Jamahl Gentry (8) breaks through the Columbia defense for an early-game pickup. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
Aja Jones makes a key tackle in space on the final drive of the game. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
Marcus O’Neal plows through the Lions’ defensive front and picks up a handful of hard-fought yards. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
LEWISBURG — Friday night’s season-opener was about what one would expect in a Week 1 rivalry matchup.
From turnovers, penalties, cramps and plenty of late-game drama, it was the Marshall County Tigers (1-0) who made enough key plays at key moments in the fourth quarter to survive a scare in the 25-22 win over visiting Columbia.
“I think we had opportunities to extend the game and just messed up a lot of those. I’ve been doing this a long time. A bunch of first games are ugly and we lived up to that billing tonight with the operation on the field, some sloppiness and a couple turnovers. Winning is hard, but I’ll take a win any way we can get it,” Tiger coach Thomas Osteen said.
Leading 25-14 late in the fourth quarter, the Lions (0-1) forced a turnover on downs at the 26-yard line with just under three minutes to go.
Lion quarterback Daniel Booker methodically moved the Lions down the field with a steady mix of plays on the ground and through the air.
And then came the drama.
An 18-yard run from the Marshall County 28-yard line set up Columbia at the 10-yard line and on the very next play, Booker hit Cason Tice on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 1:30 left and followed with a successful 2-point conversion pass to KJ Frierson to pull Columbia within one possession.
The score prompted the Lions to opt for the onside kick, which Columbia recovered on the Tiger 39-yard line.
Although Columbia was able to pick up a handful of yards, the game came down to a fourth-down conversion attempt with 24 seconds left that fell just short as Marshall County’s defense was able to answer the bell and deliver the biggest play of the game at the 30-yard line.
Early on, the Marshall County defense certainly set the tone for the game, picking off Columbia quarterback Burton Moore three times in the first half, the first of which came on the first drive of the game that resulted in a 36-yard touchdown return by Aja Jones.
Marcus O’Neal delivered the next two interceptions for Marshall County, prompting Columbia to turn to Booker at quarterback.
After senior Silas Teat graduated last year, it’s now Tyler Thompson who gets the keys to the high-octane Tiger offense and he recorded his first touchdown pass as the Marshall County starter with 11:09 in the second quarter, connecting with Jones on a swing pass that turned into a 63-yard touchdown reception.
Thompson went on to complete 18-of-25 attempts for 191 yards and three touchdown passes in the win.
“It was his (Thompson) first game starting and there’s a lot of expectations for him. After the game slowed down for him, he made some big plays for us. He has to be a big playmaker for us if we want to get to where we want to be,” Osteen said.
But after the Tigers took a 13-0 lead, it was Columbia who was the beneficiary of a turnover, with a Tiger fumble on the 10-yard line that set up the first Columbia score, courtesy of Booker on a 4-yard run.
Columbia later took the lead utilizing the hurry-up offense and Booker again delivered a touchdown with 22 seconds left to put the Lions up 14-13 at the half.
Marshall County retook the lead early in the third quarter when Thompson peeled out of the pocket and hit tight end Anthony Smith streaking down the seam for the 35-yard touchdown pass with 10:44 left in the third.
Thompson added one final touchdown pass in his debut as the Marshall County starter, which proved to be the game-winner, on a 4-yard quick slant to Jones in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers utilized a running back-by-committee in the 2024 opener and were led by DJ Gardner, who carried the ball seven times for 32 yards.
As a team, Marshall County totaled 104 yards on 27 carries.
“We knew we were going to be running back by committee. We got started running the ball kind of slow and part of that is because Columbia has a good defensive front. We have to get that part of the game better, but we’re so happy we overcame adversity there in the second half,” Osteen said.
Senior defensive end Reid Mitchell made his presence felt in the 2024 opener and will have to be a key factor for the Tigers moving forward.
“If we’re going to be any good this year, he (Mitchell) has to be one of our best players on offense and defense. He made a bunch of plays tonight. For the most part, our defense really swarmed to the ball and did a bunch of good things,” Osteen said.
Columbia totaled just 244 yards of offense against the Tigers
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Tigers, who travel to Shelbyville on Thursday night for the final non-region matchup until a September 26 meeting with Fayetteville City.
“It’s a huge challenge and our last non-region game for a long time. If we’re going to get in the playoffs—Shelbyville will be a playoff team. They have a great running game, a great o-line and a great d-line. They pushed us around over here a little bit. It should be easy to get the guys ready for that challenge,” Osteen said.
Last season, Shelbyville won a 35-28 meeting against Marshall County in Lewisburg and eventually reached the second-round of the Class 6-A state playoffs.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Shelbyville.
Columbia 0 14 0 8 — 22
Marshall Co. 7 6 6 6 — 25
First Quarter
MC — Aja Jones 36 yard interception return, (Hendrix Kaipo kick), 9:56.
Second Quarter
MC — Jones 63 pass from Tyler Thompson, (2pt. run failed), 11:09.
CC — Daniel Booker 4 run, (Luis Gonzalez kick), 7:51.
CC — Booker 7 run, (Gonzalez kick), :22.
Third Quarter
MC — Anthony Smith 35 pass from Thompson, (2pt. pass failed), 10:44.
Fourth Quarter
MC — Jones 4 pass from Thompson, (kick blocked), 9:04.
CC — Cason Tice pass from Booker, (KJ Frierson 2pt. pass from Booker), 1:30.
