SR HIGH RECAP: CHARLESTON 44, CEDARVILLE 8
CHARLESTON – Cedarville came into their 2026 matchup with Charleston with high hopes of pulling off an upset. After all, why shouldn’t they? Cedarville had a 4-2 record, 1-1 in conference. Charleston (3-3, 2-0) had lost their first three games (albeit with a combined opponent record of 15-0). The situation was ripe for the Pirates to earn their first victory over Charleston since 1985. Several media members and message board enthusiasts predicted that Cedarville would win Friday night.
In the words of the great College Gameday legend Lee Corso: “Not so fast, my friend.” Charleston did not wait long to put these aspirations to rest. Or, should I say, hold those Pirates at bay?
Charleston head coach Ricky May was tired of hearing about Charleston being down this year.
“Yes, I was tired of hearing it,” May said when asked about so many people picking his Tigers to lose. “People discount the tough schedule we played but that’s ok. We came out ready to go tonight.”
The Tigers played perhaps their best half of football all season, scoring on the ground, through the air, and on defense on the way to a commanding 37-0 first half lead. The Charleston defense would hold Cedarville to only 25 first-half yards.
I asked coach May if he felt his Tigers are getting better every week with limiting mistakes and turnovers, and executing the game plan. He agreed.
“Yes, sir, I believe we are getting better, and believing in each other,” he said.
Cedarville received the opening kickoff for a touchback, starting at their own 20-yard line. The Pirates were unable to gain any traction and were forced to punt to the Tigers.
Charleston showed a balanced offense on their first possession with alternating Finn Schmalz and Lukas Burleson carries, and then caught the Cedarville secondary napping with a 51-yard Burleson completion to Matteo Gaona. There was also a facemask at the end of the completion to give Charleston the ball at the Cedarville 11-yard line. However, the drive stalled after a Tigers holding penalty, and Charleston settled for a 30-yard Gaona field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Cedarville lost yardage on their second possession after losses of 3 and 7, and threw an incomplete pass on third-and-20 with 3:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Charleston’s second possession featured a heavy dosage of ground and pound football. After taking over at the Cedarville 47 following a Pirates punt, Charleston would gain 17 yards on three consecutive Burleson keepers, and 21 yards on two consecutive Finn Schmalz carries. On first-and-goal at the seven, Burleson carried for the fourth time on the drive, scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run. The extra point snap was bobbled and Charleston led 9-0 with 1:17 remaining in the first quarter.
Charleston wouldn’t need 1:17 to score again in the first quarter. Cedarville fumbled on the first play of its third possession. Gaona recovered the fumble, and Charleston would take over at the Cedarville 26-yard line. The Tigers would only need one play to find the endzone again, as Finn Schmalz ripped off a 26-yard touchdown run to put Charleston up 16-0.
Cedarville took over on its next possession and briefly showed some signs of life. On a third-and-5, Cedarville Quarterback Hunter Van Brunt would convert a first down on a 7-yard keeper, but this would be the Pirates only first down of the first half.
Unable to build upon that first down, Cedarville was forced to punt for a third time.
On the next play, Finn Schmalz took a 37-yard carry down to the Cedarville 45 yard line. On third-and-6, Burleson hit Matteo Gaona for a 41-yard touchdown pass, but it was called back for holding. Charleston was forced to punt, but this would be their only drive of the first-half to not result in points.
Following another Cedarville three-and-out, Charleston would take over on their next offensive possession with excellent field position at the Cedarville 41-yard line.
The Tigers once again stuck to the ground, with a Schmalz 12-yard run, two consecutive Burleson runs of 18 and 5 yards, and this drive was capped off by a Schmalz 6-yard carry for a touchdown. The score gave Charleston a 23-0 lead with 2:43 left in the second quarter.
The rout was on. The Tigers weren’t done. Not even close.
On Cedarville’s next possession, Van Brunt bobbled the snap on second-and-11. Finn Schmalz picked up the fumble and ran in for a 15-yard scoop and score touchdown to give Charleston a 30-0 advantage.
To end the first half, Charleston would force another Cedarville punt, and took over with 1:42 remaining. The Tigers would need most, but not all, of the 1:42 to score. Burleson hit Ryder Julian with a 20-yard pass with 0:06 left in the first half to put the Tigers up 37-0.
For the first time in 2026, Charleston benefited from a mercy rule shortened second half clock.
With 11:40 remaining the fourth quarter, Cedarville crossed into Charleston territory for the first time all game. The Pirates eventually scored on a 19-yard Van Brunt carry to cut the Tigers lead to 37-8 with 9:08 left in the game after a successful two-point conversion.
With 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, Charleston would score one last time on a 60-yard touchdown run from Isaac Dodson to extend its lead to 44-8.
Lukas Burleson was excellent and efficient on the night, going 5-of-6 passing for 84 yards and a touchdown, and also added 66 yards on 10 carries and a rushing touchdown. Finn Schmalz averaged 13.6 yards per carry, finishing with 122 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns.
Finn Schmalz led the way defensively with seven tackles, followed by his older brother Gunner with five.
Charleston will travel to Greenland next week to take on the 4-2, (1-1) Pirates, who are coming off of a 45-12 loss to Lavaca.
All photo credits to Ronni Tate Young. See more at the Resident News Network team press page facebook page.
