A CLASH OF CONFERENCE CHAMPS

Because there are no playoffs for the level, it isn’t often you get a couple of junior high conference champions together for a game.

It may happen, but typically it’s an early season nonconference game and the two eventually win titles.

But, this year the 3A-4 champion Junior High Bearcats and the 3A-1 champion Charleston Tigers scheduled a game for week 10 to end the year.

Of course the game was scheduled weeks ago so it wasn’t certain either would win their respective league, but that was what transpired.

That set the stage for a classic game, which went to Charleston Tuesday night, 30-22.

Charleston ran its first offensive play from the Bearcat 8-yard line after Conner Lentz made a touchdown saving tackle on the opening kickoff.

Still, it took the Tigers all four downs to score and go up 8-0.

Starting from their 38 for their first possession, the Bearcats scored in 10 plays, overcoming both a holding call and a false start on the way to Chase Shelton’s 9-yard run. Demari Poole ran for a two-point conversion to tie it.

Shelton had carries of 24 and 20 yards during the drive and finished with 63 yards on seven carries.

Charleston when to the air for its second score, and it was a pass that added the extra two to make it 16-8 with 4:56 left in the first half.

The Bearcats again answered after Triton Halpain recovered an onside kick attempt.

Lentz got the touchdown on a 12-yard reception from Washburn with :05 to play in the half but a two-point conversion try failed keeping Charleston in front 16-14.

The Bearcats started the second half with a turnover and Charleston took advantage with another touchdown pass and led 22-14.

An 87-yard drive tied it. The drive covered 17 plays and included 10-yard runs by Poole and Washburn and one of 22 yards by Conner Droemer.

Poole got the touchdown from the 1 and Washburn ran for the two point conversion to make it 22-22 with 5:59 left.

Charleston took the lead for a final time with 1:44 to go. The eventual winning throw covered 42 yards and came after consecutive 3-yard losses.

Dylan Todd helped Seth Wilson on one stop and recorded a sack and forced fumble on the other, but the Tigers were able to recover.

Just over a minute after the kickoff the Bearcats were at the Charleston 37 where an interception ended their chances.