Carver runs over Dougherty to finish unbeaten region run

ALBANY — The No. 10-ranked Carver Tigers (7-3) controlled the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense Friday night at Hugh Mills Stadium, plus took advantage of Dougherty mistakes on special teams to end Dougherty’s football season by a 30-0 score. With the win, Carver claims a perfect region record on the year and the region championship. The Trojans finished 4-6 on the year and 1-4 in the region.

Dougherty’s offense sputtered as Carver’s defensive front interrupted almost every play to keep Dougherty freshman quarterback David Burgess without time to maneuver or wait for an open receiver while running back Jr. Walker had nowhere to run as he was met immediately on play after play when he tried to run through the middle of the Tiger defense.

Carver got their first break of the game in the first quarter when Burgess went back to punt but couldn’t get the punt off and tried to run on fourth down. The Tigers took over on downs at Dougherty’s 29-yard line and two plays later senior running back De’Ante Childs scored. The two-point conversion put the Tigers up 8-0.

When Dougherty’s defense stopped the Tigers on their next possession, the Carver punt landed the Trojans at their own seven-yard line, and on third down, Carver’s defense swarmed Burgess and tackled him in the end zone for a safety.

With the safety, the Trojans had to kick to the Tigers again and Carver took the return to the 39-yard line and scored again four plays later.

The Dougherty defense looked like they had stopped the Tigers on the next possession as Carver was faced with a fourth and 10 at the 23-yard line but Tiger quarterback Jamarcus Davis found Tristian Givens open on the left side. He danced around the Dougherty defenders into the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.

Dougherty’s season began with high hopes and a No. 10 state ranking but an injury to five-star quarterback Kam Davis and a last-second coaching change were too much for a team that was already counting on younger players stepping up after a big graduating class a year ago. However, the difficulties of 2023 should pay dividends for Burgess, Walker and all of the young Trojans as they head into 2024.

Joe WhitfieldJoeWhitfield[email protected]