Class AAA Divisional State Championships

Magnolia Heights School Chiefs

Senatobia, Mississippi

Head Coach: Cliff Young – Sixteenth season

Overall Record: 9-2

District 1-AAA-II Champions

Southern Sports & Travel ranking: #4

Points scored per game: 34.5

Points allowed per game: 18.7

Win streak heading into championship game: 5

State Championships: 4 (1977, 2001, 2002, 2006)

Key player: Travis Beam – JR RB – 1,726 yds rushing – 157 ypg – 22 tds

Lamar School Raiders

Meridian, Mississippi

Head Coach: Mac Barnes – Thirteenth season

Overall Record: 10-3

District 2-AAA-II Champions

Southern Sports & Travel Ranking: #5

Points scored per game: 33.4

Points allowed per game: 17.5

Win streak heading into championship game: 1

State Championships: 2 (2003, 2007)

Key player: Davis Harrison – FR QB – 732 yards rushing – 10 tds - 2,116 yards passing – 19 tds

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Last meeting: 2007 – Lamar defeated Magnolia Heights 42-13 in semi-finals

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Common opponents:

*Starkville:

Lamar 35 Starkville 3 – Magnolia Heights 20 Starkville 8

*Oak Forest:

Oak Forest 34 Lamar 14 – Magnolia Heights 40 Oak Forest 10

*Heritage:

Lamar 24 Heritage 21 – Magnolia Heights 47 Heritage 13
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Most points scored in a game in 2013: Magnolia Heights 75 - Lamar 69

Most points allowed in a game in 2013: Magnolia Heights 48 - Lamar 41

Defensive shutouts in 2013: Magnolia Heights 0 – Lamar 1

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Southern Sports & Travel pick to win: Magnolia Heights
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Jackson Academy Raiders

Jackson, Mississippi

Head Coach: David Sykes – Fourth season

Overall Record: 10-2

District 1-AAA-I Champions

Southern Sports & Travel ranking: #1

Points scored per game: 36.9

Points allowed per game: 8.0 (Second best in MAIS)

Win streak heading into championship game: 10

State Championships: 9 (1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011)

Key player: Duncan Maxwell – JR RB – 1,445 yds rushing – 128 per game avg – 15 tds

Jackson Prep Patriots

Jackson, Mississippi

Head Coach: Ricky Black – Seventeenth season

Overall Record: 11-2

District 2-AAA-I Champions

Southern Sports & Travel Ranking: #2

Points scored per game: 33.2

Points allowed per game: 13.2

Win streak heading into championship game: 5

State Championships: 19 - (1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012)

Key player: Gene Wood – JR QB – 1,547 yds passing - 18 tds – 205 yds rushing – 11 tds

Last meeting: 2013 (Week 8) – Jackson Academy 24 Jackson Prep 14

Teams have split the past ten meetings
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Common opponents:

*MRA:

Jackson Academy 30 MRA 20 – Jackson Prep 19 MRA 13 & Jackson Prep 24 MRA 21

*Presbyterian:

Jackson Academy 42 Presbyterian 13 – Jackson Prep 35 Presbyterian 19
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Most points scored in a game in 2013: Jackson Academy 58 – Prep 64

Most points allowed in a game in 2013: Jackson Academy 24 – Prep 32

Defensive shutouts in 2013: Jackson Academy 4 – Prep 2

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Southern Sports & Travel pick to win: Jackson Academy

Trinity embarking on school’s sixth championship

Southern Sports & Travel

It was August 30, week two of the MAIS 2013 football season, and the Trinity Saints had made the 50 mile drive to Centreville, Mississippi to take on the Centreville Tigers who were coming off a 35-14 win over defending Class AA state champion Brookhaven.

One year earlier, also week two, Centreville had embarrassed Trinity 37-6 and that game was still fresh in the mind of Trinity head coach Josh Loy.

Loy, about to complete his second season as head coach at the Natchez school, knew the history associated with Centreville football and their legendary head coach Bill Hurst. Additionally, with only 17 players dressed out on the sideline not many would have given the Saints a snowball’s chance at winning against the perennial power on their home field.

