The Charleston Tigers will be playing in front of their home fans against the Hamilton Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Charleston will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
Charleston is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They strolled past Philadelphia with points to spare, taking the game 44-25. The Tigers' offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.
Charleston's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Quay Kimble led the charge by picking up 97 receiving yards and a pair of TDs. The bulk of those receiving yards came from one huge play: a catch that gained an incredible 79 yards. Marcus Flowers Jr was another key back, rushing for 87 yards and one touchdown on only ten carries.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Hamilton). They blew past Strayhorn, posting a 55-6 victory. The Lions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four matchups by 24 points or more this season.
Charleston better keep an eye on Justin Verner. He was instrumental in Hamilton's win, rushing for 78 yards and three scores on only eight carries, while also throwing for 220 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 75% of his passes. Verner's passing game has become a key predictor of the Lions' success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-3 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Ian Nichols, who picked up 114 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Hamilton's win bumped their record up to 8-3. As for Charleston, their victory bumped their record up to 7-2.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Charleston has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 173.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hamilton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 175.7 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Charleston against Hamilton in their previous matchup back in November of 2023, as the team secured a 50-18 win. Do the Tigers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Lions turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
