Thomas Edwards looks to rebound from loss at Port Gibson
It is not just another night of high school football.
For this Friday night, the Thomas Edwards High Tigers and the Gentry High Rams will once again compete to see who owns this season’s Sunflower County bragging rights.
Following a year’s absence, the kickoff for the 54th meeting between these two schools will occur on the Ruleville school’s campus at 7 p.m.
The Tigers will bring an 0-1 record into the contest after suffering a tough 18-14 season-opening road loss last Friday to Port Gibson High School.
Meanwhile, the Rams own an official 1-0 record following their forfeit win over Greenville High School.
However, the Gentry High squad did play a full-game scrimmage against defending 4A state champion Louisville High School last Friday night.
That road trip resulted in a closer-than-it-sounds 31-12 loss to the Wildcats.
As for this week’s game, the long history of their series against the Rams of Gentry High has the Tigers owning the latest victory.
A 36-14 victory in 2019 snapped a two game losing streak Edwards High was suffering to the school from south Sunflower County. Gentry High would move on to a 1-9 record during that 2019 campaign.
However, Gentry High does own a 36-15-2 won-loss edge in this series.
Meanwhile, in their first ever trip to Port Gibson High last Friday night, the Region 3-3A Tigers battled the Region 7-3A member Blue Wave to a 12-8 halftime deficit.
However, that was as close as the Tigers could get as the fourth period began with Port Gibson owning an 18-6 lead.
The Tigers did rally back late in the fourth period with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Antonio Gordon to Ja’Kell Allen to cut the lead to its final four point margin.
The balance of the Tigers’ points in this game came by a way of a second quarter six yard run to paydirt by Allen, who accounted for all of the Tigers points in this game. Allen then followed his TD with a successful two-point conversion run.
Offensively, the Tigers rushed 20 times for 161 yards with Allen spearheading that attack with his 103 yards and a TD earned with only nine carries into the line.
Through the air, Gordon turned in a solid night in his debut under center.
The quarterback completed 13 of his 25 attempts which accumulated 120 yards and a touchdown.
Leading the receiving corps was Tobia Foster, who gathered in six passes for 76 yards.
Also catching multiple passes was Allen, whose five receptions garnered 36 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Tigers’ efforts were led by Jaylon Price, whose excellent night of play resulted in six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery.
Also making his presence known with seven tackles was Anthony Nash, Jr. while Allen, Damien Husky, and Taurs Windfield recorded four tackles apiece.
Adding a fumble recovery to his three tackles as well was Julius Carter.
