By Angie Ledbetter

 The top ranked South Panola Tigers used their balance attack on the road for the second straight week to shut out the Clarksdale Wildcats 34-0 on Friday in a mud bowl. The field was in bad condition due to heavy rains but that did not hold back the Tigers’ running or passing game.

The Tigers racked up 372 yards in total offense, including 101 passing yards, while the defense held the Wildcats to only 60 total yards.

“To start off 2-0 on the road is big from a lot of factors,” said head Coach Lance Pogue. “From my standpoint just for the confidence, it’s big. We gained some confidence in the first two games but we can’t afford to let up. We have a lot of room for improvement and we want to continue to do that. It’s so early in the year and we had some guys playing for the first time. That was a positive thing. We’re out of our comfort zone and the other team was in theirs.”

As far as seeing improvements each week, Pogue has been pleased. “There is no question from the jamboree in Louisville I thought we improved in some areas and at Vicksburg. I thought hands down we were better this week from an offensive stand point. We didn’t have as many penalties and we managed to hold on to the ball a lot better. We just have to continue to do that.”

The Tigers got off to a slow start with the passing game in the first half but the running game took up the slack.

Junior running back Dominque Carothers scored the first touchdown on a two-yard run with 9.2 seconds left in the first quarter. The Tigers led 7-0 after the PAT by David Renfroe was good.

Quarterback Renfroe then stepped up to his task and scored on a 12-yard keeper. With his PAT, he put the Tigers up 14-0 at the half.

In the second half, the Tigers just kept digging a bigger hole for Clarksdale to try to to climb out of and used the clock wisely.

With 6:25 on the third quarter clock, the Tigers faced a third down and goal from the three. Tiger tailback Nicholas Parker caught a pass from Renfroe to put the Tigers up 21-0 after the PAT.

With a little over nine minutes left in the game, Renfroe went down on the field but got up.  He had to come out for one play and backup quarterback Lee Self made his entrance on the field as the new Tiger quarterback.

Minutes later, Renfroe returned to the field and the Tigers had a first and goal on the four. Renfroe held on to the ball and made his way into the endzone for his second touchdown of the night.

With the PAT, the Tigers led 28-0.

After the kick, the Wildcats fumbled the ball and Tiger defensive lineman Marjarvin Chapman recovered it on the 46 yard line, but the Tigers did not capitalize on the turnover and punted it away.

Pogue substituted the younger players in the game with 4:58 on the clock and Self returned as quarterback.

Thirty-nine seconds later, sophomore Qyendairs Griffin scored on a 15-yard run.  

Griffin was flagged for celebration. The PAT was good to give the Tigers a 34-0 lead and the win.

“I think the younger guys who came in did well,” Pogue said. “It was their first legitimate action. They got a little at Vicksburg but not much. I thought they did well and it’s always good to give those guys the opportunity because they practice hard all week, too. I hope we have some more chances like that.”

Pogue said they played good defense.

“I was proud of them,” he said. “We gave up 60 total yards, a handful of first downs and created a few turnovers.

“They were real physical toward Clarksdale’s offense but we have plenty to do,” Pogue continued. “We have to continue to keep getting better on defense. After the first two ballgames, my concern so far has been some young guys playing in the defensive backfield but I think they have held up real well.”

Pogue believes the offensive line has built up some confidence with two games under its belt.

“After two games, overall I’ve been pleased,” he said. “We ironed out a lot of mistakes that we had in the Vicksburg game. We want to continue to get better.”

Renfroe was named Rivalry Student Athlete before the game and was presented a certificate on the field. Beside him were his parents Laddie Renfroe of Olive Branch and Kim Renfroe of Batesville.

During halftime, former South Panola standout Derek Pegues received the Great American Rivalry Hall of Fame Trophy. He was inducted into the Great American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame presented by the U.S. Marines Corps. He is currently a senior playing for the Mississippi State Bulldogs as a safety.

His mother and stepfather, Darren and Candice Fondren, his father and stepmother Ezell and Jeanette Pegues and his son Derek Pegues Jr. were on hand to receive his trophy. After the game, Nicholas Parker was named the game’s  Most Valuable Player and presented a trophy.

Head Coach Lance Pogue received the Rivalry Series Championship Trophy for the team and each team member received a Great American Rivalry Series Champions cap.