In boxing, you win by either a knockout or the judges scoring card. A quick knockout is always nice but a good back and forth fight, now that is what draws everyone’s attention. Mansfield came into the 2023 season with a new coach, new look, and a new program feel. The Tigers quickly set out to make a name for themselves as a new conference and state contender. Of course, to achieve that would consist of facing off against some serious competition. That competition just so happens to be Arkansas football blue bloods Charleston and Booneville. But could an upstart Mansfield team even compete with these perineal powerhouses, let alone win? The first step to finding out was when Mansfield traveled to Charleston on Friday, October 6th to take on the 2022 defending State Champions.
Mansfield’s first shot at an opportunity came on the opening kickoff when the Tigers were able to catch Charleston off guard with a short kick and the opportunity to recover but over ran the recovery. Charleston shipped out their high octane offense onto the field at the 37-yard line and away they went. Before the Charleston’s first snap of the game, the Tigers jumped offsides giving Charleston freebee. Mansfield’s defense finally settled down, but Charleston took their early momentum downfield in ten plays to get into the endzone first. The extra point was good, and Charleston took the early 7-0 lead over Mansfield in the first quarter. The ensuing kickoff left Mansfield’s offense pinned deep at their own ten-yard line to start their first offensive drive. Charleston showed that they still have State Championship qualities as they stuffed the Tigers for a three and out forcing Mansfield to punt. Charleston now had all of the momentum and only half a field to work with and again drove downfield on the Tigers, this time on eleven plays before scoring. Down 14-0, this is where many teams would just lay down or throw in the towel. Mansfield isn’t your normal team this season though and the Tigers continued their fight.
As the second quarter began, Mansfield began to take momentum back from Charleston little by little until Andrew Burton took a big chunk back when he telegraphed a Charleston pass for an interception at the 30-yard line. Two plays later, running back Daniel Burton gashed Charleston’s defense for a huge 37-yard run up the gut. With Charleston taken back by the big play, Mansfield pulled the ol’ be kind rewind move and sent Burton again up the middle again, this time for 22 yards which set the Tigers up in prime territory at the 5-yard line. Mansfield capitalized two plays later with a 5-yard run by Andrew Burton into the endzone for a Tiger touchdown. The Tigers split the uprights with an extra point kick which cut Charleston’s led to 14-7. Mansfield’s defense would again stand tall on Charleston’s next possession as pressure from Trey Powell led to an off-balance pass by Charleston’s quarterback that went straight into the hands of Samuel Burton. With just a couple seconds on the clock and both teams playing lights out defense, Mansfield went for the safe bet and ran the clock out to go into the half down 14-7.
When the second half began, both fan bases were ready for their team to explode out of the locker room and take full control of the game by scoring touchdown after touchdown. Those fans would be in for a surprise though as both Tiger teams leaned heavily on their ultimate strength. Defense. Mansfield gained yardage on their heavy hitting rushing attack, but nearly every other play would be called back on a penalty. Charleston marched down field a few times in the second half, but they had issues with a few missed opportunities. The Tigers did put together a solid drive behind running backs Tyler Turnipseed and Daniel Burton which got Mansfield within 20 yards of the endzone, but the drive stalled out and they couldn’t convert on a fourth down which turned the ball back over to Charleston. Back and forth the defensive blows went between the Tiger titans as the game remained 14-7 well into the fourth quarter. Mansfield put another good drive together and was picking up speed before disaster struck. Jeremy Strozier completed a 15-yard pass downfield but as the receiver was trying to gain every inch of turf for more yards, the ball was knocked out. The fumble gave Charleston the ball back but again, but Mansfield still just would not give up. The Tigers defense kept the defending State Champions out of eth end zone for the remainder of the game, but Mansfield ran out of time offensively as the Tigers fell 14-7 to Charleston.
To answer the question of can Mansfield compete against the best of the best, the answer was sealed with a definite yes. If the Tigers can hold Charleston to a mere 14 points on their own turf, then they can hang in there with just about anyone in the 3A. The Tigers loss was a tough one to swallow as they fall to a 5-1 overall record and 2-1 conference record but swallow it they must. With the rebuilding of a program comes the ups and downs. The down for this week was the loss. The up on the other hand was the grit and determination of the players to be able to go into hostile territory against a program who is known to be a dominant force in the state and give them all they want and then some. Now the Tigers focus must shift to another 3A powerhouse as they move out of the pot and into the fire against another powerhouse. Mansfield will host the Booneville Bearcats next week on Friday, October 13th. Booneville has blown past their 3A-1 conference competition up to this point, but the Tigers won’t be looking at any past scores of the Bearcats. They’ll be looking at another opportunity to prove themselves to the conference and state as a serious contender.
