Chargers Advance Past Franklin In Offensive Shootout

As the Central Chargers gathered around the goal post following their second round playoff game at Franklin on Friday night, the players heard the words they hoped to hear from Head Coach Will Thomas. “Back to work on Monday.”

Malik Foster picks up great blocking on the way to another big Central run in their win over Franklin last Friday night. (Photo by Ellie Richmond)

With the playoffs being a win or go home situation, the Chargers were thrilled to be heading back to work this week after great offense and timely defensive plays gave Central a 57-42 win on the road at Franklin last Friday night.

The offense was king in the first half as neither team could stop the other. Central got their first possession of the game and marched down the field picking up big runs and penalties on Franklin. Keaun Baskerville scored his first of four touchdowns with 10:17 left in the first half. Ben Atkins added the extra point for a 7-0 lead, but Central didn’t have long to celebrate that first score as Jack Sykes scored from the Chargers’ 27-yard line on only the Broncos second play from scrimmage. Central would stuff the two-point try and led by just one point.

Penalties would slow down Central on the next drive and they turned the ball back over to Franklin and Javonte Baker raced in from 80 yards to give Franklin a 14-7 lead.

Central would go back to work on the ground as Dashawn Moore and Malik Foster carried the ball down the field behind the blocking of Jackson Parsons, Bayden Bishop, Daniel Wilkinson, Jamori Pegram, and Kester Long. Moore would score from 16 yards away to tie the game at 14-14 midway through the first quarter

The game would be an offensive show for the rest of the first half as Franklin scored on two pass plays, including a 60 yarder while Central continued to run the ball well with Baskerville scoring from 8 yards away and Malik Foster scoring from 17 yards out. At the end of the first half Franklin led 34-29 and it looked like the team that got the ball last would win the game.

At halftime, veteran defensive coordinator Wallace Owen came out with a little different look and it worked to perfection as the high powered Franklin offense was held to just one score in the second half. Owen stated, “I have to give a lot of credit to Coach Christopher (JV defensive coordinator Stanley Christopher) in helping come up with a way to slow them down.”

Franklin got the ball first in the second half, but the Central defense would hold behind big plays from Kester Long and Raymond Alexander. The Chargers took advantage of the defensive stand as Baskerville scored from 10 yards away to put Central up 36-34.

Central would give up their only score on the second half on a 4^th down play near the Central 12 yard line to fall

Captions

CHS—photo by Ellie Richmond

CHS 1

The Central offense is ready to drive down the field for another score in a 57 point effort last week.

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CHS 7—photo by Ellie Richmond

Keaun Baskerville had another strong game on the ground for Central while adding 4 touchdowns on the night.

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The Chargers congratulate each other after a big playoff win at Franklin on Friday night.