Defensive Stand Propels Tigers Past ‘Cats, 27-0

RISON - With only 97 seconds of ball possession the entire first half of last Friday night’s game, which included just three first downs and seven offensive snaps, those on the outside looking in would have thought there was no way visiting Charleston was even in the game with Rison. But as incredible as those numbers sound, the Tigers scored a pair of touchdowns with their minimal amount of time on offense in the opening half, while holding the Wildcats out of the end zone in the closing seconds of the second quarter, propelling them to a 27-0 victory in the Class 3A state playoff semifinals at George Walker Field of Champions. Charleston entered the game ranked No. 1 by Hootens Arkansas Football after Rison had defeated the previous No. 1, Prescott, in the playoff quarterfinals the week before. It was the first time for Rison to be blanked in a game since 1998, a 7-0 loss at Camden Harmony Grove. And it was the first time for Rison to be held scoreless in a state playoff game over its last 76 post-season contests, dating back to 1993, when coach Red Parker’s Wildcats ran into a Carlisle Bison stampede, 41-0, in the Class A semifinals, also at Rison. The Wildcats now have a record of 79-39 in state playoff games, a winning average of nearly 70 percent. Charleston leads the series with Rison, 3-2, all in playoff contests. The win improved senior-heavy Charleston to 13-1 on the season, as the Tigers will now face their conference rival, Booneville, in the state title game Saturday at Little Rock. For the Wildcats, their remarkable run during almost a year-long stretch of adversity that left many in doubt of a very successful campaign for 2022 finally came to a end - but with a record of 11-1, the 6-3A Conference title, and a quarterfinal victory over then top-ranked Prescott, far exceeding expectations of fans. In the end, this will be looked upon as a great season, upheld by team limited in size and talent, but with an ...