Satisfying and exciting.
Such is the best way to describe the football victory earned by the Thomas Edwards High Tigers last Friday night on their home field in Ruleville.
While not only picking up their first win of the season, the now 1-1 Tigers also ended their four-game losing streak to cross-county rival Gentry High of Indianola.
The Tigers used a 14-8 halftime lead in this Unity Bowl to gain the momentum of the game and ultimately hand the now 0-2 Rams a 38-20 loss.
“I was real pleased,” said first-year Head Coach Quintarus McCray of his Tigers.
“The kids worked hard preparing for this game and our offensive line just did a great job opening holes and protecting the quarterback,” he continued.
With that big win behind them, the Tigers must now turn their attention to today’s road trip to West Tallahatchie High School.
The undefeated Choctaws from Webb will host today’s 7 p.m. contest and are bringing a 2-0 record into this non-district clash against the Tigers.
Last Friday night, the West Tally squad earned a 28-18 decision over West Bolivar High (0-1) of Rosedale.
This was preceded by a 30-14 victory over M.S. Palmer High (0-2) of Marks in their season-opener two weeks ago.
Tonight’s clash will be the first time these two football programs have met since the 2014 season, when Thomas Edwards High was still known as Ruleville Central High School.
Through the years in this series which began in 1986, the Tigers have accumulated a 10-5 won-loss advantage over the Choctaws.
In last Friday’s win over Gentry High School, the Tigers received a stellar game from quarterback Ian Harris.
The junior completed 12 of his 22 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 80 yards, which included a 15-yard TD run.
Leading all receivers in this game was A’kerrion Ingram as the junior’s five catches resulted in 113 yards of offense for the Tigers.
However, senior Anthony Townsend was also a force in the Tigers’ passing attack.
The tight end pulled in three passes for 70 yards, one of which was a 60-yard touchdown reception.
In the Edwards High ground attack, senior Jermaine Hooper’s 15 rushes for 106 yards led the way. Hooper would reach the end zone twice in this contest, one of which being a 40-yard sprint to paydirt.
Defensively, junior Darious Calvin recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble to lead the way for the Tigers’ resistance.
Also making their presence felt on defense were Ingram and Townsend with five tackles apiece. Townsend would also register a quarterback sack in this game.
