Tigers continue winning ways with win over Raymond

The Tigers ran their winning streak to three games with a 35 – 6 Homecoming win over Raymond Friday night.
“I felt like we started off slowly,” said Head Coach Johnny Young, “but Jamario (Benson) dialed up some great pass plays and got us going. We still need to get better. For one thing, we had too many penalties, and we’re going to work on that this week.”
Young also expressed appreciation for the great Homecoming crowd and all that has been and is being done behind the scenes by parents and fans to help build a successful football program at the school.
Crystal Springs opened the scoring halfway through the first quarter. A 45-yard completion from Jamario Benson to Demonterius Kendrick spotted the ball at the Raymond two.
 Benson turned the corner around right end for the touchdown on the next play. Wanner Paiz was perfect on the extra point as he would be four more times on the night.
Crystal Springs drove 68 yards midway in the second quarter for their second touchdown. Benson had runs of 25 and 12 yards to set up a 6-yard touchdown by Gabriel Brown.
Raymond’s only score of the night followed shortly on an 80-yard touchdown pass that would have gone incomplete if the Tiger defenders had knocked the pass down instead of going for the interception. Dionysius Hines blocked the extra point try.
Benson hit Joshua Windom with a short pass on the Raymond 40 yard line and Windom raced through the center of the Raymond defensive backfield for the touchdown to give the Tigers a 21 – 6 lead at the half.
Adarius Benson made one of his two interceptions early in the third quarter and Jamario Benson promptly hit Kendrick for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 28 – 6.
Jamario Benson’s third scoring strike of the game went to Jeremy Archie from 30 yards out to end the scoring at 35 – 6.
The Tiger defense dominated Raymond for the entire game.
The front four of Devin Clark, Zack Moore, Jared Jones, and Jakavis Taylor set the tone in the trenches and cleared the way for the linebackers and defensive backs to enjoy a field day.
Clark had 5 unassisted tackles and assisted in 12 others.
Linebacker Devonta Cunningham had 8 unassisted tackles and 14 assists. Both Taylor and linebacker Calvin Moore covered fumbles to stop Raymond drives.
Jamario Benson’s 164 yards led all runners. His offensive line of Tabrois Brent, Jakavis Lewis, Patrick Evans, Ladarrius Smith, and Victor Willis gave him plenty of running room and good pass protection for the entire game.
The Tigers close out their non-district schedule this Friday night with a trip to Canton High School, a school that has a 2 – 1 record with their only loss coming to state powerhouse Meridian two weeks ago. Canton enjoyed an off week last week and has had two weeks to get ready for Crystal Springs.
“They have a very strong running game,” Young said.
“They’re going to try to grind it out on us.”
Crystal Springs has a bye week after the Canton game and will start district play at Jefferson County on September 28.