By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The battle for third came down to desire.
And it appeared the Craigmont Chiefs simply wanted it more outlasting the Millington Trojans 34-21 Friday night on Mooney Boswell Field.
Both teams will advance to next week’s Class 4A State Football First Round with the Trojans taking on the No. 1 seeded Haywood County Tomcats.
The Chiefs (2-8) winning earned them a trip to No. 2 seeded Lexington. Craigmont’s path toward victory over Millington began with Chief quarterback Deiundre Carter hitting Jordon Lake on a hitch route for a 59-yard TD in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.
Millington (2-8) took the lead a few minutes later with a long drive ending in a D’Monte Kemp 7-yard score. The Trojans were ahead 7-6.
In the second quarter Craigmont took the lead again when Lake scored on a 19-yard touchdown reception.
The Chiefs’ 12-7 lead disappeared late in the second quarter when Trojan Gabe Christopher scored on a 4-yard run. Millington was ahead 14-12 at the 2:52 mark.
Craigmont had the final score of the first half taking advantage of a roughing the passer penalty. Carter made Millington pay when he score on a QB keeper from 2 yards out. The Chiefs were ahead 20-14 at the break.
In the second half Craigmont’s advantage grew to 28-14 when Lake caught his third touchdown of the night from 11 yards out. The Chiefs took the first half kickoff down the field eating up 7 minutes and 46 seconds of the clock.
Millington’s first possession of the second half produced a touchdown but took less time. At the 3:51 mark of the third quarter Christopher was in the end zone from 56 yards out to make the tally 28-21.
That was the score heading into the fourth quarter. Then the Chiefs iced the game when running back Eric Niles ran through the Millington defense for a 23-yard TD run.
The Chiefs won 34-21 and will enter the playoff as the third seed taking on Lexington. Meanwhile Millington will play at Haywood next Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
