Post Photo by Chris Siers Kamariq Perryman hauls in a pass from senior quarterback Silas Teat on a 34-yard touchdown reception.
By Chris Siers
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
LEWISBURG — It as a bit of a slow start for the Marshall County Tigers on Homecoming night.
Perhaps it was the pomp and circumstance, or just the thrill of playing on Homecoming night, but eventually the dam burst for the Tigers (6-1, 4-0) and when it did, Creek Wood (2-5, 2-2) just couldn’t match Marshall County one either side of the ball.
The Tigers rattled off 31 second-quarter points and cruised to their fifth-straight win with a 41-0 shutout win over Creek Wood on Friday night.
“Maybe Homecoming had a little to do with the slow start, but Creek Wood is coached really well. Hat’s off to them for having a good game plan at the start. We still put in a great week of practice despite all the extra curricular stuff going on. It took us a little while to get going, but any time you can pitch a shutout, it makes you feel good,” Tiger coach Thomas Osteen said.
Opportunity bounced Marshall County’s way when Creek Wood fumbled the ball on the game’s opening drive.
After pushing to Tiger territory, the Red Hawks fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Tigers on the 38-yard line.
Marshall County, in turn, took the drive to the Creek Wood 30, but the drive stalled following a penalty and incomplete pass and a fourth-down incompletion turned the ball over on downs.
After holding Creek Wood to a three and out on the next drive, the Tigers again methodically moved deep into Creek Wood territory, where again the drive stalled.
This time, the Tigers opted for a 38-yard Wyatt Joyce field goal, but the kick was ruled to have missed, leaving the score deadlocked at zero.
After another Red Hawk three and out, the Tigers were able to move the ball deep into the visitors’ territory and this time, Joyce made good on a 31-yard kick with 10:32 left in the half.
Defensively, the Tigers notched their third-straight three and out and a 25-yard punt sat Marshall County up on the Creek Wood 34-yard line.
It was then senior Silas Teat hit running back Kamariq Perryman for the 34-yard strike to go up 10-0, following Joyce’s kick after.
The Tigers went on to score three more times in the half, with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Aja Jones, set up by a D.J. Gardner interception and two touchdown passes to senior wide out Jayden Randolph of nine and 28 yards.
By halftime, the Tigers built a 31-0 lead.
With a dominant second quarter, the Tigers liberally worked the reserves into the game and Joyce added a second made field goal in the third quarter on a 23-yard boot and Randolph caught his third touchdown of the night from Tyler Thompson mid-way through the fourth quarter.
While the Tigers enjoyed a second-quarter outburst of offense, the more notable statistic was the defense, which pitched its third shutout of the season.
In fact, in the six wins so far this season, the Tigers haven’t given up more than 14 points in a victory.
“We had a lot of pieces on defense to replace from last year. Those guys are playing so hard. Our kids buy into the game plan and just play hard,” Osteen said.
The offense is certainly hitting hits stride as the Tigers notched their fifth-straight win and in the last four games, Marshall County is averaging 34.4 points per game.
Teat completed 10-of-16 attempts for 202 yards and four touchdowns, with Randolph making five catches for 104 yard and three scores.
Perryman led the Tigers on the ground with six carries for 54 yards.
“We’re all-in ev
Post Photo by Chris Siers Jayden Randolph turns upfield after making a grab from Silas Teat. He had five catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns.
ery week. Football is a once-a-week sport. I think we’ve gotten better each week since Week 2. We’ve gotten a bunch of guys back. Earlier in the year, we were banged up a lot more than usual. We’re getting close to having a complete football team. D.J. Gardner saw his first action tonight and got a big interception. It just adds to our athleticism on the back end,” Osteen said.
Friday night’s homecoming win ensured the Tigers a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs, and with three region games left on the slate, Marshall County needs a couple more wins to secure a home playoff game as well.
“Our win tonight got us in the playoffs, but we have to win two more region games to get a home playoff game. That’s the goal—to figure out a way for next week to not be our last week at home,” Osteen said.
With seven weeks of high school football in the books, Osteen is impressed with how his team has grown over the past month, leading up to the conclusion of the regular season.
“I’m impressed with our team chemistry. We have a bunch of really good players. There’s a bunch of players on this team who can score three or four times a game. But they’ve really bought into the team being more important than any individual. We’ve got a great team chemistry and I think that’s going to make us tough to beat at the end of the year,” he said.
Marshall County will host Montgomery Central on Friday night for Senior Night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Creek Wood 0 0 0 0 — 0
Marshall Co. 0 31 3 7 — 41
Second Quarter
MC — Wyatt Joyce 31 yard field goal, 10:32.
MC — Kamariq Perryman 34 pass from Silas Teat, (Joyce kick), 9:09.
MC — Aja Jones 52 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), 6:44.
MC — Jayden Randolph 9 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), 4:28.
MC — Randolph 28 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), :16.
Third Quarter
MC — Joyce 23 yard field goal, 7:33.
Post Photo by Chris Siers Wyatt Joyce splits the uprights on a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. He was a perfect five-of-five on extra points, made a 23-yard field goal and recorded six touchbacks on the night.
Fourth Quarter
MC — Jayden Randolph 33 pass from Tyler Thompson, (Joyce kick), 8:10.
