Pats
smother Chiefs to win seventh straight
Southern
Sports & Travel
The
similarities were the same heading into Friday night’s Class AAA matchup
between two top five squads who both were sporting six game win streaks but
third ranked MRA distinguished themselves superior in handing fifth ranked
Magnolia Heights a 28-7 thumping before a large home crowd in Madison.
Madison-Ridgeland
produced a balanced attack offensively in putting up 264 yards through the air
and 116 rushing yards and the Patriot defense held the leading rusher in the
MAIS, Fernando Van Hook, to 101 yards.
MRA
established the tempo rapidly as the Patriots surgically went 80 yards in 7
plays on the opening possession of the night and took a lead on Caleb Shufelt’s
28 yard touchdown pass to senior wide-out Will Trammell less than two minutes
into the contest. Haiden McCraney’s PAT gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead.
After
the MRA defense forced Magnolia Heights into a three and out the Patriot
offense went to work again, this time led by senior quarterback Matt Porter.
Porter
connected with Hunter Gillon for a quick 10 yards to the Magnolia Heights 48
yard line and two plays later hooked up with Will Trammell for 16 yards to the
Chief’s 11 yard line. Porter capped the 57 yard drive on a 13 yard pass to
Trammell with 2:29 remaining in the opening quarter. McCraney’s PAT gave the
Patriots an early 14-0 advantage.
Magnolia
Heights saw the deficit grow in the second quarter. On a second and 22 from
their own 13 yard line MRA linebacker Andrew Werhan intercepted a Luke Young
pass at the Chief’s 9 yard line and rumbled to the 2 before being taken down.
MRA
capitalized on the turnover on the next play as Zack Everhart plowed in from 2
yards out and McCraney added the PAT to give Madison-Ridgeland a 21-0 cushion
with 3:53 left in the half.
Magnolia
Heights finished the half with a shot of momentum as the fifth ranked Chiefs
cranked out a 5 play, 80 yard drive that was culminated on a Fernando Van Hook
45 yard scamper at the 2:53 mark of the quarter. Bo Bost added the PAT and the
Chiefs would enter intermission trailing 21-7.
Neither
squad mounted a scoring threat in a third quarter that saw a turnover from each
squad, a missed field goal and three punts but MRA did close the quarter with
some push that would carry over into the fourth quarter.
The
Patriots increased their lead to 28-7 four plays into the final quarter as
Caleb Shufelt hit Will Trammell with a 10 yard touchdown pass in the corner of
the end zone to finish off a 9 play, 36 yard drive that began in the closing
minutes of the third quarter. McCraney added the PAT and with 10:44 remaining
in regulation MRA had the game in hand as Magnolia Heights never threatened
the rest of the way.
In
winning their seventh straight game MRA improves to 7-1 while Magnolia Heights’
six game win streak is halted and the Chiefs slip to 6-2.
MRA
junior tailback Zack Everhart rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries and a
touchdown to lead the Patriot ground game. Junior quarterback Caleb Shufelt
finished the night going 13/23 for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns while Matt Porter
produced 102 yards on 8/10 passing and a touchdown. Senior wide-out Will
Trammell had 6 receptions for 82 yards and 3 touchdowns and on special teams
senior Haiden McCraney punted 5 times for a 41.6 yard average and went 4/4 in
PATs.
Magnolia
Heights senior tailback Fernando Van Hook rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries
and a touchdown.
MRA
will host Class AA and second ranked Simpson next Friday night while Magnolia
Heights will be idle.
.
