Trojans fall to Greenville 21-10 on homecoming
Published 11:25 pm Friday, October 4, 2019
- Messenger photo/Mike Hensley Charles Henderson running back Jonathan Carter takes a hand off from quarterback Pooka Jones on Friday night against Greenville.++
Greenville High senior defensive back Jalen Collins intercepted a fourth-quarter pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown to break open a close game and lead the Tigers to a 21-10 over Charles Henderson High Friday night in Troy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The win by Greenville spoiled the CHHS Homecoming, in which the Trojans were hanging close at 14-10 in the last period before the interception and touchdown.
The game was overshadowed by 25 penalties combined by both teams and four player ejections including three players from CHHS ejected and one from Greenville High, all coming at separate times due to unsportsmanlike conduct or personal fouls.
The win by Greenville saw them improve to 3-3 on the season and 2-2 in Class 5A, Region 2 competition, while CHHS stands at 2-3 overall and 2-1 in Region 2 play.
The Tigers were first to get on the scoreboard when their defense recovered a CHHS fumble at the Trojan 9 yard line, and on 4th-and-goal junior running back Kirsten Hawthorne took it in from 2 yards out, Christian Hill kicked the extra point, and the score was 7-0 GHS with 4:26 remaining in the first quarter.
The Trojans bounced back to tie the score at 7-7 when senior running back Jonathan Carter bulled his way in from 13-yards out, Hayden Bush kicked, and the score was tied with 3:27 to play in the first quarter.
Greenville went ahead 14-7 with 4:28 to go in the first half as sophomore quarterback Chrishon Crenshaw found senior wide receiver Quinderious McNeil open for a 9-yard TD pass play, with Hill adding the extra point.
The Trojans cut the lead to 14-10 with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Caleb Guice, capping a 56-yard drive.
CHHS was at their own 22-yard line with 5:56 to play in the game when Collins intercepted the pass and ran it in for the touchdown, Hill kicked again, and it was 21-10 Greenville.
CHHS got the ball two more times in the fourth quarter but could get no closer than the Greenville 24, and were unable to score on each possession.
The Trojans were led in rushing by Carter with 62 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown, while Pooka Jones was 17 of 36 passing for 191 yards and a TD.
Hawthorne carried the ball 27 times on the night for Greenville for 51 yards and one touchdown, while Crenshaw completed four of five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.
CHHS is at Carroll of Ozark next Friday night in another Class 5A, Region 2 matchup, while Greenville will host Beauregard in a Region 2 matchup as well.