Without QB, Charleston tops Mansfield
CHARLESTON 14, MANSFIELD 7
CHARLESTON — Without its starting quarterback in the second half, Charleston needed to lean on its defense after halftime ahead by just a touchdown. The Tigers’ defense answered the call, making play after play to secure a second-half shutout and a win at Alumni Field on Friday night.
Sophomore wide receiver and linebacker Maddix Terry caught seven passes for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns and had a impactful fumble recovery in the fourth quarter to help Charleston hold on for a 14-7 victory against Mansfield in a 3A-1 Conference matchup.
“He had such a big game for us,” Charleston Coach Ricky May said of Terry. “He has consistently been one of our best players all year. He has gone above and beyond expectations. The dude can play. We love him to death.”
Charleston held a 14-7 halftime lead and were playing without starting quarterback Carter Little, who left with an injury after guiding two first-half scoring drives. He finished 12-of-19 passing for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
Charleston’s defense was asked to hold the line after that with the offense being more limited after the break. On four second-half drives, the unit forced two turnover on downs and a punt and had a fumble recovery on a key play.
The takeaway for the Charleston defense came after Mansfield picked up a first down on a third-and-long pass, moving the ball to the Charleston 12. But Charleston senior Hunter Little caused a fumble, and Terry secured it.
“I just saw my teammate Hunter smoke him with a hit,” Terry said. “I just had to grab the ball after that. I just want to be there for my team and do whatever is needed. I just want to do my job.”
Charleston (3-3, 3-0) turned to its running game early and often after the break. They threw the ball just five times in the second half after 19 attempts in the first half. Senior running back Reese Merechka, backup quarterback Eli Huck and sophomore running back Garred Smithson all stepped up to keep the clock going and create first downs.
“When our quarterback went down at half, we knew it was going to be a little more limited,” May said. “We made some adjustments. Hats off to Mansfield. They played their butts off. We got a break with the turnover and got the momentum going and got the ball out of our end. I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. You learn more about yourself in adversity than when it’s going good.”
Merechka, playing for the first time in four weeks, finished with 18 carries for 72 yards. He gained 37 much-needed yards in the second half.
“I couldn’t wait to get back out there with the guys in this game,” Merechka said. “When I ran, I ran hard. When I needed to block, I blocked hard. I just did whatever was was needed for this team. We just knew we had to move the ball in the second half and take time off the clock.”
Mansfield (5-1, 2-1) dropped its first game of the season in heart-breaking fashion. They were guided by Daniel Burton (14 carries for 106 yards) and Andrew Burton (eight carries for 19 yards and a score).
The defense of Mansfield made plenty of key plays as well holding Charleston scoreless in the second half. Andrew Burton, Tyler Turnipseed and Samuel Burton all had interceptions. But those takeaways generated just seven points.
“We were just ready for the run and to stop them,” Terry said of Charleston’s defense making stops in the second half. “We just wanted to get the ball back to the offense and run the clock. We feel like a family right now. It’s great to be 3-0 in conference play.”