WEST FORK- After all of the buildup leading up to last week’s battle with Booneville, the Charleston Tigers must refocus on this week’s opponent, the West Fork Tigers. Charleston will make the trip to northwest Arkansas on Friday to play at West Fork in a 3A-1 conference game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
At deadline time for this story, Charleston was just hours away from kicking off against Booneville for what should have determined the eventual conference champion. Regardless of the outcome of that game, it will be critical for Charleston to avoid a letdown at West Fork this week. Charleston will be playing to either wrap up the conference championship this week and next, or, to wrap up the conference runners-up position and a number two seed from the conference in the state playoffs. Either way, it is imperative for a young Charleston team not to overlook the West Fork Tigers.
West Fork was 5-5 a season ago, missing the playoffs in 2022. This year, West Fork is 2-5 overall and 1-3 in conference play as of October 13. At deadline time, West Fork was preparing to travel to Hackett for an important game for both schools with respect to their chances of making the playoffs as the conference’s five seed. West Fork has games remaining with Charleston and with rival Greenland on November 3. Charleston defeated West Fork at Alumni Field a year ago by the score of 49-7.
West Fork is led on offense by sophomore quarterback Cooper Ridenoure and junior tailback Bryson Whitmill. Although the Tigers are a spread team on offense, they still prefer to run the ball as they did in their flex bone seasons of recent years. West Fork will want to dominate possession in the game and shorten the game to remain in contention late.
Charleston will be coming off of a very physical and emotional football game with Booneville, and regardless of the outcome of that game, the Tigers must focus on West Fork to avoid being listless and keeping West Fork in the game. Charleston has to win at West Fork and then focus on an explosive offense with Lavaca in week ten. Injuries have been a key factor with Charleston, and the Tigers need to wrap up the season before hopefully getting some of their key players back for the playoffs.
RNN Sports photographer Ronni Tate Young will be in West Fork to bring you the action in pictures. Watch for her pictures on RNN Sports’ “Team Press Pass” page next week.
