It was just what the doctor ordered for the Grenada Chargers. After opening Class 6A, Region 2 play with consecutive losses at Tupelo and Madison Central by a combined score of 70-6, the Chargers returned home Friday to face the struggling Murrah Mustangs, who entered the game at 1-5 overall and 0-2 inside the region.
Grenada jumped to a 37-0 halftime lead en route to a 43-14 victory. With the win, GHS improves to 5-2 overall and 2-1 inside the region. Murrah drops to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in Region 2.
“We needed this game,” Coach Ashley Kuhn said. “It was a game that we were able to play our junior varsity players a number of snaps.”
Kuhn was disappointed that his team never kept the foot on the gas and struggled some on the offensive side of the football, at times.
“I thought we sort of went into a lull after jumping on them early in the game,” Kuhn said. “We got back on track and now stand at 5-2. There are a couple of big weeks ahead of us, so we will see what happens from here.”
The Chargers scored on their opening possession of the contest moving 60 yards in seven plays for the touchdown. Joe Moss was the workhorse in the drive with running six times in the drive. He scored on a 21-yard touchdown run with 9:09 left in the opening period. Jacob Chavis’ extra point made it 7-0 Grenada.
Defensively, the Chargers scored as an errant Murrah snap was recovered in the end zone by the Mustangs for a safety to give Grenada a 9-0 lead with 8:15 left in the opening period. The Chargers were unable to move the football on the ensuing free kick following the safety and punted back to Murrah.
Murrah followed with a drive as deep as the Grenada 32-yard line. The Grenada defense stopped the drive as Jalon Townes had a 20-yard interception return. Grenada was unable to convert the turnover and punted back to Murrah. This time, Grenada picked up its second of three interceptions as Alvin Thomas sprinted 43 yards for the touchown. Chavis’ extra point with 6:18 left in the half made it 23-0.
Grenada would add a pair of touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half to lead 37-0 at halftime. The first score was a 15-yard scoring toss from DruDarrius Barnes to Jaheim Shack. Barnes made it two straight as hit found Brent Jones open for a 20-yard scoring toss. Chavis was good on both extra points. The final points came on a 30-yard run from Jhordan During. The extra point failed accounting for the final Grenada points.
Murrah had two second half touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Statistically, Townes led the defense with eight tackles, two tackles for a loss and one interception. Sontero Coleman had six tackles and two tackles for loss. Detrevio Parker finished with five tackles and a tackle for a loss. Ethan Klinck finished with three tackles and an interception. Murrah had four yards passing and 155 yards on the ground.
Offensively, Moss led the way with nine carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns. During was next with four carries for 59 yards. The Chargers finished with 53 yards passing and 175 yards on the ground for 228 yards.
Grenada returns to action Friday night hosting Germantown (4-4) for the annual Wounded Warrior contest. During pregame ceremonies, those that lost their lives during the last 20 years for the fight for freedom will be recognized. All military people are encouraged to attend.
As far as the game, the Mavericks had a 21-0 lead at one point against Oxford, only to lose a 37-28 decision last Friday night. They sport, according to some recruiting experts, the
No. 1 running back prospect in the country in Georgia commit, Branson Robinson, a 5-foot-10, 220-pound senior, who returned last week from an injury rushing for 101 yards in the loss to Oxford. For the season, Robinson has rushed for 372 yards on 67 attempts and seven touchdowns. He is joined by Edward Dunigan, a 5-foot-5, 135-pound senior has run for 370 yards and four touchdowns. The defensive line is anchored by Zxavian Harrison, a 6-foot-8, 360-pound, senior.
“They have a really, really good football team,” Kuhn concluded. “It’s a super talented team that has lost some tough games. It will be a big challenge for our team.”
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
