Marks Mitchell (10) and D.J. Gardner (3) celebrate after coming up with a huge tackle for loss on third down and forcing a Station Camp punt in the first quarter. (Post Photos by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
LEWISBURG — During the Class 4A playoff opener a week ago against Lexington, Marshall County coach Thomas Osteen didn’t feel his team played up to its potential despite picking up the win in the postseason opener.
Fast forward to the second round, and Marshall County (12-0) executed as well as it has in all three phases of the game to beat Station Camp, 52-13 to advance to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.
“I felt like we didn’t play our best last week, but I feel like we played much cleaner tonight, much more efficient. Station Camp is a good football team. They’ve won five in-a-row coming in here. They played Pearl Cohn within a point. I think that really motivated our guys to play a good team,” Osteen said.
It was more of the same from the potent Marshall County offense, led by junior quarterback Tyler Thompson, who added to his exceptional season by completing 12-of-14 attempts for 203 yards and three more touchdowns.
He added another touchdown on the ground.
His top target of the night was senior wide out Aja Jones, who caught six passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.
“We kind of moved our receiver positions around a little bit and put him (Jones) in the slot more. I feel like that kind of opened up our offense a
Aja Jones hauls in a 49-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Thompson after sneaking behind the Bison defense. He caught six passes for 168 yards. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
little bit more,” Osteen said.
While the Tigers eventually took over and dominated the final there quarters, outscoring the Bison 38-6, the first quarter was a back-and-forth struggle.
After forcing a Bison punt on the game’s opening drive, the Tigers needed just four plays to find paydirt when Jamahl Gentry found a crease and went 47 yards to the house for the first score.
Station Camp relied on quarterback Colton Overbey on the next drive, but the Marshall County defense forced a turnover on downs o the 4-yard line.
After a 31-yard pass to Jones set the Tigers up inside the 10, Thompson hit Marcus O’Neal in the corner of the end zone on fourth and goal to go up 14-0, following Luis Gonzalez’ successful extra point.
The Bison (6-6) answered the second Marshall County score on a 4-yard touchdown run by Matthew Dickens to cut the Tiger lead to 14-7.
As the first quarter continued to wind down, the game took an interesting turn that nearly shifted all momentum to Station Camp.
After returning the following kickoff to the 23-yard line, Thompson hit Jones on the near sideline on a huge pickup, but had the ball stripped and Station Camp returned deep into Tiger territory.
Marshall County avoided disaster due to a Station Camp penalty that allowed the Tigers to retain possession on the Bison 13-yard line.
Marcus O’Neal catches a bullet of a pass from Thompson in the corner of the end zone for the second Tiger touchdown of the night. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
Three plays later, DJ Gardner found the end zone for the first of three second-quarter Tiger touchdowns to help blow the game wide open.
From there, the Tigers feasted on both the defensive side and offensive side of the ball.
After forcing a three and out, Thompson hit tight end Anthony Smith on an 8-yard strike and after the defense forced a turnover on downs on the Tiger 22, Thompson hit Jones on a 53-yard pick up with 35 seconds left in the half.
Two plays later, Gentry plunged one yard into the end zone for his second score of the night to give the Tigers a commanding 35-7 lead.
Much like the first half, Thompson and the Tigers went back to the big shock plays downfield after exiting halftime and on second down, hit a streaking Jones on a deep cross on a 49-yard touchdown pass.
Jones kept his monster night going, intercepting Overbey on the 42 after a pass was tipped.
After five-straight carries by Gardner put the Tigers on the 1-yard line, Thompson finished the drive on a quarterback sneak.
Although the Bison got a touchdown late in the second half, the Tiger defense held strong and didn’t give Station Camp a true shot at a comeback bid.
Gonzalez also added a 25-yard field goal in the fourth frame as well.
In total, Station Camp managed 252 total yards against the stingy Marshall County defense.
Overbey comple
Tyler Thompson peels out and fires a throw downfield. He completed 12-of-14 attempts for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ win on Friday. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
ted just 8-of-17 attempts for 98 yards and an interception.
As a team, the Tigers rushed for 146 yards and were led by Gentry’s 73 yards on five carries.
Defensively, it was also Gentry who led the charge, totaling nine tackles, including a tackle for loss.
“Coach (Josh) Beddingfield put together a good game plan and coach (Danny) Pickle’s d-line got after the quarterback. We made him run for his life a lot tonight. That was definitely a key to the game,” Osteen said.
With the season on the line each week, Osteen was pleased to see his team play the most complete game effort so far this year and hopes the Tigers are peaking at the right time.
“We were close tonight. I feel like tonight was much closer to the capabilities of this team. Next week, we’ll have to play as good as we’ve played all year to have a chance,” he said.
The win sets the Tigers on a collision course with the Pearl-Cohn Firebirds for the second meeting in less than a month.
Marshall County defeated Pearl-Cohn, 24-21 in overtime to claim the Region 5-4A title on Halloween night.
Pearl-Cohn defeated Chester County 56-28 in their second-round match up and will travel back to Preston Hopkins Field on Friday, with a trip to the Class 4-A state semifinals on the line.
“Beating them twice will be the toughest challenge this team has ever faced, but this is where we wanted to be. I think our kids know the challenge in front of them next week,” Osteen said.
Station Camp 7 0 0 6 — 13
Marshall Co. 14 21 14 3 — 52
First Quarter
MC — Jamahl Gentry 47 run, (Luis Gonzalez kick), 8:29.
MC — Marcus O’Neal pass from Tyler Thompson, (Gonzalez kick), 3:26.
SC — Matthew Dickens 4 run, (Gavin Hastings kick), 1:13.
Second Quarter
MC — DJ Gardner 2 run, (Gonzalez kick), 11:49.
MC — Anthony Smith 8 pass from Thompson, (Gonzalez kick), 7:01.
MC — Gentry 1 run, (Gonzalez kick), :15.
Third Quarter
MC — Aja Jones 49 pass from Thompson, (Gonzalez kick), 11:13.
MC — Thompson 1 run, (Gonzalez kick), 4:20.
Fourth Quarter
MC — Gonzalez 25-yard field goal, 6:42.
SC — Colin Gillespie 26 run, (2pt. pass failed).
