By Barry H. Hendrix
The Thomasville High School Tigers varsity football team defeated Class 3A, Region 3 opponent, the Wilcox Central High School Jaguars, 70-0 Sept. 19 in Camden.
The Tigers showed great intensity throughout the game. A large number of players on the roster were able to play. Starters played much of the first half, and “the guys who went in there in the second half played hard and lived up to what we expect as far as physicality and energy,” said Clint Anderson, THS Head Football Coach. “It was good to see those guys get the reps.”
Thomasville showed a variety of offensive plays. “We are trying to be more balanced on offense. Our personnel fits us being able to do that. …We’ve got to be able to execute. I thought (quarterback Christian Draper) did a good job of making the reads and throwing the football. Our receivers (Mychal Brothers, B.J. Cheeseboro and C.J. Rowden) did a good job of running the routes – keeping their space like we need to be. We were able to complete passes in big situations.
“That takes pressure off our offensive line,” the coach said. “It gives us more flexibility in what we run – when we are able to throw the ball. The defense has to honor it. That opens up our running game. Both of them balance each other out.”
Special teams affected the game again. “We were able to play a large portion of the first half on their end of the field. …Our punt block/return team applied enough pressure where we were able to keep the ball down on that end. Good things happen when you do that. …Coach (Adam) Elliott does a good job of breaking that down and setting guys in gaps that will give us the best opportunity to affect them getting the punt off. We are also able to set up a return in the process.
“…Once you are able to rush the (opponent’s first punt), it gets in the back of the punter’s mind going forward. They are less likely to get a good punt off.
“(C.J. Welch) did really well at times kicking off,” Anderson said. “He kicked some balls in the end zone. Anytime you can negate a return, that is a positive for us. It’s difficult to drive the football 80 yards.”
All three kickers were successful on point-after kicks. “That gives the ability to create depth at that position.”
Coach Anderson also appreciated the great crowd of Thomasville fans who attended the game at Wilcox. “We travel really well,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see the support we get from our community.”
Thomasville scored first with a 23-yard touchdown run by B.J. Cheeseboro (6:27 in the first quarter). Troy Davis added a 2-point conversion run.
With a bad snap on a Wilcox punt (4:48 in the first), THS had the ball on the Jaguar 13. Two plays later, Davis ran 8 yards for a TD (3:58 in the first). The point-after kick by C.J. Welch was good, and the Tigers led 15-0.
Thomasville’s Christian Draper threw 25 yards to Mychal Brothers for another TD (1:50 in the first).
C.J Welch intercepted a Jaguar pass (21 seconds left in the first), and THS had the ball on the Wilcox 29. On the next play, Draper ran 24 yards for the TD (4 seconds in the first). A 2-point conversion pass from Davis to Brothers was also good.
Thomasville led 30-0.
Davis added another THS TD with a 15-yard run (8:08 in the second quarter).
The Tigers added a safety (7:06 in the second), when there was a bad Jaguar snap deep in Wilcox territory.
Davis ran 42-yards for another Tiger TD (6:07 in the second). Hunter Norwood added a 2-point conversion run, and Thomasville led 47-0.
Steve Grayson ran 26 yards for a TD (25 seconds in the second).
Thomasville got another safety with 3 seconds left in the first half, and the Tigers led 56-0 at halftime.
Davis had another TD with a 16-yard run (5:47 in the third). The point-after kick by Mayder Pop was also good.
Thomasville’s C.J. Rowden scored on a 25-yard run (6:43 in the fourth quarter). The point-after kick by Will Jowers was also good.
Kamarion Leach recovered a Wilcox fumble at the end of the game.
The Tigers will have an open date on Sept. 26, but Thomasville will next host region opponent Thorsby at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 at D.F. Anderson Field.