Following a hard-fought 26-20 Homecoming loss last Friday to Rosa Fort High of Tunica, the Gentry High Rams take their home field again this Friday to do battle with the Clarksdale High Wildcats.
This 7 p.m. Region 3-4A matchup will pit the 3-5, 0-2 Rams against the 3-5, 1-0 Wildcats, who were able to pick up a victory last week without having to set foot on a field.
With Coahoma County AHS forfeiting their game with Clarksdale last Friday night, the Wildcats’ schedule over the last two weeks also earned a 40-6 regional victory over Yazoo City High School.
Despite their losing record, the Wildcats have faced a rugged schedule which saw them drop games to 6A members South Panola, undefeated Tupelo and Warren Central High School of Vicksburg. The Clarksdale squad also dropped decisions to undefeated 5A member Cleveland Central and to 4A member Shannon High School.Historically, since 2004, the Rams are winless in their six meetings with Clarksdale High and last season’s 35-0 loss to the Wildcats extended that losing streak.
The Wildcats’ 2016 victory over the Rams added to a 9-5 campaign which ended with a second round playoff loss to Lake Cormorant High School.
Meanwhile, in last week’s six point loss to Rosa Fort High School, the Rams found themselves on the short end of a 19-12 halftime score.
The Rams earned their first dozen points in the second quarter when quarterback Joshujuan Townsend’s one-yard touchdown plunge was followed by a 32-yard scoring pass from Townsend to senior wide receiver Kajarvus Williams.
While the Lions would extend their lead to 26-12 after three periods of play, the Rams defense rendered the visitors scoreless in the final quarter while the Gentry High offense attempted a comeback.
Although Townsend would go through the air again to record another touchdown pass, on this occasion a 22 yarder to sophomore running back Tyler Edwards, scoring did not happen again in this contest after Edwards crashed over for the two point conversion.
Offensively in this game, Townsend’s excellent game saw the sophomore complete 19 of his 24 passes for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Reginald Bolden and Edwards led the receiving corps by picking up 62 and 61 yards respectively while Williams added another 40 yards of receptions.
Townsend also led the rushing attack for Gentry as his 11 carries earned 59 of the Rams’ 111 yards earned on the ground.
Defensively, the Rams surrendered 233 yards of total offense to the Lions with 186 of those yards and three touchdowns earned on 10 pass completions.
