Sometimes, some of the most vicious fights are within the family…in this case, it will be a fight between the Tigers of Charleston and the Tigers of Mansfield. Charleston will make the trip to Scott County to battle the Red Tigers of Mansfield who are riding high and off to a fast start in 2022. At deadline time for this story, Charleston was making final preparations to play Cedarville after having won their first conference game of the year at Greenland the previous week. Mansfield was preparing to play Greenland in week two of their conference season after having won a tough contest at West Fork the previous week. The winner of the Charleston / Mansfield game could, along with the Booneville Bearcats, be in the driver’s seat in the 3A-1 conference race.
Mansfield is coached by Tim Cothran who came to Mansfield from Greenwood where he was an assistant coach. Cothran entered the 2022 campaign with an overall record of 10-20 at Mansfield as head coach. But this year, the Tigers have yet to lose and are looking to make a big playoff run.
Mansfield returns 12 seniors to this year’s team along with ten returning starters each on both sides of the football. Mansfield’s record in 2021 was 2-7. The Red Tigers run the spread offense and can strike quickly from anywhere on the field. On defense, Mansfield is a 4-2 defense and has good defensive line size and speed against both the pass and the rush.
Cole Kindle makes good decisions throwing the football and can easily pick his talented receivers as he avoids the rush. Willsey, along with senior Tyler Woolbright at running back gives the Red Tigers a potent one-two punch in both the pass and run.
RNN Sports asked Mansfield’s head coach for his thoughts on Charleston, and the Red Tigers’ coach responded by saying, “Hopefully, it will be an electric atmosphere; tonight’s game could be huge. Charleston is incredibly talented and well-coached, and it will be a very tough game for us.”
For Charleston, the game at Mansfield will be another tough road test for coach Ricky May’s Tigers. Charleston has won impressive road games at Elkins and Greenland, and the experienced and talented Charleston Tigers have played on the road before and should be used to the environment they will see at Mansfield. Charleston is battled-tested after having played three class 4A teams in non-conference and having opened their season on the road at Greenland.
Charleston head coach Ricky May, speaking of Mansfield, said, “Mansfield is off to a great start at 4-0 (before Mansfield’s game with Greenland). Their quarterback was named by Randy Rainwater (Drive Time Sports Radio Show in Little Rock) as one of the Ortho Players of the Week last week (versus West Fork). They have very good skilled athletes, especially at running back. Coach Cothran has them playing very hard and believing.”
So, the battle of the Tigers is on, and fans from both schools will not want to miss this one! Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Mansfield, and fans should consider arriving early to get a seat.
Watch for a post-game recap of this great high school football game on RNN Sports at residentnewsnetwork.com
My prediction? The Tigers will win!
