The Marshall County Tigers broke a four-year losing streak versus nearby county rival Columbia Central Friday night, outlasting the third-ranked Lions 35-28 at Preston Hopkins Field in Lewisburg.

"The defense came through and made some key stops in the second half and did a great job overall," said MCHS head coach Aaron Pitts. "It feels good to beat Columbia. For us it's like a region game, county to county bragging rights, and we are so proud of our players tonight."

The Tigers (2-2, 1-0) made some big plays early in the game before surrendering the lead just before the half, but a defensive stand in the second half by MCHS and a six-yard touchdown run by Austin Stacey in the fourth quarter secured the win.

Offensive leaders

Stacey provided MCHS with 303 yards of total offense, running the ball 19 times for 85 yards and a score, while the senior quarterback went 7-15 in the aerial game for 218 yards and three touchdown tosses.

Chris Walker continued his electrifying play for the Tigers as he accounted for 247 all-purpose yards, including a 99-yard kickoff return and an 84-yard touchdown reception.

"It was a dogfight all night man, we just fought it out and stayed with it," said Walker. They were making big plays too, but we just tried to make more of them. This feels great, amazing."

Walker ended up with 150 yards receiving in the contest on four catches.

Freshman talent

A pair of freshman receivers was on the other end of Stacey touchdown passes with Jay Howard grabbing a 37-yarder in the first quarter and Darius Mckenzie found pay dirt from 16 yards out in the third quarter.

After stopping the Lions on their first possession, the Tigers lit the fuse on a third down and ten snap when Stacey found a wide-open Walker over the middle for the 84-yard score.

A Blake Darnell interception led to Stacey's 37-yard TD hookup with Howard, and Aaron Medley added the extra point, making it 14-0 with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.

Two minutes later, the Lions came right back, capping an 80-yard drive with four-yard TD pass from Orrin Delk to Maverick Dickinson, making it 14-7.

Strange moments

Things got weird when Marshall County had to punt with just over nine minutes to play in the second quarter.

Medley punted the ball inside the Columbia Central 10-yard line, but after a lengthy discussion between the lead TSSAA official and Columbia Central's head coach Howard Stone, the ball was awarded back to the Tigers on a holding call before the punt.

MCHS went backwards on offense before Deandre Gilliam picked off Stacey and went the other way for a touchdown.

The extra point was good, tying the game at 14, but on the ensuing kickoff, Walker hauled in the kick at the one-yard line and busted through traffic before a stiff arm on the visitors sideline set him free for the race to the end zone.

Medley added the extra point for the seven-point lead, but it was short-lived as the Lions tied the game on a Mario Williams four-yard TD run on their next drive.

Falling behind

The Tigers went three-and-out after the Williams score, and with 24 ticks remaining in the first half, Delk found Evari Wisener on a 52-yard pass and catch, making it 28-21 Columbia Central at the half.

MCHS drove to the Lions' 35-yard on the initial drive of the second half where a Medley field goal attempt was blocked.

The Tiger defense began their second half stand when they forced a Central three-and-out, and after the Lions returned the favor, Medley had to punt.

The punt bounded around and was touched by the Lions where Tre Crutcher fell on the loose pigskin, giving the Tigers a first down at the Columbia Central 32-yard line.

Back in front

Six plays later, Stacey fired a bullet to Mckenzie, who fought off several tacklers before landing in the end zone, knotting the contest at 28 with 2:51 remaining in the third quarter.

The third quarter ended with Williams coming up with an interception, but the CCHS drive stalled at the 43-yard line, forcing a Lions' punt.

Marshall County proceeded to put together a game clinching five-play drive, beginning at the Columbia Central 26-yard line and ending on a Stacey six-yard TD scamper with 6:29 remaining in the contest.

The Lions moved the ball to near midfield, marching toward the potential game tying drive when Darnell came up with his second interception of the contest, and this time it was the decisive factor.

This week

MCHS ran out the clock for the win, setting up another huge game versus former coach Tom Turchetta and the Spring Hill Raiders, who will travel to Preston Hopkins Field next Friday on Homecoming night for the Tigers.

"We have a lot of things we have to correct on offense, a lot of things to fix, but the kids came through in the end and made the plays to get us a 'W' tonight," said Pitts.