Post Photo by Chris Siers Senior quarterback Silas Teat stands tall in the pocket before scrambling for an 11-yard touchdown run. Teat threw for three touchdowns in addition to his rushing touchdown.
By Chris Siers
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
LEWISBURG — Leading up to Senior Night against Montgomery Central, Tiger coach Thomas Osteen preached to his team to use the week to play to the Marshall County standard and use the week to improve.
Mission accomplished.
The Tigers exerted their will on Montgomery Central and rattled off their sixth-straight win with a 58-6 dominant victory.
“Happy with our whole organization and happy the kids used the week to get better. We wanted to start fast. You can win a game and still play sloppy and waste the opportunity to get better throughout the week. I feel like we used the opportunity to get better as a football team this week,” Osteen said.
The Tiger coaching staff wanted a hot start against the Indians and that’s just what they got.
By the time the Tigers had run just a single offensive play, Marshall County sat firmly in control with 15-0 lead.
Junior corner Jamahl Gentry took a 46-yard interception to the house, barely a 1:16 into the game and after a bobbled snap on the extra point, senior Jayden Randolph ran in the 2-point conversion.
Following a three and out on the next drive, senior quarterback Silas Teat hit Kel Hightower on a 27-yard touchdown pass and the kick after gave the Tigers a 15-0 lead with 8:56 left in the first quarter.
Marshall County got two more scores in the quarter, a safety that was snapped out of the back of the end zone with 7:07 left and another passing touchdown from Teat, this time a 42-yard strike to Aja Jones for a 24-0 lead by the end of the quarter.
Defensively, the Tigers thrived on a hot start as well, at one time, backing the Indians up for -30 yards of offense.
It wasn’t until Montgomery Central running back Belafonte Mallory got loose on a third-down, 9-yard pick up that the Indians returned to net-positive yards.
Teat continued to impress in the second quarter, throwing for two more scores—a 12-yard touchdown pass to Markese Davis and a 5-yard strike to Jones.
He also added an 11-yard touchdown run of his own as well on a dive to the pylon, late in the second quarter.
Post Photo by Chris Siers D.J. Gardner points out his blockers as he moves the ball inside the Indian 10-yard line on a carry in the second quarter.
By halftime, the Tigers held onto a firm, 45-0 lead.
With the lead well in hand, plenty of Tiger reserves worked their way onto the field in the second half and picked up right where the starters left off.
Senior tailback Antomme Cowthorn added a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and quarterback Tyler Thompson hit Jose Ibarra in the corner of the end zone on a 25-yard touchdown pass for the final Tiger touchdown of the game.
But, Montgomery Central broke what had been an eight scoreless quarter streak with a 35-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game.
Teat was about as efficient as could be, completing 8-of-9 attempts for 152 yards and four touchdowns.
Thompson was equally as efficient, completing 4-of-5 attempts for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Jones led eight receivers with receptions with three grabs for 69 yards and a pair of scores, while Cowthorn led the Tigers on the ground with four carries for 41 yards and a score.
Defensively, Gentry recorded a pair of interceptions, but it was Reid Mitchell who was a terror in the Indian backfield, recording a pair of sacks and nine total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. He also recovered a fumble, which he stripped as well.
The win marked the sixth-straight for the Tigers, who appear to be clicking as well as they have at any point so far this season.
Defensively, the Tigers have given up just five touchdowns in the past five games and have allowed just 12 points scored in the past three weeks.
Now, the Tigers will get a week off before revamping for a final two-game push to contend for the region championship.
A win against Whites Creek in two weeks not only secures a home playoff game for the Tigers, but also would guarantee a spot in what will be the region championship game in th
Post Photo by Chris Siers Reid Mitchell (64) jumps on a fumble after stripping the ball from Montgomery Central quarterback Jackson Mullins.
e final game of the season.
“Obviously our goal isn’t just to get into the playoffs. We want to have a special end this year. I told the guys to use this time to rest and recover, but also do some thinking about how special we could make this year. I’m really excited about the break, but I’m more excited getting back to work for Game 9,” Osteen said.
“Have to win one more for a home playoff game and then have to win one more to set up a region championship game. We’re excited about that, but we have to earn that right first.”
Still, Friday’s win came in dominant fashion on a Senior Night in which 13 players and another three managers were honored.
“They’ve had great careers. The biggest thing, they’re just great young men. Thirteen seniors and three more student assistants. They’re good people. Like any organization in life, you win with people. They’re good people and they’ve had a great year. Really hoping we can make it even more special here at the end,” Osteen said.
The Tigers will sit idle this week, before traveling to Whites Creek next week.
Mont. Central 0 0 0 6 — 6
Marshall Co. 24 21 7 6 — 58
First Quarter
Marsh. Co. — Jamahl Gentry 46 interception return, (Jayden Randolph 2pt. run), 10:44.
Marsh. Co. — Kel Hightower 27 pass from Silas Teat, (Wyatt Joyce kick), 8:56.
Marsh. Co. — Safety, snap out of end zone, 7:07.
Marsh. Co. — Aja Jones 42 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), 6:14.
Second Quarter
Marsh. Co. — Markese Davis 12 pass from Teat, (Wyatt Joyce), 10:41.
Marsh. Co. — Teat 11 run, (Joyce kick), 7:40.
Marsh. Co. — Jones 5 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), 1:26.
Third Quarter
Marsh. Co. — Antomme Cowthorn 4 run, (Joyce kick), 6:23.
Fourth Quarter
Marsh. Co. — Jose Ibarra 25 pass from Tyler Thompson, (kick blocked), 11:15.
Mont. Cent. — Anthony Holland 35 pass from Jackson Mullins, 0:00.
