Rebels advance in OT, win 9th straight playoff game

Southern Sports & Travel

Tri-County head football coach David Blount summed it up in three simple words following the Rebel’s 20-17 overtime playoff win over Silliman on Friday night. “Success breeds success.”

Quarterback Trey Bozeman scored from 1 yard out in overtime to give third ranked Tri-County a 20-17 win over seventh ranked Silliman last night in Flora, Mississippi before another huge crowd. It was Tri-County’s ninth straight playoff win dating back to 2011.

Bozeman scored twice on the night and MAIS leading rusher Ryan Cothern ran for 120 tough yards on 36 carries and a touchdown as Tri-County improved to 10-1 and will head to Centreville next week to take on top ranked Centreville, a 59-34 winner over Oak Hill on Friday night.

“It was kind of what we expected,” said Blount. “We expected them to be big and physical, but we’re a pretty good football team too.”

Silliman hit first in the contest with a 9 play, 65 yard drive on the Wildcat’s opening possession of the night. Fullback Marquell Smith capped the drive with a 3 yard run at the 6:28 mark of the quarter.

Daniel Myers’ PAT gave Silliman an early 7-0 lead.

Tri-County threatened on the ensuing possession but penalties and an interception by strong safety Keifer Bourgeois at the Silliman 13 yard line halted the 10 play drive with 36 seconds left in the opening quarter of play.

Tri-County produced another 10 play drive in the second quarter, this one would result in points.

Ryan Cothern scored from 1 yard out to finish a drive that was preserved on a critical 4^th and 4 fake punt conversion when a direct snap to Trey Bozeman caught Silliman off guard.

Tucker Millican’s PAT knotted the contest up at 7-7 with 3:37 remaining in the half.

The ensuing kick-off proved disastrous for Tri-County as Silliman senior Collen McDowell went 77 yards to put the Wildcats back on top.

Myers would add the PAT to give Silliman a 14-7 advantage that they would take into intermission but the Wildcats would score no more.

Tri-County caught Silliman off guard once again to begin the second half recovering an onside kick but the Wildcat defense would stop quarterback Trey Bozeman 1 yard short six plays later on a 4^th and 5 in the redzone to preserve a 14-7 lead.

The Rebel defense forced Silliman’s offense into a quick three and out on the ensuing possession and Tri-County started taking control of the game.

Ryan Cothern returned a Tabary Cucullu punt 17 yards to the Wildcat 40 yard line to set the table for what would prove to be the biggest play of the game.

Tri-County struggled to find cracks in the Silliman defense but on a 3^rd and 7 from the Wildcat 28 yard line quarterback Trey Bozeman connected with senior wide-out Baylor Travis who made a highlight film catch over a Silliman defender in the endzone to pull Tri-County to within a point at 14-13 with 5:17 left in the quarter.

Tucker Millican’s PAT tied the game at 14-14.

Silliman’s attempt to break the deadlock failed as a Daniel Myers 47 yard field goal attempt fell short with 2:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Tri-County appeared to have taken their first lead of the night at the 4:40 mark of the fourth quarter when Ryan Cothern returned a Silliman punt 66 yards for an apparent touchdown but a block in the back infraction negated the score.

Silliman looked primed to make a late game drive after Caleb Jackson intercepted a Trey Bozeman pass at the Wildcat 9 yard line with 1:40 remaining in regulation but two plays later Tri-County would regain possession as senior linebacker Barrett Shepard picked off a Zach Kelly throw and returned it to the Silliman 9 yard line with 1:08 to go.

Three Ryan Cothern running plays advanced the football to the Silliman 4 yard line where Tri-County set up for a game winning 21 yard field goal but Tucker Millican’s attempt went wide left as time expired in regulation with the contest tied at 14-14.

In the overtime period fullback Marquell Smith plowed forward for a quick 7 yards to the Rebel 3 yard line on Silliman’s first play from scrimmage but the Tri-County defense stiffened and would hold the Wildcats to a Daniel Myers 25 yard field goal.

Ryan Cothern would return the favor on Tri-County’s possession with a 7 yard gain to the 3 yard line. Cothern followed that with a 2 yard push to the Silliman 1 yard line to set up Bozeman’s keeper for the game winner.

“Our defense played the biggest role tonight,” said Tri-County junior tailback Ryan Cothern. “We matched up well on defense and rose to the occasion; this was one of the most physical games I’ve played in.”

Cothern rushed for 120 yards on 36 carries and scored once and had 4 receptions for 51 yards while senior signal-caller Trey Bozeman went 14/25 for 135 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 25 yards and a score.

“Trey had a good game,” said Tri-County head coach David Blount. “He made the big plays when we needed big plays.”

Tri-County, ranked third in the Class AA Southern Sports & Travel rankings, has had a dominating run the past four seasons with a 50-2 mark including two straight Class A State Championships and three consecutive state title game appearances.

“The kids just aren’t gonna quit,” said Blount

Tri-County held Silliman (7-4) to 134 yards of total offense on the night.

Todd Micah Bourgeois rushed for 23 yards on 4 carries, Marquell Smith 19 yards on 5 carries and a touchdown.

Silliman quarterback Zach Kelly went 6/10 for 73 yards and rushed for 8 yards on 4 carries.

Next up for third ranked Tri-County is round two play at top ranked Centreville on Friday night.

Tri-County has won 22 of their last 23 games away from home.

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Post Game with Tri-County Head Coach David Blount