Pirate Football Wins their 5th Sectional Championship
The series record between the Pirates and the Cougars didn’t mean much Friday night; neither did the fact that Charlestown had won the past ten meetings. What did matter, throughout the majority of the game, and well into the fourth, was who was gonna stop who running the ball. North Harrison (4-7) came into the game, seeming with nothing to lose; and loved being in that position. Charlestown (10-2) found themselves acting bit hung over for some reason; maybe the victory over Brownstown was still heavy in the air, or maybe the Cougars were more ready to play for the Sectional title. Charlestown opened the game stopping the Cougars on their first drive, then blocking their punt and recovering it on the host eleven. Three plays later Antonyo Gaddie hit paydirt with a five yard touchdown run. North Harrison answered with an eleven play drive in the second that resulted in a Sam Best five yard TD. After a 7-6 host lead at the half, the Pirates stalled on two drives to start the second half before Senior Eli Daniel intercepted a Cougar pass to change momentum. The turnover brought new life, and a drive that was capped by a seven yard scoring pass from Tristan Chester to Eli Daniel with 7:42 left in the game. Six plays into the Cougars next drive, Sophomore Bradley Laffoon snagged a second Pirate interception to set up another scoring drive deep in North Harrison territory. Four plays later Chester ran in the Pirate’s third score for a 18-7 lead with just under two minutes remaining, and no time for the Cougars to answer. The win gave Pirate Football their fifth Sectional crown and set a date next Friday hosting Heritage Hills (11-1) in the Bone Yard at 8:00 pm. Antonyo Gaddie finished the game with 20 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. Chester finished the game 4 of 12 including the seven yard touchdown pass to Daniel. CPPSB named the starting Pirate Offensive Line the Coyle Chevy, Buick, GMC and Coyle Nissan Offensive Players of the Game and Bradley Laffoon the Defensive Player of the Game.