Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Bearcat Kaeleb Pedigo scored the school's first touchdown of the season Friday night, rushing for the score in the third quarter of a 48-8 loss to Carmi.
Fellow senior Steven Anderson ran to the same spot in the end zone on the next play to get Christopher two more points, but that would be all the team's scoring for the night.
“The kids executed well during that drive, and we were very happy that we got our first team touchdown of the year,” Christopher head coach Josh McCurren said.
Now, the team will prepare for a visit from Fairfield Friday, a game against a big, physical team that will test the Bearcats’ work on tackling over the next week.
McCurren said his team showed heart Friday night despite the tough loss.
"Our overall attitude tonight was a plus," McCurren said. "Here, they did an outstanding job of keeping their heads up, working as a team, and it showed. I think we'll get better with that.”
The first half put Christopher in a tough spot, finishing by facing a 35-0 deficit to Carmi.
Quarterback Cam Newton connected with Pedigo three times on the Bearcats' third drive, including a 22-yard completion that showed what the team could be capable of in future games.
But a long penalty pulled the team back near the 40-yard-line, and an interception followed. Carmi capitalized once the Bulldogs got the ball back.
“Cam’s a very smart young man. Great teammate. He’s only going to improve,” McCurren said. “Cam’s been a backup quarterback for a couple years, and he’s played nearly every position on our team.”
“He’s learning just like all these kids are,” he said.
The following drive ended with one of Carmi's four first-half touchdowns, this one a 49-yard run by Andrew Burnett, the Bulldogs' most prolific rusher Friday night.
Before the game, the Bearcat players marched arm-in-arm out toward the field with McCurren at their side. And new defensive coordinator and New Orleans Saints Super Bowl champion Anthony Hargrove paced the sidelines throughout helping to fire up his players.
McCurren pointed to a part of the game that doesn’t always get attention from coaches, praising the team’s punting and kicking. Among Anderson’s punts was a booming 60-yarder that helped push Carmi back.
“We have to shore up our coverage, no doubt about it,” McCurren said. “But actually kicking the ball, I think that was a plus.”
