Hawk turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Marcus O’Neal and Reid Mitchell to go along with a fumble recovery by Alex Cruz.
Marshall County forced a three and out on the game’s opening drive and orchestrated near-six minute scoring drive that pressed to the Red Hawk 3-yard line.
On fourth down, junior quarterback Tyler Thompson capped the drive with a 3-yard slice into the end zone for the first score of the night.
Neither team was able to move the chains through the remainder of the quarter until Creek Wood was successfully able to execute its game plan of playing keep away from the high-octane Marshall County offense.
After a Tiger punt with 11:54 left in the first half, Creek Wood quarterback Austin Barton led a 5:10 scoring drive th
at featured a heavy dose of Xavier Knight to the end zone.
Knight carried the ball six times on the drive for 17 yards before finishing the drive with a 3-yard burst into the end zone.
The kick after, however, missed, leaving the Tigers up 7-6.
Marshall County needed just three plays from scrimmage after the Red Hawk score to pad its lead.
On first down from the Creek Wood 20, Thompson hit Jamahl Gentry on a 42-yard pitch and catch and two plays later, found Aja Jones on a 35-yard deep cross to the end zone.
As time continued to expire, the Tiger defense flexed its might and backed the Red Hawks up to their own 26 yard line, where a blocked punt and recovery set Marshall County up on the 5-yard line with 21 seconds left.
Three plays later, Thompson again connected with Jones at the front corner pylon on a crossing route for a diving touchdown reception to take a 21-6 lead into the half.
Mimicking the first half, the third quarter flew by with both teams managing a single lengthy possession that drained the entirety of the quarter.
But just 32 seconds into the fourth, a fumble that was recovered by Alex Cruz gave the Tigers the ball back and again, it was Thompson going to the air with another shock play to add to the Marshall County lead.
From the 50-yard line, Thompson found a streaking Gentry behind the Red Hawk secondary and connected on the 50-yard touchdown pass.
A Reid Mitchell interception set up the final Tiger score of the night, which came on a Jaden Keys 6-yard jaunt with 8:57 left in the game.
While relying on Barton and Knight through the ground game, the Red Hawks found a second score on the night on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Elliott with 3:23 left in the game.
Thompson completed 14-of-21 attempts for 224 yards and three touchdowns, with Gentry hauling in four catches for 103 yards and a score.
Jones made four grabs for 63 yards and two scores.
On the ground, Marshall County churned out 63 yards, with D.J. Gardner leading the way with 30 yards on 10 carries.
Entering Friday night, Creek Wood held a 2-1 region record, adding all the extra importance on the outcome of the game.
With the win, the Tigers control their own destiny, with three region games left on the schedule.
This week, Marshall County will travel to Montgomery Central for its final road game of the year, before returning home to Preston Hopkins Field for matchups against Whites Creek and Pearl Cohn.
Marshall Co. 7 14 0 14 — 35
Creek Wood 0 6 0 7 — 13
First Quarter
MC — Tyler Thompson 3 run, (Luis Gonzalez kick), 4:15.
Second Quarter
CW — Xavier Knight 2 run, (Kick failed), 5:10.
MC — Aja Jones 35 pass from Thompson, (Gonzalez kick), 4:41.
MC — Jones 5 pass from Thompson, (Gonzalez kick), :02.
Fourth Quarter
MC — Jamahl Gentry 50 pass from Thompson, (Gonzalez kick), 10:25.
MC — Jaden Keys 6 run, (Gonzalez kick), 8:57.
CW — Jayden Elliott 31 pass from Austin Barton, (Brian Sanchez kick), 3:23.