Published: October 11, 2008 01:04 am            

FOOTBALL: Charlestown clinches share of MSC title

CHARLESTOWN — After failing last Friday to clinch at least a share of its second consecutive Mid-Southern Conference crown, Charlestown took care of business this time.

But it came slowly, as a solid second-half effort resulted in a 25-7 victory over North Harrison at Dutch Reis Field.

Trailing 7-0 at halftime, Charlestown (6-2, 5-1) got on the board quickly, needing just four plays for quarterback Damon Vest to run for a 51-yard touchdown. Ariel Stephens’ extra-point kick then tyed the game at seven.

After a three-and-out by the Pirate defense, Charlestown was at it again, going 51 yards in five plays with Josh Graham scoring from 20 yards out.

North Harrison (3-4, 3-2) blocked the conversion attempt, then looked to take back the lead, driving to the Charlestown 17 before Vest recovered a Cougar fumble.

That proved to be one of the more critical plays of the game, as four plays later, Vest scored his second touchdown of the game, this one from 47 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Pirates a 19-7 lead.

Again the turnover bug plagued the Cougars as they drove to the 25 before Cory Houser picked off a Matt Johnson pass to end the threat.

Graham then scored his second touchdown of the game, this one from eight yards out, to cap a seven-play, 39-yard drive.

“At the half I told them to just keep playing,” said Charlestown coach Jason Hawkins. “We had 24 more minutes to play.

“We blocked much better in the second half. The five guys I had in there after halftime blocked better than the ones in the first half did. These kids sometimes have a problem with focus. We need to be focused for 48 minutes.”

Graham romped for 51 yards on the Pirates’ first play from scrimmage. But an illegal-procedure penalty negated an 11-yard touchdown run by Eddie Duran, and on fourth-and-16 from the 17, Jordan Williams dropped a pass in the end zone.

Graham led the Pirates with 182 yards on 17 carries. Vest finished with 130 yards on nine carries. North Harrison was led by Matt Bruderle, who had 158 yards on 31 carries, and scored the Cougars’ lone touchdown on a 12-yard run.

“Coach ripped us at haftime and the line really blocked great, excellent in the second half,” said Vest. “Coach told everyone what to do and we did it.”

Entering play on Friday, Charlestown, North Harrison, Salem and Brownstown each had just one conference loss, meaning the three will likely each take a share of the MSC title.

“I'm lucky to have fallen into a great situation here," Hawkins said. “We've got great players and a great community. We had three goals at the beginning of the season, a winning season, a conference championship and a sectional championship. We've got two of those.”

Charlestown will host Lawrenceburg next Friday, before hosting North Harrison once again in two weeks in Class 3A sectional play.

“North Harrison played tough tonight and moved the ball well on offense,” Hawkins said. “It will be tough.”



NORTH HARRISON 0 7 0 0—7

CHARLESTOWN 0 0 13 12—25

2nd quarter

NH — Bruderle 12 run (Stephenson kick), 0:41

3rd quarter

C — Vest 51 run (Stephens kick), 10:21

C — Graham 20 run (kick blocked), 6:03

4th quarter

C — Vest 47 run (run failed), 11:52

C — Graham 8 run (run failed) 1:38

        

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