In what may go down as one of the more heart-stopping games of the season, the Callaway Chargers held on for a 27-26 win over the Mendenhall Tigers Thursday night, a game that saw lead changes, big plays, and a heroic effort from backup signal-caller Kaiden Sparks.
The contest was tightly contested from kickoff. Neither team could claim dominance for very long, and momentum swung several times. Callaway struck first, but the Tigers responded. The Chargers’ offense found life at home, while Mendenhall rallied behind big gains through the air and a staunch defense that forced Callaway to grind out drives.
Jatavius Page was effective on the ground throughout the game, rushing for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 carries.
Late in the fourth quarter, Mendenhall appeared to take the lead when Henry Funchess hauled in an 18-yard pass from Sparks to make it 26-21 with about six minutes remaining.
But Callaway answered back, engineering a drive that culminated in a score to pull ahead 27-26 — and that proved to be the margin. The Tigers had an opportunity in the red zone late in the fourth quarter but failed to convert.
While much of the spotlight had gone to the starters, backup quarterback Kaiden Sparks turned in one of his best performances, keeping the Tigers in striking distance throughout. His stat line is impressive: 314 passing yards, one touchdown, and an average of 13.7 yards per attempt.
Receiver Henry Funchess also had a strong night, pulling down 93 receiving yards and scoring once. He was central to Mendenhall’s passing attack, helping turn passes into chunks of yardage when needed.
Mendenhall now falls to 3-2 with this loss; prior to the game they had been riding a three-game winning streak.
The Tiger defense, which had been giving up about 14 points per game, was tested but held tough for much of the night.
That slim margin came down to execution in the fourth. After Henry Funchess’s touchdown put Mendenhall ahead, Callaway’s response was swift and effective. Mendenhall had chances in the final minutes — drives, plays, opportunities — but couldn’t quite seal the deal. A missed stop, a big run, or perhaps just fatigue might have been the difference.
Though the Tigers came up just short, there is much to build on. Kaiden Sparks showed poise under pressure in relief, and the offense showed explosive potential. Mendenhall will take this one as a learning experience — proving they can compete with a strong team on the road in high-stakes moments.
