CHARLESTON -- Garrett Loughridge was angry and a little embarrassed as he walked off the field last November in Smackover after his team was pummeled 42-14.
That beat down was both humbling and shocking for a program that is accustomed to playing into December and lifting heavy championship trophies at the end of the season. The loss was the fifth of the season for the Tigers, three of which were by lopsided margins.
Today’s Matchup
Class 3A State Championship
Charleston vs. Prescott
At War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
KICKOFF 6 p.m.
RECORDS Charleston 13-0; Prescott 14-0
ON THE AIR The game will be livestreamed at fearlessfriday.com
BETWEEN THE LINES Charleston returns to the state championship game after a disappointing 7-5 finish in 2015. The Tigers won back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014, and have won five state titles since 2005. … Prescott is making its first state finals appearance since 2009, but has won four state titles overall, the last in 1995. … Charleston has a potent offense, led by senior QB Jackson Rowland, a two-year starter. Rowland has completed 189 of 288 passes for 3,150 yards and 38 TDs, a remarkable number considering he has played just 36 of a possible 52 quarters because Charleston has mercy-ruled most of its opponents. … The Tigers have a pair of electrifying playmakers in junior WRs Sean Michael Flanagan and Mason Wisdom. Flanagan has accounted for 30 touchdowns (17 receiving, 6 rushing, 5 punt returns, 1 kickoff return, 1 punt return). Wisdom has 52 catches for 704 yards and 8 TDs. … Defensively, LB Drew Young has 74 tackles, and DE Michael Howard has 15 tackles for loss. … Prescott dual-threat QB Derrick Flynn is 128-of-206 for 2.221 yards and 16 TDs, and has 735 yards rushing and 13 TDs. … Curley Wolves senior RB Carlos Vanhook has rushed for 1,273 yards and 29 TDs. … Prescott safety Peyton Chandler is a star with 159 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 4 interceptions. … Ball-hawking Senior DB Deonte Jamison has 8 interceptions and the team has 23 total picks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Charleston, QB Jackson Rowland (Sr., 6-0, 200), WR Sean Michael Flanagan (Jr., 6-1, 180), WR Mason Wisdom (Jr., 6-1, 168), LB Drew Young (Sr., 6-0, 187), RB Bradyn Ketter (Jr., 5-9, 190), OL Ryan Keener (Sr., 6-5, 250). Prescott, QB Derrick Flynn (Sr., 6-2, 185), RB Carlos Vanhook (Sr., 5-7, 180), DB Deonte Jamison (Sr., 6-2, 185), DB Peyton Chandler (Jr., 5-11, 158), WR Cameron Cox (So., 5-10, 170).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Charleston is No. 1 in Class 3A; Prescott is No. 2.
HOOTEN’S LINE Charleston by 8
OUR TAKE Charleston 34, Prescott 24
— Chip Souza • @nwachip
The Tigers knew this was unacceptable, and the returning players vowed it would not happen again.
"That was definitely a different feeling, and a feeling we didn't like," Loughridge said. "We knew as seniors we had to come out and we had to lead, and just change that feeling and get back to what we do."
What the Tigers have done is win at the highest level. Charleston has been the most dominant program in Class 3A for the past decade, winning five state championships in that span.
Last season began by giving up 77 points to Shiloh Christian in the season opener, and ended bitterly in the second round of the state playoffs at Smackover. Charleston was on the road for that playoff game because it failed to win the conference title, and the resulting 7-5 record was the program's worst in almost 30 years.
"We really had to go back and re-evaluate ourselves," Charleston coach Greg Kendrick said. "We started with the coaching staff and got back to a grassroots mentality of hard work. And the senior class really bought in to a blue-collar work ethic. It's a great group of young men that has really brought this program back to where it needs to be."
The bad taste of last season has been fully removed as the Tigers prepare to take on Prescott (14-0) at 6 p.m. today in the Class 3A state championship game in Little Rock. Charleston (13-0) has dominated all 13 opponents, winning most of its games in mercy-rule fashion.
Loughridge (6-foot, 205 pounds), a three-year starter at middle linebacker, has been right in the middle of the revival, leading the team with 88 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss.
"This process began last January," Loughridge said. "This town has expectations of state championships."
Loughridge is a Charleston lifer, growing up with Black and Gold blood flowing through his veins. He and the rest of the senior class started playing youth football in the third grade, and he made sure he was at Alumni Field every Friday night to watch the Tigers.
He said he looked up to former stars like the Shelby brothers, Jordan Akers, Matt Stewart and many others as players to emulate. Loughridge was in elementary school when the Tigers won a state title in 2005, but he knew even back then he wanted to be a part of a championship program.
"We live and breathe football," Loughridge said. "This is what we look forward to."
When the season ended last year in such uncharacteristic form, Loughridge said the rising senior members of the team vowed to return the Tigers to their accustomed place as one of the elite programs in Class 3A.
"We made a statement after last year that we were going to lead the team and be the best that we could be," he said. "That meant stepping up to make plays and doing the little things right, even when no one was looking and holding each other accountable."
Kendrick, who is 49-5 in five seasons at Charleston with two state championships, said the turnaround this season would not have been possible if the senior class had not dedicated itself to what the coaching staff was trying to establish.
"It comes back to accountability," Kendrick said. "Them holding each other accountable, and holding the coaching staff accountable in terms of not easing up on anything.
"We have a quote that says 'Aim for perfection, but fall short upon greatness,' and that's truly the mentality that they have bought in to."
The last time Charleston took the field at War Memorial Stadium, it was Loughridge who came up with the key play that sent the Tigers to a 33-26 win against Smackover. Loughridge forced a fumble that set up a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
Loughridge said he had confidence the team would rebound from last season's disappointment and restore the Tigers to their place as a state title contender this season.
"I was thinking before the season that anything less than getting to this point was going to be a disappointment," Loughridge said. "We knew we were capable of doing it, we just had to go out there and execute."
Sports on 12/10/2016