The age old football adage goes something like this-- when two bitter rivals go head to head, you can throw out the records.

Giles County (2-3) came prepared for a battle and kept the contest close through three quarters before the Tigers tacked on two fourth quarter touchdowns to turn a 24-14 contest at the end of three into a 38-14 comfortable win.

"Our plan was to focus on being the best version of Marshall County more than it was focusing on Giles," longtime Tiger coach Thomas Osteen said. "I think we did a much better job of playing as a TEAM this past week as opposed to last year when we gave Giles too much attention."

The contest was a COVID add-in game to replace Maplewood and the Tigers travel to Sam Davis Park in Pulaski for an October 9th rematch.

The Tigers (3-1) have now outscored its last two opponents 88-49 after a tough blowout loss to region opponent Tullahoma in Week 2.

The Tiger offense is starting to gel with the younger players getting more comfortable with the system with more minutes and the upperclassmen are learning to trust the underclassmen to form a more cohesive unit.

Sophomore Jayden Hart has become a focal point on both sides of the ball and with all the Giles County attention on gifted senior receiver A'Ky Howard, quarterback Bryson Hammons looked to Hart once again and Hart delivered.

The big sophomore led the Tigers with two touchdown catches in the first half to give Marshall County an early 17-7 lead.

Hart has accounted for eight receptions for 191 yards and a team leading three touchdown grabs.

On defense Hart is fifth on the team with 18 tackles with five for a loss and a sack.

"Hart is a special talent," Osteen said. "Not many kids that big have that much coordination and skill. He is a match-up problem for any defense. He has a very bright future ahead if he keeps staying the course."

Another sophomore, Demari Braden, has a season best night, finishing with 39 yards and a score on 11 attempts.

Lamarion Pierce led the Tigers with 56 yards on eight rushes and Connor Hilton finished with 15 yards and a score on eight attempts.

Hammons continues to put together another steady season at the helm of the Tigers, tossing three scores on 10-of-16 completions for 97 yards.

Hammons also threw just his second interception of the season just before halftime, but has thrown for eight scores on the year.

Howard led the Tigers with four catches and 35 yards and Christian Stacey chipped in a 9-yard touchdown reception and ran once for seven yards.

The defense was once again led by Devonte Davis with 11 tackles, one for a loss and his second interception on the season, returned for 21 yards. Davis leads the squad with 33 tackles on the year with three for a loss, a sack, and two picks.

Kaden Whitson finished second on the night with five stops and Logan McKnight added four tackles and half a sack.

Isaac Brinkley chipped in two tackles, half a sack, and a late interception.

On special teams, Jon Estes continues a stellar senior campaign, sending 6-of-7 kickoffs into the end zone, going a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points and his second made field goal of the 2020 campaign.

That field goal, a career high 50-yarder, gave the Tigers its first lead of the entire night.

The Tigers took the 3-0 lead into the second quarter before the offense warmed.

Hammons hit Hart twice to push the score to 17-7 at the break.

The second half was all about eating up the clock and extending the lead.

Both Braden and Hilton picked up consecutive running touchdowns and a late touchdown pass to Stacey sealed the win.

The fifth-ranked Tigers welcome fourth-ranked Springfield (5-0) at Preston Hopkins Field on Friday night for homecoming.

The Tigers easily beat Springfield in Springfield last season but the Yellowjackets were nursing key injuries.

“This game is not going to make or break our season but it's going to serve as a great measuring stick on how much we have improved by the mid-point of the season,” Osteen said. “Springfield is significantly better than they were last year. They will strain every aspect of our program.”

This season, the Yellowjackets are firing on all cylinders, taking down 6A Wilson Central 20-10 and Station Camp 38-0 before disposing of region rivals White House (48-24) and White House- Heritage (57-14).

Giles County 0 7 7 0-14

MCHS 3 14 7 14-38

Marshall County Offense

Total Yards (271): Rushing 174, Passing 97.

Rushing: Bryson Hammons 12-57, Lamarion Pierce 8-56, Demari Braden 11-39-TD, Connor Hilton 8-15-TD, Christian Stacey 1-7.

Passing: Bryson Hammons 10-16-97-3-1INT.

Receiving: A’Ky Howard 4-35, Jayden Hart 2-26-2TD, Hunter Rolof 1-20, Christian Stacey 1-9-TD, Lamarion Pierce 2-7.

Kicking

PAT: Jon Estes 5-5.

Field Goals: Jon Estes 1-1-50.

Kickoffs: Jon Estes 7-420-6TB.

Punting: Joseph Gold 2-62.

Returns

Kickoffs: Kaden Whitson 1-15.

Defense

Tackles: Devonte Davis 11 (TFL, INT), Kaden Whitson 5, Connor Hilton 4, Christian Stacey 4 (FUM REC), Logan McKnight 4 (.5 SACK), Lamarion Pierce 3, Kortez Ingram 3, Grayson Miller 3 (.5 SACK), Isaac Brinkley 2 (.5 SACK, INT), Jayden Hart 2 (TFL), Kamron Dunnavant 2 (.5 SACK), Chandler Davis 2 (TFL), Jonathon Bair 1.