Clarke Central High School senior cornerback Edwin Summerour stands on the CCHS football field during the fourth quarter of CCHS’ varsity football game against Cedar Shoals High School on Sept. 28. CCHS lost against CSHS for the first time in ten years, ending with a score of 17-7. “We played a good game. (In) my opinion, last night defense played really well. (The referees were) terrible. It’s hard to win a classic city championship when you have to beat (CSHS) and the (referees),” Summerour said. “Going into the second half, they just (started) calling everything one-sided, so it was just funny to me because I’m like, they must really want (CSHS) to win and beat this (10) game streak.” Photo by Kelly Fulford
The Clarke Central High School Gladiators were defeated by their rival team, the Cedar Shoals High School Jaguars, for the first time in ten years on Sept. 28.
The Cedar Shoals High School varsity football team pulled off a historic win in the 52nd Classic City Championship on Sept. 28, defeating Clarke Central High School for the first time in a decade with a score of 17-7.
CSHS head coach Leroy Ryals, former CCHS head coach, coached his first season for CCHS in 2007 — the last time the Jaguars had a victory against CCHS.
The Gladiator’s defense was strong going into the first quarter, with a good block from senior linebacker Quavion Teasley after a 40-yard run from CSHS junior center back Jaiden Williams.
After a slight miss on a defense interception of the ball, CCHS offense pushed through Jaguar defense, making a touchdown with six seconds left in the first quarter.
The Gladiators ended the first half with a seven-point lead.
While the Gladiators’ defense remained strong through the end of the second and third quarters, the offense racked up penalties. With three minutes left in the third quarter, CCHS junior quarterback Isaac Ward was intercepted by CSHS senior defensive lineman Blake Gresham.
The Jaguars got the ball again with 60 seconds left in the third quarter and CSHS senior quarterback Kiyonnice Smith scored a touchdown followed by a successful PAT, tying the score.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Jaguars scored a field goal, gaining a three-point lead.
Ward showed inconsistency in passing throughout the quarter, giving away five interceptions by the end of the game and failing to score any more points.
“(Interceptions are) gonna happen, we had a lot of turnovers tonight,” CCHS defensive back coach Jeff Finch said. “I give credit to them — they caused a lot of those turnovers, they made them happen.”
With three minutes left in the game, the CSHS offense made a touchdown followed by a successful PAT, making the score 17-7.
“We played hard. They played just as hard. We had a couple of breaks,” Finch said. “I think we had some turnovers that hurt. Certainly they hurt.”
CCHS senior offensive lineman Zachary Donegan is disappointed in the outcome of the game.
“We definitely didn’t play well, or at least up to our standard. We lost because of mistakes on our part, and I was definitely surprised by the outcome,” Donegan said. “I thought we were going to win by a lot because our players individually are overall a lot more talented, but we just didn’t play together well.”
The Gladiators will continue their season with a record of 3-3 at their next home game against Loganville High School on Oct. 5.
