Chargers Heading Back to Title Game

Timber Creek is heading back to the championship.

One season after running the table and winning a Group 3 title, the Chargers are one win away from earning a Group 4 crown.

No. 1 Timber Creek advanced to the championship by way of a 32-22 win over No. 4 Shawnee, Friday night. The final score didn’t represent how dominant the Chargers were for much of the game. Timber Creek built a 32-10 lead before Shawnee clawed back in the game with a pair of fourth-quarter scores.

Junior quarterback Junior Dan Williams stayed hot, completing 14 of 21 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Williams entered the game with seven touchdowns in his last two contests.

The Chargers set the tempo for the game early in the first quarter when senior running back Khalil Pierce scored on a 1-yard run. Later in the quarter, senior Bryce Shade pushed the lead to 13-0 with a 3-yard touchdown run of his own.

Shawnee responded by scoring the next 10 points, but Timber Creek went up 20-10 at the half when senior Zaire Williams found the end zone on a 2-yard run. Timber Creek put the game away in the third quarter thanks to a couple of touchdown passes from Williams. The Chargers’ quarterback hit Adonis Jennings for a 62-yard score and then connected with Kevin Casey on a 17-yard touchdown.

Shawnee entered the game short-handed, with leading rusher Rob DiOrio out with a high ankle sprain. Senior quarterback Andrew Bertolino then left the game late in the second quarter after being sacked. Freshman quarterback Michael Welsh stepped in and went 6-13 for 76 yards and three touchdowns.

Timber Creek will face the winner of No. 6 Kingsway and No.2 Lacey at Rowan, Friday night. The two teams meet today, at 1 p.m.