CHARLESTON – For Charleston, Friday night’s game against Mansfield could be summarized by two words: “What if.” The Tigers would certainly have plenty of chances, but were unable to overcome four turnovers, two coming from inside the 5-yard line, in a 38-28 loss to Mansfield.
Mansfield (8-2, 6-0) would take the opening kickoff and do what they do best – keep the ball on the ground. Colton Moore, Jeremiah Burton, and Jubal Parks would all see short carries, but it was Silas Burton who broke through for a 63-yard touchdown run from a Jubal Parks option pitch. Mansfield would miss the two-point conversion and take a 6-0 lead.
Charleston (5-4, 4-1) would see some success on their opening drive of the contest, with two Finn Schmalz carries setting up an 11-yard completion from Lukas Burleson to Matteo Gaona on third down and three. However, Mansfield would blitz from the right side on the next play and force Burleson to fumble, with Mansfield taking over at the Charleston 48-yard line.
The Tigers defense would force Mansfield back with a 4-yard tackle for loss, followed by two false start penalties, and Mansfield would face third down and 32 at their own 29-yard line. Jubal Parks would get 24 of these yards back, and after a Charleston offsides penalty, Silas Burton would once again break one to the outside, this time for 41 yards. The two-point conversion failed and Mansfield would take a 12-0 lead.
Trailing two scores early, Charleston needed a response. And respond they would do. A 58-yard Burleson pass to Gaona would set Charleston up first and goal at the Mansfield 8-yard line. Three plays later, Burleson would punch it into the end zone on a 1-yard QB keeper to cut the lead to 12-6 after the failed 2-point conversion.
On Mansfield’s third possession, the Charleston defense would stand firm and force Mansfield into a three-and-out, the only time this would happen in the first half. Mansfield was forced to punt to Charleston with 11:13 left in the second quarter.
Charleston would take over at their own 42-yard line with a chance to take the lead. The Tigers would develop a methodical drive, with carries from Gaona and Finn Schmalz setting up a 15-yard pass to Finn from Burleson for a Charleston first down. Burleson would then find a hole to the left side on a QB keeper for 22 yards, and a 7-yard pass to Ryder Julian would give Charleston first-and-goal at the Mansfield 3-yard line.
And then disaster struck.
Burleson was lined up in the shotgun formation, and wasn’t able to handle the snap. A rally for the ball on the ground ensued, with Mansfield gaining possession.
Three plays later, Silas Burton would strike once again. This time a 90-yard touchdown run to the left side, his third of the game. This would put Mansfield up 18-6 with 3:40 left in the first half.
Charleston would struggle on their next possession, but they had their chances. On third and nine, Ryder Julian found an opening in the secondary at midfield, but the Burleson pass was overthrown. The Tigers were forced to punt, with Mansfield taking over at their own 47-yard line.
Mansfield would pick up right where they left off, with a 29-yard Colton Moore run setting up a 2-yard Parks keeper to put Mansfield up 24-6.
Charleston wouldn’t go away that easily though. On Charleston’s next possession, Burleson would find Finn Schmalz for two passes of 10 and 24 yards to get into Mansfield territory. Two plays later, on third-and-ten, Burleson would hit the older Schmalz brother, Gunner, for a 36-yard seam route down the middle to cut the Mansfield lead to 24-14 following the two-point conversion.
Charleston would recover a surprise onside kick, but with only 47 seconds left, wasn’t able to mount a scoring drive. Mansfield would take the 24-14 lead going into halftime.
The second half would ultimately be about more missed opportunities. More “what-ifs.” Charleston seemingly had momentum after the late first half score, and would capitalize on this early in the second half. Finn Schmalz would take a long run 62 yards down to the Mansfield 25-yard line, followed by a tough, gritty 18-yard down to the Mansfield 3-yard line where Finn just refused to go down.
Charleston would face first and goal at the Mansfield 3-yard line, again. And this was the Tigers’ Achilles’ heel on the night. Schmalz would take the carry on an inside zone, but the ball was stripped and Mansfield would recover for Charleston’s second fumble from the 3-yard line.
Mansfield would take over still holding on to the 24-14 lead, and Charleston would have several chances to get their offense off of the field. Charleston forced Mansfield into 3rd-and-9, but Jubal Parks scrambled for a 32-yard run to give Mansfield a first down. Charleston would then force Mansfield to 4th-and-4 near midfield, but they would convert again, this time on a 6-yard Jeremiah Burton run. Finally, the Charleston defense held strong and forced a punt on 4th-and-16, but Mansfield had drained over seven minutes of clock in the process.
Charleston would take over at their own 21-yard line with 2:34 left in the third quarter. The Tigers offense would then find its stride, with Burleson hitting Gaona on a 36-yard completion, which set up a 30-yard Finn Schmalz touchdown carry to cut the lead to 24-21.
Only down three points, Charleston had momentum and needed a defensive stop. And once again, there would be opportunities. Following two short runs that were stuffed by Charleston, Mansfield was faced with a 3rd-and-7. However, once again Mansfield would answer, this time on a 12-yard run by Silas Burton.
Despite this, the Tigers defense would have yet another chance to come off the field and swing the momentum. After three Mansfield carries went nowhere, they were faced with a 4th down and 8 to go near midfield. Mansfield coach Whit Overton called timeout to discuss the play. Jubal Parks would roll out to his left, and heave a pylon pass on a corner route to Isaac Carson. Reese Smith was stride for stride, and had a chance to deflect the pass, but Carson would win the jump ball and come down with it at the Charleston two. This was the turning point of the game, as Silas Burton would punch it in from two yards out on next play to put Mansfield up 30-21.
One bad thing turned into two bad things next for Charleston, as Burleson’s second pass of their next drive was intercepted and returned for a Mansfield touchdown to put them up 38-21.
Charleston would fight to the end, and score again on a 67-yard pass completion from Burleson to Finn Schmalz. But it was too little too late, and Mansfield would recover the onside kick to hold on for the 38-28 win
Finn Schmalz would end the night with 108 yards on 13 carries, and added 154 yards receiving and a touchdown. Burleson would throw for 357 yards, a season high.
Ultimately it came down to missed opportunities. Had Charleston scored both times they had first and goal, it could have been a completely different outcome.
“Those two killed us,” admitted Charleston Head Coach Ricky May. “Have to capitalize on those. If we do, totally different game.”
And several times Charleston had chances on third and fourth down to get Mansfield off the field, but the red Tigers would convert. The Charleston faithful kept waiting on that Mansfield mistake, the bad snap, the bad pitch, the mishandled handoff, but it never came.
“They run the triple option well,” said May. “We weren’t disciplined every play, and that’s what it takes.”
Charleston will need to regroup and prepare for a road trip to rival Lavaca next week. Charleston needs a win to clinch the 2-seed, and avoid any wild tiebreaker scenarios.
“We need to just do our jobs and stay disciplined,” said May. “And we have to finish the game.”