What transpired over the next 48 minutes of football was a dominating 44-18 win that included a running clock in the second half of the game but the domination came from the squad dressed in black and red and that game would ultimately be the one that defined the Trinity Saints for the entire season.

Josh Loy has done a remarkable job since replacing David King who departed for Adams Christian.  Loy, who was an assistant under King in 2007, has put up a 20-5 mark in two seasons and with one game remaining he hopes win number 21 comes this Saturday afternoon against second ranked Marshall.

Loy’s 12-0 Saints will be playing for the school’s sixth state championship on Saturday and the 33 year old Cathedral High graduate gave his insight on several topics regarding his squad a few days ago. . Trinity Head Football Coach Josh Loy

Colonels fall 34-6 to Simpson in semi-finals

By Watson Cook

A storybook season came to an end last Friday night as Indianola fell to Simpson Academy 34-6 in the AA semifinals. IA finished the season with an 11-2 record, the most wins for a Colonel team since 1975.

The Colonels, a heavy underdog on the road, could not have asked for a better start to the game. Taking the opening possession, Jonathan Holland connected with Wheeler Timbs on the fourth play of the drive for a 58-yard touchdown. Will Lang's PAT was missed and left the Colonels up 6-0 with 10:24 to play in the first quarter.

Simpson answered on its first series. Quarterback Mason Herrin capped a 46-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 6:04 mark. Andrew Berry's PAT gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead. After a Colonel three-and-out and an excellent punt return, the Cougars only needed two plays to go 7 yards and extend their lead to 13-6 on Herrin's 1-yard touchdown plunge. Berry's PAT was missed and left Simpson with a 7-point lead with 3:46 to play in the quarter.

The Colonels were forced to punt again on their following possession but pinned Simpson deep in their own territory at the 10. On the second play of the drive a Cougar fumble was recovered by the Colonels at the 8 yard line. However, the Colonels would not take advantage of the gift they were given, turning the ball back over with a fumble after a 3-yard gain on 1st down.

Simpson then drove 90 yards on 9 plays. Daniel Taylor's 11-yard touchdown run put the Cougars up 19-6 (2-point run failed) with 9:00 to play in the first half. Following the kickoff, the Colonels started their drive from their own 20. Three plays into the drive, Holland's pass was picked off at the IA 46. Twelve plays and six minutes later, Herrin added his third touchdown of the night, a 3-yard run with 0:15 to play in the half. A 2-point pass from Herrin to Taylor put the Cougars up 27-6 heading into halftime.

IA was handed another gift to open the second half as the Cougars fumbled the kick return. The Colonels recovered at the Simpson 38. On 4th and 1 from the 29, the Colonels came up just inches short and turned the ball over on downs. IA would have one more crack at cutting into the Cougar lead as Hunter Vance intercepted a Herrin pass on the following Simpson possession. The Colonels took over at their own 41. After picking up a 1st down thanks to a personal foul penalty, the drive stalled with another turnover on downs at the Cougar 33.

The Cougars added their final touchdown two possessions later on their first series of the fourth quarter. Herrin's fourth touchdown of the night, a 2-yard run with 9:17 to play gave the Cougars a 34-6 lead (Taylor PAT), which would hold to be the final score. With the win, the Cougars advanced to the AA state championship game November 22.

Nine Colonel seniors wore the blue and white for the final time; Reed Downs, Andrew Garrett, Ashton Knight, Tristan Knight, Carey Marshall, Dalton Sykes, Michael Sykes, Wilson Reed, and Hunter Vance.

The Wolverton era ends at Leake

Southern Sports & Travel

It was 1975 and a young Dolye Wolverton had taken over a girls basketball program at a private school in Madden, Mississippi nestled in the heart of Leake County. In the six years prior to Wolverton’s arrival the Leake Academy girls program had posted solid results under head coaches Larry Therrell and Dale Williamson with a 123-33 mark during that span which included postseason appearances in all but one season.

Four district titles were earned but those squads never advanced past the semi-final round in the state tournaments.

