This past Thursday night was special for varied reasons for the Choctaw County High School Charger football team, as they played for the district championship, and celebrated Senior Night, as well. Of the 12 seniors on the 2021 team, Head Coach Jeff Roberts stated that he would certainly like to be able to keep them around a little longer.
The weather was cool and rainy, and not unlike many football nights in late October, in Mississippi, as CCHS took care of business winning 20-8 against a good Calhoun City team. The Wildcats came into the game with only a 2-6 record, but Roberts stated they were better than the record showed.
The Chargers benefited early on from a mistake by the Calhoun City Wildcats, who received the opening kickoff, but promptly fumbled the ball away deep in their own territory, setting the Chargers up with a short field. CCHS took the ball on the Wildcat 34, and maneuvered to the three-yard-line, from where Zach Hoskins plunged over for a score. The point-after attempt by Trace Beard was good, bringing the score to 7-0.
Calhoun City fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered by the Chargers, again giving them a short field to play, from the 28-yard-line. Antonio Kennedy took a hand-off to the 10-yard-line, and from there Connor Jewell hit Caleb Cunningham with a TD pass.
Again, the PAT was good bringing the score to 14-0, while still in the first quarter.
The Wildcats mounted a scoring drive behind a massive offensive line and the running of Ja'majah Mayes, and with a two-point conversion the score stood at 14-8 at the end of the first quarter. The teams traded punts until late in the second quarter, with Choctaw County doing a better job, pressuring the Calhoun City punter and forcing a series of short punts, while the Chargers' Beard was able to 'flip the field' with his efforts.
Just before halftime, the Chargers came close to a blocked punt in the Wildcats' end zone, resulting in another short field. Clark Crowley took a pass for a touchdown, but a missed PAT let the score at 20-8 going into halftime, which would ultimately be the final score.
Even though going up against a much larger defensive line, Choctaw County's offensive line was able to open some running lanes, as Kennedy had a total of 161 yards on 36 carries. The defense continued their strong play throughout the game.
Roberts added that his team had taken the best shots of their district foes, and had run the table, and are now battle-hardened for what is ahead. The Choctaw County Chargers will play at home this coming Friday night, in first-round playoff action against Madison S. Palmer.
