Eupora coach Brad Gray has challenged his young team to fight through adversity this season and the Eagles have done just that. A lot of that adversity came for the Eagles against Choctaw County last Friday night. In a rivalry game against a team just right down Highway 9, Eupora was outmatched at every position to the bigger, faster and stronger Chargers in a 42-12 game. Despite the result, it was a chance for Gray to see how much fight his players still had in them. He got that. ìTonight wasnít about scheme. Tonight was about fight, getting after their tail and giving ourselves the best chance to win,î coach Brad Gray said. ìThey do a great job. Theyíre able to be multiple in every phase so their coaching is organized. Hats off to coach Mitchell because he has that organized. ìIn a lot of areas, the effort that I got tonight, I was really impressed. We should probably be sitting here 8-2 but overall to finish the season like we are, weíre looking forward to 2A playoff.î The Chargers built a 42-0 lead quickly in the first half and got a running clock before the first half ended. Eupora isnít the only team that has felt this wrath as the Chargers have forced a running clock in the game in six-straight ball games. Less than 15 seconds into the ball game, the Chargers were on the board. Tayshawn King caught a pass from KJ Cork and race 59 yards to the end zone for the early score. A quick three-and-out on defense gave the ball back to the Chargers and five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham caught it on a bounce and took off for a 60-yard return for another touchdown making it 14-0. More was on the way on the next four offensive possessions as the Chargers got consecutive touchdowns from Jeramiah Miller with scores from 23 and 65 yards. It was tight end Chancen Mosleyís turn for consecutive touchdowns after that with a 40-yard score that ended the first quarter and a 23-yard score in the second. The 42-0 lead for the Chargers at the half marked another running clock for CCHS and they have now outscored the last five opponents 224-25 in the first two quarters. In the second half, the Chargers played the junior varsity players with Eupora getting a couple of touchdowns during the running clock. It was another chance for the younger Chargers to continue to progress. In the game, CCHS racked up 301 in the shortened ball game with the bulk of that coming in the first half. The Chargers had 177 of those yards passing in the first half from KJ Cork on 9-of-10 with three touchdowns. The Chargers rushed for 120 yards on 14 carries led by Jeramiah Millerís three carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns. The Chargers had five carries in the first half for 107 yards. For Eupora, it was tough sledding against the first team defense but the Eagles found success in the second half. Eupora finished with 161 yards of offense with 121 on the ground. Jay Wofford accounted for 83 of those rushing yards on nine carries with a touchdown. Peyton Perkins was 4-of-13 passing for 40 yards and a touchdown and was held to zero yards on 13 carries. For the Eagles (5-5), they finish the No. 3 seed in Class 2A, Region 4 and will head to Hamilton on Friday night to take on the Lions. Gray is excited for the new season ahead. ìIt was the biggest game of the week for us because it was the next one,î Gray said of the CCHS game. ìIn a lot of areas, I was really impressed with a lot of guys playing well and wanting to do well. Weíre a little banged up and a little injured but weíve moved some kids around and weíre playing hard. Weíll see what happens in the 2A playoff.