Wolverton would post a 24-7 record his inaugural season but still the Leake Rebelettes failed to advance past the semi-final round at the state tournament.

In Wolverton’s eighth season not only did Leake finally clear the hurdle of winning a semi-final game, they also won their first state championship and advanced to the Overall Championship Tournament quarterfinals.

Three seasons later Leake would produce arguably the most dominant stretch of basketball in the history of the MAIS.

In a five year run from the 85-86 season through 89-90 Leake went 183-8 while winning back-to-back Overall Championships, 4 Class AA State titles and Overall runners up on 2 occasions.

Those seasons also produced some of the best talent in the history of the MAIS such as Susan Byrd, Ashley Harkins and Kim Kemp.

Leake would claim its’ fifth state title in 1992 and two seasons later earned another state championship and their third Gold Ball while posting a 37-1 mark.

Two more Gold Ball trophies would make their way to Madden, Mississippi in 1999 and a decade later in 2009.

That 1999 Leake squad posted a 46-0 record and won a Class AAA State Championship and is considered by many as the best MAIS girls team ever. That group included Amanda Gulley, Stephanie Thornton, Chenoa Coleman, Emily Dees, Amy Barrett, Lori Cumberland and Sue Chennault.

Leake would enter a six year stretch between the 99-00 season through 04-05 with no Overall or State crowns but what followed would be another historic stretch of MAIS girls basketball that may never be matched.

The Leake Rebelettes totally dominated the Class AA landscape from 2005 through 2012 winning seven consecutive state championships and one Overall crown while posting a 281-15 record.

Wolverton, who was in the early stages of his 39^th season as head coach at Leake Academy, resigned on Monday following accusations of biting one of his players during a heated time-out in last week’s game at Columbia Academy.

Wolverton was not exclusively relegated to basketball but also served as athletic director and softball coach.

What happens over the next several days with regards to this unfortunate occurrence will play out on its’ own but there is no debating that Leake Academy has been turned upside down in the past week and divisions have been made but as one Leake insider said on Monday night; “I’ve been around Leake Academy my entire life, went to school there, and Coach Wolverton has been there the entire time. He was a big presence on that campus and things will certainly be different but everyone is accountable for their actions in life.”

Boys basketball coach Phil Shepard has taken over the Leake Rebelette team who are currently ranked second in Class AA with a 5-0 record.
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Statement from Leake Academy Headmaster Jerry Crowe

On Monday, November 18, 2013, Leake Academy’s headmaster Jerry Crowe accepted the resignation of longtime girls’ basketball coach Doyle Wolverton.

“We are saddened by the departure of Coach Wolverton who has been an integral part of the success of Leake Academy’s girls basketball program. However, at this juncture, we have accepted his resignation and are moving forward,” Crowe said.

“Men’s had coach Phil Shepard will serve as the interim girls’ coach. Because this is a personal matter no further comment will be made,” Crowe said.
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Statement from Doyle Wolverton
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Leake Academy board of directors, headmaster, coaches, and the Leake Academy family for the many years of support and kindness that they have shown. I also want to thank the many players, present and past, which I have been fortunate enough to coach in my career. For the betterment of the school and all parties involved, I have turned in my resignation to Leake Academy. I wish all the players and the school the best and thank them again for the thirty-nine years that I had at Leake Academy.”

Raiders run Brickyard streak to 42

By Bryan Eubank

For the fifth straight season Jackson Academy advanced to the AAA-1 State Championship Game as they won their 42nd straight game at The Brickyard in a 42-13 decision over Presbyterian Christian School on Friday night. It was also the fourth straight year JA has beaten PCS to advance to the Title Game. The Bobcats scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 49yd run by Fate Eiland, but were limited to two field goals the rest of the way as the JA defense totaled a season high 7 1/2 sacks.

Duncan Maxwell carried the load with 185 yards on 19 carries and 2 TDs. Daniel Kennedy and Hayden Tierney also scored on the ground for the Raiders. In the air, Nick Conley was spectacular finishing 6-for-8 for 116yds and 2 TDs. Both TD tosses were to David Ford who picked up his 10th and 11th TD catches of the season. The Raider offense eclipsed the 300yd mark for the eleventh time on the season while racking up 40+ points for the fourth time. Also, the offensive line collected their fourth sack-free game.

