Tonight is game night for the Gentry High Rams football team.
In another Region 3-4A match-up, the 1-6, 0-1 Rams will step onto their home field today at 7 p.m. to take on a 4-3, 1-0 Clarksdale High Wildcats squad.
“Clarksdale is always athletic and fast,” said Gentry Head Coach Mario Young. “We will have to bring our best game to the field, and if we do, we can play well with them.”
If the Rams do upset the Wildcats tonight, they will become the first Gentry High team to defeat Clarksdale since the 2004 season. A string of eight losses have thus far been suffered to the Wildcats.
Hoping to rebound from last week’s 41-0 road loss to undefeated (7-0) and the 4A top ranked Greenwood High Bulldogs, the Rams will take on a Clarksdale team fresh off a 40-16 regional win over Yazoo City High School.
The victory ended a three game losing streak the Wildcats had absorbed after opening their 2019 campaign with three consecutive wins.
Last year, the Wildcats extended their success over Gentry High with a 56-14 victory which added to the 7-5 record the Clarksdale squad accumulated during their 2018 season. Meanwhile, in last Friday’s loss to Greenwood High, the Rams found offense hard to come by against the Bulldogs’ staunch defense.
Accumulating 100 yards of rushing on 21 carries, the Gentry ground game was paced by Tyler Edwards’ 72 yards earned with his 13 carries.
Through the air Joshujuan Townsend completed two of five passes for 29 yards. Xavius Lewis led this portion of the Rams’ attack as his one catch covered 21 yards.
Defensively, the Rams were led by John White’s two solo, three assist night of play. Topping the balance of the defensive leaders were Michael Beckworth (3 solos, 1 assist) and Edwards (2 solos, 2 assists).
