HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECAP: CHARLESTON 49, WEST FORK 6
CHARLESTON – It’s been two rough weeks for the West Fork Tigers, having to play against 3A-1 powers Mansfield and Charleston back-to-back. The latest of these two was a decisive 49-6 Charleston victory on Friday night. With this win, Charleston has clinched a birth in the 3A playoffs for the 39th consecutive season.
West Fork received the opening kickoff, but was unable to gain any momentum offensively. West Fork (2-6, 0-4) was forced into two straight incomplete passes, and on 3rd-and-10, would throw an interception to Ryder Julian 28 seconds into the game.
Charleston (5-3, 4-0) would take the game to the ground early, with their first play from scrimmage a Finn Schmalz 33-yard carry down to the West Fork 1, stopped just short of the end zone. Schmalz would break through one play later to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
After a West Fork three-and-out, Charleston would take to the air on their second drive. Tigers quarterback Lukas Burleson would connect two passes to Issac Dodson and Ryder Julian, and capped the drive off with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Matteo Gaona to put Charleston up 14-0 at the 2:47 mark in the first quarter.
West Fork would once again be forced into a three and out, and Charleston wouldn’t waste any time getting back on the scoreboard. A 38-yard jet sweep completion from Burleson to Gaona set up and 8-yard pass from the same duo to put Charleston up 21-0 with 1:21 left in the opening quarter.
On Charleston’s fourth offensive possession, the Tigers would mix it up a little through the ground and the air. The drive started with a 9-yard Finn Schmalz run, followed by a 5-yard completion to Kaden Brown, and capped the drive off with a 47-yard jet sweep touchdown to Isaac Dodson to put Charleston up 28-0 early in the second quarter.
Following yet another West Fork three-and-out, Charleston would lean on the ground game exclusively for their fifth drive of the first half. This time it was older brother Gunner Schmalz with runs of 26 and 17 yards, the latter going for a Tigers touchdown to put Charleston up 35-0 with 4:03 remaining the first half.
Charleston would get one more possession in the first half, highlighted by a 48-yard jet sweep pass completion from Gunner Schmalz to Reece Smith. The Tigers would let the clock run out and take the 35-0 lead into halftime.
The second-half got off to a bit of an unusual start when West Fork kicked off to Charleston. Charleston’s Reece Smith returned the kick 32 yards to the 42-yard line, but was stripped as he was falling down, and West Fork returned it back uncontested for a touchdown to cut the lead to 35-6 after the two-point conversion failed.
On Charleston’s opening possession of the third quarter, Isaac Dodson would take the kickoff 57-yards yards deep into West Fork territory. Dodson would then take over at quarterback, highlighted by an 11-yard pass to Michael Franklin. This drive was capped off by a 1-yard Kaden Brown run to put Charleston up 42-6.
Charleston would get one final second half possession, and would keep the ball on the ground. Kaden Smothers would take two red zone carries down to the West Fork 4-yard line, and Kolby Wilson would take it from three yards out to put Charleston up 49-6, the eventual final score.
Lukas Burleson was a perfect 9-of-9 for 177 yards and three touchdowns on the night, and added two carries for 13 yards. Isaac Dodson had three receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown, with Matteo Gaona adding three receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers were led by Michael Franklin and Tanner Stark with seven tackles apiece.
Tonight’s win, and Mansfield’s 46-20 win over Greenland, sets up a Charleston vs. Mansfield showdown at Alumni Field in Charleston on Friday, October 30th with the 3A-1 Conference Championship on the line.
All photos by Ronni Tate Young of RNN. See more photos on the Team Press Pass Facebook page.
