You can never get tired of winning, and so it is for the Charleston Tigers and their fan base. Last Friday, the top ten ranked Tigers defeated Lincoln at Alumni Field by the score of 68-14, and in doing so, improved their record on the year to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play. In fact, dating back to last season, Charleston has now won 12 consecutive conference games, and has an overall record of 16-2 going into tonight’s game. As I have written about all season, I expect the Tigers to go undefeated and finish the final two weeks of the season with wins before entering the state playoffs in November as a number one seed from the 3A-1 conference. And tonight’s game should be one of the last two wins the Tigers need for this year’s regular season schedule.
Charleston will travel to West Fork this afternoon to take on the Tigers on a cold night in Northwest Arkansas. West Fork, a fifth seed playoff team from the 3A-1 a year ago, has not met the expectations that many had for the Tigers this season. West Fork has badly missed some seniors who graduated last school year, and the Tigers have struggled all season. West Fork will enter tonight’s game with a 2-6 overall record and a 1-3 record in the conference. Last week, West Fork lost at Hackett by the score of 36-13. The Tigers’ only conference win to date was a win at Lavaca on October 8 when they beat the Golden Arrows by the score of 41-20. After tonight’s game with Charleston, West Fork will end their season with their rivalry game against Greenland.
So, frankly, tonight’s game should be no contest, but, as I preach every day, ALL opponents must be respected, and I believe Charleston coach Ricky May will have his team prepared and they will come out and take care of business early against West Fork. It will be an opportunity for reserve players to get playing time, and in what should be a time shortened game, it may be an opportunity for the Charleston fans to get into their warm cars a little early and head back to Charleston with another win.
Looking ahead a little bit, a win tonight and a week ten regular season ending game with Lavaca at Alumni Field should complete the unbeaten season, and Coach May and his Tigers will turn their attention to a home playoff game against a number five seed from across the state. Once again, coach Ricky May has done an outstanding job with the Charleston program, and the Tigers are positioned once again to have one of the finest high school football programs in Arkansas.
So Tigers fans, bundle up and get ready to make the trip to West Fork to support your Tigers! And Resident Press will have more on Charleston next week and into the state playoffs!
