Clarke Central High School varsity football two-way player Faustino Rangel stiff-arms a Cedar Shoals High School defender during the 60th Classic City Championship on Sept. 18 in Billy Henderson Stadium. After a close first half, adjustments were made at halftime leading to capitalization with two touchdowns in the third quarter. “We told them (at halftime) that we just gotta go out and play football. After, it took us a little time to adjust, but I felt like in the second half we came out and we started to execute at a higher rate, and that became how we got a victory,” CCHS varsity football defensive coordinator Joshua Dawson said. Photo by Iliana Tejada
The CCHS varsity football team claimed its eighth straight victory in the 60th Classic City Championship after a hard-fought battle on the field on Sept. 18.
A year after escaping the Jaguars by one point, the Gladiators returned to Billy Henderson Stadium with a chance to prove themselves once again, this time in front of a Homecoming crowd.
In the 60th Classic City Championship, the Clarke Central High School varsity football team (3-1, 1-0 in region) defeated Cedar Shoals High School (1-3, 0-1 in region) in a tight, 24-12 Region 8-AAAAAA matchup on Sept. 18.
The game opened with both teams’ defenses forcing a punt after the first three offensive possessions. The first big break being a fumble by the Jaguars after the Gladiators punted the ball following their second possession, recovering the ball on the 11-yard line. The Jaguars, currently in the second year of CSHS varsity football head coach Rusty Charpia’s tenure, came ready.
“I think (Charpia’s) done a really good job. They’re a much better football team,” CCHS varsity football head coach David Perno said. “It’s a lot easier to play in that game from the situation (CSHS is in). They’re coming in (with) nothing to lose. It’s tough from our end because you’re not only supposed to beat them, you’re supposed to bury them.”
In position to capitalize, the first offensive play after the recovery was a play-action bootleg pass to score the game’s first touchdown by CCHS wide receiver Newell Paul, a junior, from quarterback Trey Bryant, III, a senior. Following the Gladiator touchdown, both teams traded possessions before the end of the first quarter, with the Gladiators leading 7-0.
Early in the second quarter, after a Cedar turnover on downs, CCHS’ next offensive possession was led by three straight running plays, the highlight being a 44-yard run by Bryant, who bobbled the snap, but recovered and took off down the left side, advancing to the Jaguar 14-yard line. CCHS eventually settled for a 43-yard field goal to put the Gladiators up 10-0 with just over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.
“(I have) mixed feelings. I know this was a very emotionally-charged game, so the nerves kind of got to us in the first half. I like the way we adjusted and competed in the second half,” CCHS varsity football defensive coordinator Joshua Dawson said. “But as we keep trying to be an elite football team, we gotta be able to make sure that we’re doing that (in the) first, second, third, and fourth quarter.”
“It’s tough from our end because you’re not only supposed to beat them, you’re supposed to bury them.”
— David Perno,
CCHS varsity football head coach
On the ensuing Jaguar drive, CSHS running back Desmond Moss, a senior, hit a 29-yard run on an end around before being tackled out of bounds at CCHS’ 1-yard line, getting injured on the play. He did not return to the field. Eventually, the Jaguars scored on a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass, with the point-after attempt blocked by Paul, playing at linebacker, resulting in a 10-6 Gladiator lead. CCHS drove down the field, threatening to score before an interception ended the first half.
“(It was challenging) getting the guys going at halftime. We had a tough first half, and I thought we responded real well. Just keeping them on the course, and realizing you’re gonna have bad games, but we got to work through it,” CCHS varsity football running back coach Jack Mangel said.
The Jaguars received the ball to begin the second half, with the Gladiators forcing a punt after a strong stand by the Gladiator defense. The Gladiators took over at the CSHS 45-yard line and moved the ball at will before eventually scoring on a rushing touchdown by running back Faustino Rangel, a senior, to take a 17-6 lead with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“We just told everybody (to) calm down (during halftime), and just understand that (CSHS) played really well. We played more to our identity in the third quarter, then unfortunately we got a little sloppy after that, but that was enough to seal the deal,” Perno said.
The Gladiators’ defense held strong and forced the Jaguars to punt on fourth and 15 from their own 15-yard line. CCHS fielded a short punt at the 50-yard line, with a return down to the CSHS 17-yard line. Three straight runs ended with a five-yard touchdown run by CCHS running back Zyon Phillips, a junior, giving the Gladiators a 24-6 lead with 5:51 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Following the touchdown, the Gladiators’ defense secured a quick stop and the third quarter ended with the Gladiators driving down the field.
“My touchdown felt great. (It) gave me more confidence and the line did what they (were) supposed to do,” Phillips said. “The turning point (for) me was after halftime when we had a speech.”
Clarke Central High School varsity football players celebrate CCHS varsity football running back Zyon Phillips, a junior, after a touchdown during the 60th Classic City Championship on Sept. 18 in Billy Henderson Stadium. In the third quarter, the Gladiators put the game away with two touchdowns by Phillips and senior running back Faustino Rangel, after a halftime adjustment. “The kids played hard. I think Cedar came and gave us their best. I thought we ran the ball real well. I thought Tino Rangel and Zyon Phillips – they played great and the defense kept doing their thing. They were lights out.” Photo by Grady Dunston
To open the fourth quarter, the Gladiators were forced to punt, pinning the Jaguars at their 3-yard line, and the Jaguars took possession with around 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Jaguars hit two big passing plays immediately, putting them down to the CCHS 20-yard line. CSHS eventually scored on a quarterback sneak and failed to convert on the two-point play, putting the score at 24-12, with 7:30 minutes remaining.
“I’m still disappointed (with) my first half. Our first half performance as a whole team I’m disappointed in, and it should never been like that against this team,” Paul said. “We got to stop the run, stop everything. A shutout. We don’t want (anybody) to score (any) more points on us as a defense.”
“I think them two touchdowns and the start of the second half is the reason we won the game.”
— Jack Mangel,
CCHS varsity football running back coach
After a quick Gladiator possession, the Jaguars marched down the field and ended up at the Gladiators 18-yard line. The Gladiators caused a fumble on a reception, taking over possession of the ball at their own 11-yard line with 2:28 minutes left in the game.
“Defense, they carried us all year, and they kept doing the same thing. They locked (CSHS) up and they gave us great field position to score to start the second half. I think them two touchdowns and the start of the second half is the reason we won the game,” Mangel said.
The Gladiators tried to run the clock out in the ensuing drive, but Rangel fumbled, which was recovered by the Jaguars, who took over possession at the CCHS 24-yard line, with just under two minutes remaining. The Gladiator defense held strong in the next drive, forcing Cedar to turn the ball over on downs, allowing the Gladiators to seal the victory, putting the final score at 24-12.
“What (the game) did is put us on alert that if we play like that this week, I don’t know if we’ll be so lucky to celebrate. I think it could turn tough,” Perno said. “We were able to identify some things we got to really work on this week, so as far as that, we’re a week-to-week team. I don’t think the Cedar game is going to have any bearing on our season.”