Defensively, four Raiders got into double digits in tackles: Sam Rayburn (15), Sam Thomas (12), Wyatt Powell (11), and Hayes Walker (11). Colin Welsh secured the thirteenth interception on the year for the JA defense. It marked the ninth straight game with an interception for JA. The Raiders now have a +10 turnover margin for the season. JA also held the Bobcats to 2-for-11 on third down conversions and 1-for-2 on fourth down conversions. JA has outscored their opponents 443-96 and has only given up ten 3rd Quarter points all year.

The Raiders will take on Jackson Prep on Friday, November 22nd in the MAIS AAA-1 Championship. Kickoff is at 7:00pm. The Countdown to Kickoff Pregame Show will start at 5:00pm on SuperSport 930.

Wolverton’s future at Leake in question

Southern Sports & Travel

An incident that reportedly occurred during last Tuesday’s varsity girls basketball game with Columbia Academy resulted in a report being filed with authorities in Leake County later that night and has fueled speculation about the future of girls head basketball coach Doyle Wolverton.

Wolverton, who is the second winningest girls high school basketball coach in the nation, has a 39 year record of 1,249-181 while at Leake Academy.

The incident in question occurred during a second quarter timeout in last week’s game at Columbia in which Wolverton is accused of biting a player on the face.

The parents of the player took her to a Carthage hospital upon arriving home later that night.

Reports from authorities claim a photo taken of the player’s injury were consistent with bite marks.

A call to Leake Academy Headmaster Jerry Crowe for comment has gone unreturned as of  the posting of this story.

Wolverton did not coach in Leake’s 71-33 win over Sylva Bay on Saturday.
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NOTE: Shortly following the posting of this story Southern Sports & Travel received confirmation that Coach Doyle Wolverton resigned from all his positions at Leake Academy.
Boys head basketball coach Phil Shepard will coach the girls until further notice.

Gateway Tire & Service Center Player of the Week

Photo courtesy of Nathan Dixon

Magnolia Heights tailback Travis Beam is the Gateway Tire & Service Center Player of the Week.

The 5'10", 210 lb. junior rushed for 314 yards on 16 carries and 5 touchdowns in leading the Class AAA and fourth ranked Chiefs to a 40-10 Division-II playoff win over Oak Forest this past Friday night in Senatobia.

"Travis is an outstanding running back," said Magnolia Heights head coach Cliff Young. "He has the speed and quickness it takes to play running back  along with the mentality of a full back. He has a tremendous work ethic and is a fierce competitor."

Beam is the fifth leading rusher in the MAIS with 1,726 yards and has hit pay-dirt 22 times this season.

The senior will lead Magnolia Heights this Saturday night against fifth ranked Lamar for the Class AAA Division-II State Championship.

Tigers maul Apaches, Simpson matchup set

Southern Sports & Travel

In 2008 the Centreville Tigers advanced to the Class AA state championship game and won the school’s eighth football title by defeating Kirk Academy 28-10. It’s been five seasons since the perennial power has play for a state championship but following a 55-12 dismantling of fourth ranked Glenbrook on Friday night the Tigers will again play for a state championship, this one number nine.

In last week’s playoff win over Tri-County starting quarterback Casey Haygood sustained a season ending ankle injury that required surgery. Many had written off the Class AA top ranked Tigers after receiving the devastating news that one of the premier quarterbacks in the MAIS would be unavailable against high powered Glenbrook.

Step in Centreville freshman quarterback Britt Netterville.

Netterville didn’t set the world on fire in the Tiger’s dominant win over Glenbrook on Friday night but the freshman tossed two touchdown passes and most importantly didn’t make any costly mistakes in guiding the Tigers to 55 points, the team’s second highest scoring output of the season.

File photo

“There was a good bit of concern but we knew that he was very capable,” said Centreville assistant head coach Brian Stutzman. “We had a lot of confidence he could handle the situation and he did a great job.”

