A Thursday night showdown in Lawrenceburg featured two teams heading in opposite directions as Lawrence County started the season 3-1, but had lost two games in a row against Nolensville and 2A Forrest by a combined 80-7 total heading into the Region 4-4A matchup.

The Tigers, however, had also started the season 3-1 but won its past two games by a 77-32 margin and continued the winning streak in easy fashion with a 48-3 thumping over the Wildcats.

"The message all week was to play to our standard no matter who the opponent was," Tiger head coach Thomas Osteen said. "Our goal was to start fast and play a very clean game in all three phases.”

“For the most part I feel that we did a very good job of that."

Lawrence County (3-4, 0-3) was a respectable 5A squad for the last three years, participating in the second largest classification in the state with an 18-15 overall record and a 8-9 region record and three straight playoff appearances from 2012-14.

But the move down into the 4A classification has proven to be a struggle for the Wildcats, with a 10-31 overall record with just three region wins against 17 losses.

And the Tigers have been a constant thorn in Lawrence County’s side, allowing just 15 points in the four years coming into Thursday night’s game and outscoring the Wildcats by a remarkable 186 points.

Thursday night was no exception as Marshall County (6-1, 3-0) jumped out to a 34-3 halftime lead before giving way to the second and third string players for the majority of the second half.

The younger players produced with backup quarterback Trey Warner throwing for 15 yards, Demari Braden running for a five-yard touchdown and catching one pass for 15 yards, and Iyasen Biggers receiving his first three carries of the season.

"It was really nice to play a lot of younger guys and get them some game experience," Osteen stated. "Those guys work so hard all week to help prepare the team it’s really nice when you can give them some of the reward of playing in the game."

The starters continued to put up impressive numbers, beginning with starting quarterback Bryson Hammons, who played a near perfect game with 9-of-11 passing for 190 yards and two scores and has thrown for 10 touchdowns against two interceptions heading into the last three weeks of the season.

“I haven’t really tried to force anything," Hammons stated. "Just being smart and knowing the down and distance every play has helped me quite a bit."

"The guys up front is what’s helped the most though," Hammons added. "I could count on one hand how many times I’ve been sacked this year.”

“They give great effort every play and it gives me plenty of time to make a good decision."

The ground game was running on all cylinders against the Wildcats with Kel Greer picking up his third straight 100 yard plus game on ground with 103 yards and two scores while senior Javarria Rucker added 68 yards on four carries and two scores to go along with two catches for 70 yards and a score.

Connor Hilton chipped in 29 yards on four runs and Lamarion Pierce added 17 yards on two carries.

"Being able to have an effective running game opens up the field a lot," Hammons explained. "Our running game is very good but our receivers are all very good also, so it makes teams have to be able to know what to do in every situation so they don’t over play anything."

Devon Wilson steadily gets better every week and Thursday was no exception as the senior receiver picked up his first touchdown reception of the season to go along with 94 yards on five receptions and A'Ky Howard remains steady with a third straight multiple pass catching game with two grabs for 26 yards.

Howard has caught multiple passes in five out of the seven games this season.

The defense allowed a season low three points on the night and has given up less than 10 points three different times in 2019.

Hilton and Pierce added an interception apiece and Riqkyous Summers had a standout night with nine tackles and a forced, then recovered fumble.

Hayden Sheppard and Christian Stacey each chipped in seven tackles and Logan McKnight finished with three tackles and a sack.

The eighth-ranked Tigers are now tied with the relatively new team on the block, Nolensville, with a perfect 3-0 record with just a region game against Spring Hill before a potential battle for the title that will take place on the final night of the regular season in Lewisburg.

But before the remaining two region games take place, the Tigers will take on a familiar foe in Giles County this Friday at Preston Hopkins Field in Lewisburg.

And as most Tiger fans know, despite the Bobcats having won just two games heading into Friday night’s matchup. The game is always close.

"Giles is not as dynamic offensively as they have been the last couple years, especially in the passing game," Osteen admitted. "But they are probably better in every facet of their team besides throwing it.”

“Their record is so deceiving. They had a chance to beat Page and East Nashville, two elite teams late in the game. We will no doubt get Giles’ best game and expect a dogfight."

Marshall County 14 20 7 7-48

Lawrence County 3 0 0 0-3

Marshall County

Total Yards (412): Rushing 207, Passing 205.

Rushing: Kel Greer 6-103-2TD, Javarria Rucker 4-68-2TD, Connor Hilton 4-29, Lamarion Pierce 2-17, Demari Braden 3-0-TD, Bryson Hammons 1-(-1), Iyasen Biggers 3-(-9).

Passing: Bryson Hammons 9-11-190-2TD, Trey Warner 1-2-15.

Receiving: Devon Wilson 5-94-TD, Javarria Rucker 2-70-TD, A’Ky Howard 2-26, Demari Braden 1-15.

Kicking

PAT: Jon Estes 6-6.

Kickoffs: Jon Estes 8-464-4TB.

Returns

Kickoffs: Javarria Rucker 1-16.

Punts: Devon Wilson 1-0.

Defense

Tackles: Riqkyous Summers 9 (FUM REC), Christian Stacey 7, Hayden Sheppard 7, Kaden Whitson 6 (TFL), Connor Hilton 6 (INT), Lamarion Pierce 3 (INT), Andrew Gold 3, Chandler Davis 3 (2TFL), Kortez Ingram 2, Hunter Rolof 2, Omari Armstrong 2 (TFL), Tez Allen 2 (TFL), Casey Southerland 1, Kamarion Ingram 1, Jeff Carls 1 (FUM REC), Demari Braden 1, Logan McKnight 1 (SACK), Joseph Gold 1, Bradley Wright 1, Terry Gulley 1 (TFL), Carlos Alvarez 1.