By Barry H. Hendrix
The Thomasville High School Tigers varsity football team defeated Class 3A, Region 3 opponent, the Sumter Central High School Jaguars, 50-0 Sept. 12 at D.F. Anderson Field.
The win marked the 700th victory in THS football history.
All of the scoring came in the first half. The second half was reduced to only one minute for both the third and fourth quarters. Sumter performed a kneel down to run the clock in the final two quarters.
“Defensively, we played really well,” said Clint Anderson, THS Head Football Coach. “Offensively, I thought we were better.”
The Tigers had big running plays from Hunter Norwood, Jakaden Grayson and B.J. Cheeseboro.
“Our offensive line did a better job of reading what the front was giving us and blocking our scheme according to that.
“Christian (Draper) threw the ball well,” Anderson said. “…That was good for us to be able to throw the ball when we wanted to – not when we needed to. That is important for us to improve week in-and-week out so we can be balanced on offense.
“…I wish we would have gotten the opportunity to play a longer game and gotten a look at some of these other guys.
“…We didn’t get a lot of snaps,” the coach said. “Once we did, I thought we executed them pretty well overall.”
There were so many quick scores in the game including a pick six, punt return and safety. “It was fast and furious,” the coach said. “When you are able to score on special teams and getting defensive touchdowns, it changes the game. As much as I would have loved to be able to evaluate offensively, we love to score anyway that we can score.
‘…We traditionally affect the game with our special teams play. …Coach (Adam) Elliott does a good job with that. We devote a lot of time to it. It is always good to see them reap the benefits of the time we put into it.”
The effort of the defense put a lot of pressure on the Sumter offense. “It was a region game,” Anderson said. “…You want to come out with high intensity. We played to a standard. It is not based on your opponent, you’re playing against yourself a lot of times as far as execution and effort is concerned.”
Thomasville scored first with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jakaden Grayson (9:18 in the first quarter). The point-after kick by C.J. Welch was also successful.
Welch was 5-1 in point-after kicks.
Mychal Brothers intercepted a Sumter pass (8:18 in the first). THS had the ball on the Jaguar 18. Four plays later, Grayson scored again on an 11-yard TD run (5:55 in the first).
Thomasville scored again with an 11-yard TD pass from Christian Draper to Brothers (2:35 in the first).
Brothers ran a punt return for a TD (18.7 seconds in the first).
Brothers picked another pass and ran it back for a TD (11:25 in the second).
Brothers added another interception (8:54 in the second). THS had the ball on its own 43-yard line. Two plays later, Draper threw to Brothers for 48 yards and a TD (7:29 in the second).
Thomasville stopped Sumter over-on-downs (4:42 in the first half). THS had the ball on the Sumter 6, and B.J. Cheeseboro ran the ball in the for the score (4:00 in the second).
THS added a safety (1:53 in the second).
The THS Tigers (2-2) will travel next to Camden for a 7 p.m. game on Friday, Sept. 19 with Class 3A, Region 3 opponent, the Wilcox Central High Jaguars (0-4) at the Jaguars Athletic Complex (1310 Threadgill Rd.).
Cash or GoFan will be accepted at the gate.