Making Netterville’s job that much easier was Glenbrook’s introduction to Bill Hurst football, to the tune of 426 rushing yards.

Centreville tailback John Marcus McDowell led the Tiger ground game with 185 yards on 17 carries and 2 touchdowns, Tyler Caston added 91 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown and Mark Curry rang up 85 yards on 14 carries and 2 touchdowns.

“That was our game plan whether Haygood was at quarterback or Netterville,” said Stutzman. “We felt if we could control the ball and didn’t have any turnovers we would be successful.”

Netterville did what was asked of him in directing the Centreville offense and went 3 of 4 for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Centreville held a 21-12 advantage at intermission but exploded with 34 second half points to eliminate Glenbrook.

Defensively Centreville did what many have not been able to do, contain Glenbrook senior signal-caller Regan Edwards who led the MAIS in both total touchdowns (56) and passing yards.

“He is the best we had seen on tape,” said Stutzman. “We knew we had to put some pressure on him and flush him out of the pocket, which we were able to do. Our secondary covered well, it was a total team effort from our defense.”

Edwards finishes his senior campaign with 4,141 yards passing and 49 touchdowns through the air to go along with 484 yards rushing and 7 rushing touchdowns.

Against Centreville Edwards was held to 237 yards passing with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Mark Curry, Colby Shaw and Jordan Clark each had an interception on the night.

Friday night’s semi-final win not only sent Centreville back into the familiar setting of the state championship game, it also eased some pain associated with the manner in which the 2012 season concluded.

File photo

After running the regular season table with a perfect 11-0 mark the Tigers were shocked in a first round home playoff loss to Lamar.

“Everyone thought we were going to the state championship last year,” said Stutzman. “This year I don’t know that many gave us credit with just three seniors, but it’s an exciting time for us.”

Centreville enters the Class AA state championship game against second ranked Simpson riding an eleven game win streak.

The last meeting between Centreville and Simpson was in the 2004 Class AA state championship game with Simpson defeating Centreville 45-0.

MRA can’t hang on, Prep scores late to advance

Southern Sports & Travel

With 1:44 remaining in regulation senior quarterback Caleb Shufelt connected with Karter Bounds for a 28 yard touchdown pass to cap an 80 yard, 10 play drive to give third ranked MRA a 21-17 lead over second ranked and defending Class AAA Division-I champion Jackson Prep.

What transpired next was a textbook 81 yard, 10 play drive orchestrated by Prep junior quarterback Gene Wood that ripped the hearts out of MRA and their fans.

Wood hit wide-out Parker Caracci with a 12 yard score with 1 second remaining to propel Jackson Prep into next week’s Class AAA Division-I championship against arch-rival Jackson Academy.

Jackson Prep overcame a horrid first half of play in which the Patriots were held to less than 100 yards of total offense and virtually shut out on the ground.

MRA grabbed the first lead of the night at the 1:15 mark of the second quarter when Caleb Shufelt scored from 1 yard out but Prep mounted what would be a critical scoring drive in the closing moments of the half to grab some much needed momentum.

Prep would move from their own 23 yard line to the MRA 17 in seven plays to set up a Parker Caracci 34 yard field goal to close the half trailing 7-3.

Jackson Prep’s momentum evaporated quickly in the third quarter as MRA took their opening possession and scored on their first snap as junior tailback Zack Everhart sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown to extend MRA’s advantage to 14-3 with 9:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Jackson Prep responded as Gene Wood guided the Patriots on an 80 yard, 6 play drive that culminated on a Wood to Caracci 11 yard hook up at the 8:23 mark of the quarter to trim the deficit to 14-10.

Prep would grab their first lead of the night late in the fourth quarter on an Ian McGraw 3 yard draw play to finish off a 72 yard drive and give the defending champions a 17-14 edge.

Just as Prep appeared to have gained complete control of the contest MRA fired back as Caleb Shufelt guided his squad 80 yards in 10 plays and regained the lead on a 4^th and 4 from the Prep 28 yard line. Shufelt hit Karter Bounds for the score and Austin Scott’s PAT gave MRA a 21-17 lead with just 1:44 left in the game.

