Clarke Central High School varsity football quarterback Kamron Lawrence, a junior, scrambles out of the backfield during the 59th Classic City Championship against the Cedar Shoals High School Jaguars on Aug. 16 in CSHS’ Waters-Wilkins Stadium. During the third quarter, a heavy rainstorm swept the stadium, causing a lightning delay, which CCHS varsity football outside linebacker Amir Hall, a senior, felt ultimately played to the Gladiators’ advantage. “I think (the lighting delay) worked in our favor. We got time to talk (the game) over between ourselves,” Hall said. “Our coaches went through a couple (of) plays on the whiteboard, and I felt like we came out better.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
The CCHS varsity football team pulled through in a comeback victory with a final score of 13-12 in the 59th Classic City Championship on Aug. 16 in CSHS’ Waters-Wilkins Stadium.
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team secured its seventh straight win against Cedar Shoals High School in the 59th Classic City Championship with a final score of 13-12 on Aug. 16 in CSHS’ Waters-Wilkins Stadium.
The first quarter of the matchup was highlighted by missed opportunities for both teams. While connecting on a 45-yard field goal attempt, CSHS was called for a roughing penalty, which the Gladiators accepted, only to later miss a follow-up field goal attempt wide left. In the Jaguars’ second possession, they failed to connect on what would have been an 80-yard touchdown pass deep down the right sideline.
The first quarter ended following a personal foul against the Gladiators, putting CSHS deep into CCHS territory with a first and goal at the three-yard line to end the first quarter 0-0.
“The missed field goal was disappointing because I knew we were going to need those three points later on in the game (and) we always emphasize the kicking game at practice,” CCHS varsity football kicker Heinkel Mejia-Quintero, a senior, said. “Ending the first (quarter) 0-0 (meant) we needed a big play to get us on the board.”
“It felt amazing to set the tone early by putting the first points on the board. In a rivalry game, momentum is everything, so I knew that touchdown would give us an early spark.”
— Keelin McLendon,
CSHS varsity football quarterback
In the second quarter, CSHS varsity football quarterback Keelin McLendon, a sophomore, scored on a quarterback sneak to put CSHS up 6-0 after CCHS varsity football defensive end Dream Freeman, a senior, blocked the point-after attempt.
“It felt amazing to set the tone early by putting the first points on the board. In a rivalry game, momentum is everything, so I knew that touchdown would give us an early spark,” McLendon said. “It gave me confidence that we could compete and fight all four quarters.”
Throughout the second quarter, the Jaguars continued to move the ball on the ground but failed to score any more touchdowns. The Gladiators responded with Mejia-Quintero kicking a field goal that made the score 3-6 heading into halftime.
“(The turning point was) probably when (CSHS) scored before us. I feel like people got down on themselves, and people didn’t believe in themselves,” CCHS varsity football offensive linebacker Amir Hall, a senior, said. “But we took it into halftime, we talked it over with our coaches (and) we just came out with more energy and better confidence.”
The Clarke Central High School varsity offense faces off against the Cedar Shoals High School varsity football defense at the line of scrimmage in the 59th Classic City Championship on Aug. 16. The Gladiators were trailing until the fourth quarter when they came back and won with a final score of 13-12. “Overall, I’m proud of how we fought and battled against a tough rival, even though we came up short,” CSHS varsity football quarterback Keelin McLendon, a sophomore, said. “We learned a lot about ourselves as a team and what we need to clean up moving forward.” Photo by Maypop Wren
Minutes after the teams returned to the field for the third quarter, a lightning delay postponed play for over an hour and knocked out power at the stadium, forcing players and fans to take shelter.
“When the storm came, I think that was the first part of adversity. (When) we went back (on the field), we corrected our mistakes and kept our confidence in each other,” CCHS varsity football defensive backs coach Zay Brown said. “We knew what we came here to do is (to) win. We don’t care how it looked, as long as we come out with a win.”
When the game resumed a little after 5:30 p.m., CSHS varsity football running back Desmond Moss, a junior, extended the Jaguars’ lead with another rushing touchdown from the 3-yard line, making the score 3-12 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“(CSHS) did a good job of converting third downs, limiting our possessions and (their) defense played well and forced us to punt. We were behind the chains a couple times,” CCHS head varsity football coach David Perno said.
The Gladiators’ momentum shifted when the Jaguars fumbled the ball with seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving CCHS possession in CSHS territory. Once the fourth quarter started, the Gladiators strung together a series of passes, including a 30-yard completion, before CCHS varsity football running back Nuh’si Valenti, a senior, scored a rushing touchdown from within five yards of the end zone, cutting into the Jaguars’ lead and making the score 9-12.
“CSHS) did a good job of converting third downs, limiting our possessions and (their) defense played well and forced us to punt. We were behind the chains a couple times.”
— David Perno,
CCHS head varsity football coach
With Mejia-Quintero having to leave at halftime due to a family commitment, following the touchdown with just a few minutes left in the third quarter, CCHS varsity football kicker Shepherd Trotter, a sophomore, took over kicking duties in his varsity debut. Trotter kicked the extra point, bringing the score to 10-12.
Going into the fourth quarter, after completing a 56-yard drive, CCHS had possession of the ball, and minutes later the trajectory of the game changed.
Trotter returned to the field and connected on what would become the game-winning field goal, putting the Gladiators ahead 13-12. CSHS was able to get within field goal range during the ensuing drive but the field goal attempt was short, allowing CCHS to run the clock out and end the game.
“My mindset was no matter what happens, don’t let anyone or anything get to you. I had to keep my head clear,” Trotter said. “I was crazy nervous going onto the field knowing it’s possibly a game-winning kick. When I made it, I knew the defense had the team’s back.”
Cedar Shoals High School head varsity football coach Rusty Charpia signals to players from the sidelines during the 59th Classic City Championship on Aug. 16 in Waters-Wilkins Stadium. Charpia maintained a forward-looking attitude, with hopes for improvement throughout the championship game. “(The game) went about like (how) I thought it was going to go. I knew that we were getting better, but I also knew that there were still a lot of things we had to fix, as far as (fundamentals),” Charpia said. “There’s just a lot that goes in. It’s hard to win all the time, but I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve got some really good players, and it’s a good school.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
Despite the loss, first-year CSHS head coach Rusty Charpia, who is looking to rebuild the program after a winless season, saw the game as a learning opportunity.
“There’s a lot of potential and a lot of talent, but they’ve got to get stronger in the weight room, and they’ve got to learn how to play football. Our football IQ is very low, so you really have to start with the basics and build (the team) up again,” Charpia said. “It’s really a good place with a lot of good people, (so) people better watch out for the Jags in their future.”
In the past three years, CCHS has beaten CSHS by a combined score of 110-10. The one-point difference marked one of the closest Classic City Championship games in recent years. Despite this year’s close call, Brown is proud of the Gladiators’ resolve.
“Hats off to Cedar. They came out striking. They came out aggressive. They came out running (and) it caught us a little by surprise. We didn’t expect that,” Brown said. “They punched us in the mouth at first, but we started playing together, came up as a team and we kept that confidence. We came here to win, we came here to win, we came here to win: that was the only thing on our mind.”
