A gauntlet of challenging games continues today for the Gentry High Rams football team.
In a 7 p.m. game which serves as a prelude to an upcoming steady stream of Region 2-5A competition, the 1-4 Rams will play host to the Germantown High Mavericks.
Hailing from Madison, the 7A member Mavericks bring a strong 4-1 record into tonight’s non-regional clash.
Most recently last Friday night, the Germantown High squad defeated Pearl High School by an 18-7 score.
That same night, the Rams dropped a 32-12 road decision to the now 3-2 Clarksdale High Wildcats.
In this game with Clarksdale, the Rams battled the Wildcats to a near draw in the first half of the game.
Nursing a 16-12 deficit when they went to the dressing room at halftime, the Rams emerged to find a Clarksdale team ready to take the game in a different direction.
While limiting the Rams to zero points in the second half, the Wildcats posted 16 more points on the board to take the game to its final 32-12 conclusion.
While the loss left the Rams hungry to get back into the win column, the Mavericks of Germantown High are riding a two-game win streak.
The team from Madison suffered its lone loss of the season in week three to Warren Central High of Vicksburg.
Last season, in their first-ever matchup with Germantown High, the Rams fell by a 41-14 score.
The Mavericks would move on from that victory to post a 5-6 final record and a first-round playoff appearance.
Tonight’s game with Germantown High will also be the final non-regional action of the season by the Rams.
On the horizon is a string of five consecutive Region 2-5A contests which will determine if the Rams reach postseason play.
Offensively, in last Friday’s loss to Clarksdale, the Rams’ scoring came by way of a pair of touchdown runs by Malique Walker.
Initially scoring on a 32-yard run in the first period, Walker added a five-yard touchdown run in the game’s second quarter.
Walker would rush 15 times for 102 yards to lead the Rams’ rushing attack.
Defensively, it was Bryson Smith’s seven tackles which paced the Rams’ resistance.
Justin Minton was close behind with six tackles as well as recording a fumble recovery.