MRA’s elation quickly turned sour as Jackson Prep’s Gene Wood conducted a masterful game winning drive to give Prep their sixth straight win over MRA.

Gene Wood went 16/31 for 227 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception to lead Jackson Prep. Ian McGraw rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown and Parker Caracci had 5 receptions for 67 yards and 2 scores.

Junior tailback Zack Everhart led the MRA (8-4) offense with 190 yards rushing on 23 carries and a touchdown and Clint Moses added 70 yards on 14 carries.

MRA quarterback Caleb Shufelt went 10/17 for 125 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.
Jackson Prep was held to 2 yards rushing on the night and 236 total yards.
MRA massed 393 total yards, 267 on the ground.

Jackson Prep improves to 11-2 on the season and will look to win their 20^th state football title next week against top ranked Jackson Academy.

MAIS 8-Man 2012 Championship vacated

Southern Sports & Travel

Russell Christian Academy won the 2012 MAIS 8-Man state championship with a perfect 13-0 record. Included was a 29-28 win over Calhoun in the title game to claim the school’s first ever state championship in football.

In the months following Russell Christian self-reported to the MAIS that it had used two ineligible players during the season.

The MAIS has asked the school to return the state championship trophy and as a result the 2012 8-Man championship will be vacated.

Other sanctions imposed by the MAIS included:

1) Returning all playoff income received during the football playoff series 

2) $300 fine for each of the ineligible players used during the season

3) $200 fine for failure to enter players on the online eligibility list

Calhoun Academy filed an appeal asking that they be awarded the state championship but their request was denied by the MAIS Athletic and Activities Commission.

Russell Christian is no longer a member of the MAIS and has joined the AISA (Alabama Independent School Association).

Raider football finishes season unbeaten on field
By Bryan Eubank
Jackson Academy completed another perfect season in conference play with a 28-0 victory over Washington School in Greenville on Friday night. With the win, the Raiders also won their 32nd consecutive conference game and seventh straight over the Generals as they completed their fourth shutout of the season holding opponents to 7.5 points per game. 
The Raider offense eclipsed the 300 yard mark for the 10th time on the season while racking up a touchdown in each quarter. Duncan Maxwell did most of the dirty work with 135 yards on 22 carries. Daniel Kennedy found the end zone four times with 68 yards on 11 carries. The two seniors have now combined for 1,794 yards and 28 touchdowns. They also dominated with 61 offensive plays and they controlled the clock with 29:31 of possession to just 16:46 for Washington.
Jackson Academy dominated the first quarter with 84 yards on 19 plays while holding Washington to just 3 yards on 6 plays. The second quarter was relatively even in yards while JA held Washington School out of the end zone on four plays from the 1 yard line on an impressive goal line stand. The second half was completely controlled by JA as they outgained the Generals 169 yards to 34 yards.
Defensively, Peyton Adams grabbed an interception for the third straight game and the Raiders now have 12 on the year. The Raider defense also held the Generals to 1-for-8 on third down conversions and 0-for-3 on fourth down conversions.
The JA defense has now collected 9 interceptions in their last 7 games and has at least 1 sack in every game this season for a total of 28 1/2. JA also picked up 11 1/2 tackles for loss in the game for a total of 83 on the year. In their conference games this year, JA outscored their opponents 286-31.

The Raiders will take on Presbyterian Christian School on Friday, November 15th in the MAIS AAA-1 Semifinals. Kickoff is at 7:00pm. The Countdown to Kickoff Pregame Show will start at 6:00pm on SuperSport 930.

Colonels top Leake in 25-24 thriller

By Watson Cook

For the first time in school history, the Indianola Colonels have won consecutive playoff games at home. The Colonels, who trailed the Leake Academy Rebels 24-18 with 5:12 to play on Friday night, used a 14-play, 69-yard drive to set up the game-winning score a week after sneaking past Winona Christian in overtime. With the win, IA will take to the road to face #1 seed Simpson Academy on November 15.

