By Angie Ledbetter

After a heated battle, the Clarion-Ledger’s fourth-ranked South Panola Tigers (5-2, 3-0) remained undefeated in district play with Friday’s 21-14 win over Columbus (4-3,1-2).

Tiger head coach Lance Pogue gave a lot of credit to Columbus.

“They’re a good football team and just a shade away from being undefeated and we knew that,” he said. “They were very physical and fast on defense.

“We didn’t play our best game but the positive is we found a way to win,” added Pogue. “We blocked a kick and cashed that in, made enough plays to win and hung on defensively at the end. They’ll get in the playoffs and give somebody fits.”

The Tigers scored all three touchdowns on pass receptions. Junior quarterback Rip Kirk had his biggest game of the season, completing 12 of 19 passes for 238 yards with touchdowns of 99, 22 and 26 yards.

In seven games Kirk has 71 completions on 138 attempts for 928 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I have been really proud of Rip and his development as starting quarterback,” said Pogue. “Our ability to throw the ball has really improved and helped us in a big way.”

Kirk said it felt great Friday night.

“I’ve been trying to help my team win with my arm and I finally got to. I’m just trying to improve from my last performance every week and get better.”

Kirk commented on the three touchdown passes.

“I think it was good and it helps me, but I’m not here to help myself,” he said. “I’m here to help us win. The offensive line gave me plenty of time to throw it and that’s the only reason I was able to throw three touchdowns. The running backs and receivers all did good so everything went right.”

On the 99 yard pass Kirk said, “We were going to run it but then Coach Pogue came up to Coach (Trey) Dickerson and asked him if he thought we could get it over their heads. Coach Dickerson said yes and let’s take a shot at it. The running back made a good play and my line gave me plenty of time to jump back and throw it. I threw it and DeAndrea Harris caught it to score.”          

Harris had five receptions for 124 yards with one touchdown. C. J. Leland had four for 35 with one touchdown. Darrell Henderson had one reception for 26 yards with one touchdown. 

At the end of the first quarter, the game was scoreless. In the second quarter the Falcons punted and downing the ball on the one. On first down and 10 from the one, Kirk connected with Harris on a 99 touchdown and Clayton Sibley added his PAT.

The Falcons answered with 4:00 left before the half when Trace Lee connected with Jimmy Cockrell on a 37-yard touchdown reception and PAT to tie the game.

Columbus’ Trace Lee was sacked by Quandez Lee to bring up a fourth and 17 on their own 24. Columbus attempted a punt which was blocked by Stephen Sanford and recovered by Brady Smith.

Kirk connected with Leland on a 22-yard touchdown pass. With Sibley’s PAT the Tigers led 14-7 lead with 8:46 left in the third.

The Tigers extended the lead with four minutes left in the third on a Henderson 26-yard touchdown from Kirk. Sibley’s PAT was good for the 21-7 lead.

Columbus recovered a Tiger fumble and capitalized on it three plays later scoring with 4:15 left in the game when Lee scored from one yard out. The extra point by Michael Sturdivant was good to cut the lead 21-14.

 “Unfortunately we fumbled and let them score after being up 21-7 and we can’t do that,” Pogue said.

The Tigers ended the game with 274 total yards while the Falcons had 212. Both teams had one fumble. The Tigers were penalized eight times for 80 yards and the Falcons had three for 40. Each team punted five times.

On the defense Dashawn Lindsay had eight tackles, Stephen Sanford seven and a fumble recovery and Matthew Davis seven. Quandez Lee had seven tackles and two quarterback sacks.

South Panola returns to action on the road to rival Tupelo Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff.