Tigers manhandle Bears 43-12

By Myra Bean

For the third straight week, South Panola has scored more than 40 points on an opponent.

The Tigers (4-0) took very little time to show the Trezevant Bears who ruled in Mississippi football Friday night with a 43-12 non-conference victory.

With this win, the Tigers extended their win streak to 64 games and sole place in Mississippi history for the longest unbeaten streak. The No. 15 USA Today nationally-ranked Tigers also hold the longest active win streak in the nation.

This game set the upcoming district season for the Tigers as head coach Lance Pogue substituted starters early in the first quarter and gave the inexperienced players some game experience.

Starting tailback Darius “Tig” Barksdale has played about four quarters on offense the last two games. He had 35 yards on six carries Friday night. His total rushing yards for the season is 599.

Barksdale also picked up 109 yards on two receptions and a 66-yard touchdown  Friday night.

Continuing to make his name known on the team is Nicholas “Big” Parker, the leading rusher of the night with 153 yards on six carries. He averaged 21.5 yards per carry. Parker scored two rushing touchdowns.

First Quarter

Before a home crowd of about 5,000, the South Panola defense made itself known early as linebacker Marvin Burdette picked up a fumble and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown with 11:26 on the clock.

Trezevant took the opening kickoff after the Tigers deferred. On third down and 10, Jarred Draper knocked the ball from Trezevant’s Terrell Smith’s hands and allowed the Burdette recovery.

Trezevant did stymie the Tigers on their next possession. The Tigers were fourth and goal from the two and could not score with 1:54 on the clock and turned the ball over on downs.

On second down and eight from the five, Tiger defensive end Terrance Pope chased Smith into the end zone and tackled him for the safety with 1:07 on the clock.

Trezevant then kicked to the Tigersand as time ticked off the first quarter clock,  Parker broke for a 57-yard touchdown run.

With David Renfroe’s PAT (point after touchdown), the Tigers led 16-0 going into the second quarter.

Second  Quarter

Trezevant got the ball on its own 34 yard line after the kickoff.  With 11:36 on the clock, Tiger corner back Montez Austin intercepted the ball and returned it to the five yard line.

On second and goal from the five, Renfroe scored on a five-yard run at the 11:17 mark.  His PAT was good for the 23-0 lead.

Both teams punted their next possessions away.

South Panola got the ball back with 3:58 left in the half on its own one yard line.

Six plays later, Renfroe found Barksdale for a 56-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds left. Renfroe’s PAT was good for the 30-0 score.

Trezevant got the ball on the 35 after the kick went out of bounds. Tiger Justin Carothers tackled the Bears’ Smith for a loss. On second down and 13 from the 32, linebacker Joshua Shipp picked  up a Bear fumble and ran 35 yards to score with six seconds left in the half. With Renfroe’s PAT, the Tigers led 37-0 at the half.

Third Quarter

On the first down after the half, Parker took the ball 75 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed and the score stood 43-0 Tigers.

Trezevant scored one touchdon in the third quarter. The Bears had moved the ball to Tiger territory to the 24 yard line. On a run and a Tiger late hit penalty, the Bears got the ball on the Tiger six.

On a six yard run, Bears Luz Fultz scored with 3:37 left on the clock. The two-point conversion failed as Tiger Ortiss Robertson broke up the pass. The Bears cut the lead 43-6 going into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Coming in as relief quarterbacks for the Tigers were Mario  Nash and then  JePeri Mitchell. Mitchell threw an interception with 6:15 left in the game.

The Bears punted that possession away. South Panola fumbled the punt and the Bears recovered. It was downed on the Tiger 11-yard line. On first and 10 from the 11, Bear Terrance Miles scored on an 11-yard run. The score stood at 43-12 after the two-point conversion run failed.

Stats

The Tigers amassed a total of 428 offensive yards including 166 passing and 262 rushing.

The Bears were held to a total of 91 offensive yards with 44 rushing and 17 passing.

The Tigers were penalized nine times for 96 yards while the Bears were penalized eight times for 48 yards.

Renfroe completed six of nine passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. Nash completed one pass for nine yards.

Making receptions were Nash one for 19 yards; Xavier Lee, three for 29 yards; Barksdale, two for 109 yards and one touchdown; Allen House, one for nine yards.

The  Tigers used 10 backs to carry the ball. In addition to Barksdale and Parker,  other rushers include Jevon Robertson, five carries, 29 yards; Nash, two carries, five yards; Reuben Corley, one carry, no yards; Renfroe, two carries, minus 12 yards; Market,  two carries, five yards; Dominique Carothers, nine carries, 43 yards; Mitchell, two carries, minus one yard; and Cierre Willingham, one carry, five yards.

The Tigers will open the district season on the road in Horn Lake.

Horn Lake has a new high school and stadium on 3360 Church Road.

Horn Lake (3-1) lost its first game of the season Friday to  Ripley 48-27.

In other 1-5A action, Starkville (2-2) lost to Wayne County (4-0) 28-3. Wayne County is on a 19-game win streak.

Olive Branch  (4-0) defeated Memphis Sheffield 50-12.

Tupelo (3-1) downed Madison Central (0-4) 21-3. Hernando defeated Desoto Central (1-3) 14-13, and Columbus (3-1) defeated Greenville-Weston 27-6

Kickoff time is 7 p.m.