Darlington’s big start important in new classification

From Staff Reports

While the evening began with rainy weather and sloppy field conditions, the Darlington Tigers managed to find their footing pretty quickly on Aug. 19 with a 51-0 win over Gaston in Alabama.

The victory provided a better sense for where the team is at for head coach Tommy Atha.

“I was really pleased with the way we executed under those types of conditions,” Atha said Saturday. “It was muddy and raining, so to see some of the things we were able to do and that we were able to protect the ball was very encouraging.”

Seven of Darlington’s first 10 possessions were converted into points, six for touchdowns, and the Tigers recovered all five Gaston fumbles while picking off the homestanding Bulldogs four times.

With the offensive line able to provide the blocking, Tijai Whatley had a solid return to the field after sitting out the second half of last sea- son with an injury with 111 yards rushing and 185 all-purpose yards.

But Atha knows that as a private school in Class A, every game can have an affect on a team’s Power Ranking, which determines who makes the state playoffs at the end of the regular season.

“We feel we took a step in the right direction,” Atha said. “The big thing for us is to make sure we continue to make those strides and get ready for a huge challenge.”

Darlington will be off this Friday before traveling to Class 4A Ridgeland High School on Sept. 2.

Notes: Darlington’s victory Friday marked the Tigers’ largest margin of victory in a season-opener since 1950, when they posted a 65-0 score against St. Andrew’s School from Sewanee, Tennessee, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Darlington is 22-6-1 alltime against Alabama teams.