A capacity crowd at Legion Field watched the Colonels build an early 12-0 lead. IA took the opening kickoff and started their first drive of the night from the Rebel 45. Ashton Knight capped the drive six plays later with a 2-yard rumble to put the Colonels up 6-0 (missed PAT) with 9:44 to play in the opening quarter.

Five plays into the Rebels’ first drive of the night, which started at their own 25, Tristan Knight recovered a fumble at the Leake 43 to give the Colonels another short field. The offense took advantage. Seven plays later, Jonathan Holland’s 1-yard quarterback keeper extended the Colonel lead to 12-0 (missed PAT) with 5:15 to play in the quarter. From that point, Leake took over the remainder of the half.

The Rebels responded on their second possession, going 75 yards on 10 plays. Taking advantage of a pass interference call on 3^rd and 1 from the IA 15, Taylor Nazary scored on the next play with a 7-yard touchdown run. John Forrest Sisson’s PAT cut the IA lead to 12-7 with 1:14 to play in the quarter.

A fumble by Hunter Vance on the following IA drive was the first of three straight turnovers for the Colonel offense. After the fumble, the Rebels took over at the IA 35. Eight plays later, Alex Shepard connected with Thomas Nazary from 4 yards out to give the Rebels their first lead of the night. Sisson’s PAT made it 14-12 with 8:40 to play in the half.

The Colonels began their next drive at their own 20. Three plays later, a Wheeler Timbs halfback pass was intercepted at the Leake 39. The Rebels though, were forced into a three-and-out and the Colonels got the ball back after the punt at their own 28. After driving to the Leake 37, Holland was picked off on 4^thand 8, giving the Rebels one more shot to extend their lead before halftime.

As the saying goes, the Colonel defense bent but did not break. After driving 76 yards to the IA 6, the Rebels were held out of the endzone as Chris Harris sacked Shepard on 2^nd goal with 0:05 left on the clock. Harris, a sophomore linebacker, was only getting started as he would come up big for the Colonel defense again in the second half. Leake though, out of timeouts, took a 14-12 lead into halftime.

IA regained the lead on its first drive of the second half. After the defense forced a Rebel punt to open the third quarter, the Colonels took over at their own 12. On the first play of the series, Timbs ripped off a 58-yard run down to the Leake 30. Eight plays later, Knight punched it in from 1 yard out to give the Colonels an 18-14 lead (2-point try unsuccessful) with 5:11 to play in the quarter.

Leake immediately answered. The Rebels drove 70 yards on only 5 plays and took the lead on Shepard’s 24-yard pass to William Johnston. Sisson’s PAT made it 21-18 with 2:51 to play in the third. Sisson then added to the Rebels’ lead with a 25-yard field goal that put Leake up 24-18 with 5:19 to play in the game, setting the stage for one of the most memorable comebacks in recent Colonel history.

Following the kickoff, the Colonels started at their own 31. Using smash-mouth football, the Colonels drove straight down the field using 6 runs apiece from Knight and Timbs. After driving down to the 7, IA faced 4^th and 3 with just under a minute to play. Coming out of a timeout, Coach Nester dialed up the option, which Holland kept around the right side, picking up a 1st down by half of a football. On the very next play Timbs (pictured below) brought the house down with a 3-yard run up the middle to tie the game at 24-24 with 0:45 to play. Will Lang, who had missed his previous PAT attempt, split the uprights with plenty of distance to give the Colonels a 25-24 lead.

The Rebels had little time to work with, starting from their 33. After incomplete passes on 1^st and 2^nd down, Shepard was sacked by Chandler Danna and Ryan Eldridge for a 5-yard loss back to the 28, bringing up 4^th and 15. Harris, who brought down Shepard to end the first half, exploded into the backfield on 4^th down and sent Shepard to the ground before he could get a pass off. The Colonels took over on downs and Holland’s kneel with 0:10 left set off an explosive celebration, both on the field and amongst the hundreds of Colonel fans at Legion Field.

IA, the #4 seed, will travel to Mendenhall Friday night looking to pull the upset of #1 seed Simpson Academy with a spot in the AA state championship on the line. Kickoff is set for 7:00. Look for a preview of the semifinal matchup on Wednesday, November 13.