FERRIDAY — Down 42-0 at halftime, Delta Charter head coach Jarrett Hoffpauir challenged his team, asking for them to grow up and play up to their capabilities.

The Storm answered the call, scoring a touchdown and allowing just 14 points in the second half. Ultimately, it was a 56-6 loss, but Hoffpauir said it wasn’t all bad.

“We played better in the second half,” Hoffpauir said. “We were tired, but that is no excuse. We were run down a bit, but in the second half, we played to the best of our ability. They are a big and strong team that wore us down in the first half.”

The Storm found themselves in an early hole after giving up a touchdown on Oak Grove’s first drive of the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Delta Charter fumbled the ball, one of their four fumbles on the night, and it was recovered by the Tigers. Four plays later, Oak Grove was in the end zone again.

“We had way too many turnovers and penalties,” Hoffpauir said. “I’m not sure how many penalties we had, but it was a lot. It was just mental stuff, stuff that we can control. We have to correct that.”

On the second play of the second quarter, Oak Grove was once again in the end zone, this time on a 55-yard punt return.

An interception on the ensuing Storm drive gave the ball back to the Tigers, who once again marched down the field and capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run from Jaylan Holt, his third of the night. Holt was the leading rusher for Oak Grove with 138 yards on 16 carries.

Delta Charter’s lone score of the game came on their second drive of the third quarter.

After allowing a fumble return to go for a touchdown, the Storm took over at their own 40-yard line and went to work.

Freddie Mango carried the load most of the way on the drive with some big runs, and quarterback Trey Poole capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Woodruff.

Poole finished the game 8-of-16 for 90 yards and a touchdown, along with two interceptions.

Woodruff led the team in catches with four, going for 32 yards.

“A handful of guys really gave it their all tonight,” Hoffpauir said. “Poole and Woodruff played well and so did Freddie Mango. I preach effort. You can control effort, and we had some guys hang their head a bit in the first half, but we did better in the second half, and we’ll learn from it.”

The Storm were without four starters in the game, and Hoffpauir said it is crucial Delta Charter can get back to full strength as soon as possible.

“We didn’t have much depth tonight,” he said. “That was really tough on us. Playing with just 13 guys all night long really wears on you.”

Looking ahead, Hoffpauir said it was paramount the Storm shake off the loss.

“Next week we are focusing on moving on,” Hoffpauir said. “That is going to have to be our deal. You can’t dwell on the past, and we’ve talked about that, the kids understand where we are as a program. Every week, it is our motto to get better.”