Tiger head coach Thomas Osteen won his 100th game as head coach for Marshall County with Friday night’s dominant win at Montgomery Central. (Post File Photo by Chris Siers)
Aja Jones caught three more touchdown passes in the Tigers’ win to bring his season total to 14 heading into the bye week. (Post File Photo by Chris Siers)
STAFF REPORT
CUNNINGHAM — Marshall County football has been one of the premier football programs in the mid-state for a long time.
It’s no secret, the players, coaching staff and community have bought into head coach Thomas Osteen’s vision for what a successful program can be.
Capping off Marshall County’s eighth win this season on Friday night with a 47-0 blowout victory at Montgomery Central, Osteen collected his 100th win as head coach of the Tiger football program.
Friday night was much like the bulk of the season so far for the Tigers—lots of offense and a huge victory.
Marshall County (8-0, 5-0) imposed its will against Montgomery Central, churning out 387 yards of offense against the Indians.
Junior quarterback Tyler Thompson continued his stellar season and added four more touchdown passes, despite also throwing just his third interception on the season.
Three of those touchdown passes went to sensational senior standout receiver Aja Jones, who made five grabs in total for 94 yards to go along with his three scores.
Marcus O’Neal also added a 46-yard touchdown reception to his credit as well.
Out of the backfield, it was D.J. Gardner and Jamahl Gentry that led the running back-by-committee.
Gardner toted the ball for the lion’s share of the carries and finished with 59 yards on 13 touches and a touchdown.
Gentry added 60 yards on 10 carries as well.
In addition to his four passing touchdowns, Thompson also added an 18-yard rushing touchdown.
The Tigers didn’t waste much time and barely three minutes into the game, Thompson hit Jones on a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Later in the quarter, Thompson connected with O’Neal on a 46-yard touchdown pass.
In addition to his three receiving touchdowns, Jones also tacked on a 55-yard kickoff return, which came in the first quarter.
By the end of the first quarter, Marshall County led 20-0.
The Tigers played add on with 21 more points on a 64-yard touchdown pass to Jones, Thompson’s 18-yard run and a 4-yard pass to Gentry as well.
Thompson went 16-for-21 on the night for 230 yards and four touchdowns.
Having dominated the schedule for the better part of two months, the Tigers finally get a break with a bye week this week, before returning home to Preston Hopkins Field for a final two-game push to close out the regular season.
Next week, the Tigers will host Whites Creek, before closing out the season on Halloween Night against defending Class 4A state champion Pearl Cohn.
Marshall County 20 21 6 0 — 47
Montgomery Central 0 0 0 0 — 0
