SP v Starkville
Published 12:00 am Friday, November 7, 2008
By Angie Ledbetter
The South Panola Tigers took advantage of Halloween night giving the Starkville Yellowjackets a 56-22 treat.
On an 85 game winning streak, the Tigers defeated the Yellowjackets for win #10 of the regular season.
The Tigers dominated all phases of the game Friday night. They racked up a total of 494 yards on 52 plays. On the ground the Tigers had 318 yards and 176 in the air. They finished with 21 first downs, one fumble lost, five penalties for 35 yards, two interception returns for 83 yards, one punt return for 34 yards and two kickoff returns for 90 yards. Time of possession for the Tigers was 23:02.
Junior running back Nicholas Parker had 162 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns for the night. Junior running back Domonique Carothers had 75 yards on nine carries with one touchdown. Sophomore running back Qyendairs Griffin had 72 yards on eight carries with one touchdown.
Quarterback David Renfroe completed 11 of 12 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. He punted once for 34 yards.
Receiving the ball was wide receiver Nicklos Brassell for 77 yards on three receptions and two touchdowns. Xavier Lee had four receptions for 47 yards, Reuben Corley had two for 18 yards, Anthony Ladd had one for 18 yards and Taylor Rotenberry had one for 16 yards.
Nicklos Brassell had two kickoff returns for 90 yards with one touchdown. Kendrick Market had 1 interception return for 83 yards.
The Yellowjackets ended the game with 378 total yards on 60 plays, three penalties for 21 yards, two punt returns for 42 yards and eight kickoff returns for 131 yards.
The Tigers put the first points of the night on the board with 5:35 in the first quarter when Nicholas Parker took the ball from three yards out and Renfroe’s PAT was good. A few minutes later, Renfroe connected with Brassell for a 20-yard touchdown and the PAT was good to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Parker scored on a long 59 yard run with 9:15 left in the second quarter but with the blocked PAT, the Tigers led 20-0.
Minutes later Griffin took the ball 56 yards for another Tiger touchdown and the two-point conversion by Brassell was good to put them up 28-0. Carothers scored on a one-yard run with 38 seconds left in the first half and Renfroe added his PAT to put them up 35-0 at the half.
The Yellowjackets got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Tillery caught a five-yard pass from Johnson with 6:30 on the clock but the PAT failed. Minutes later, Parker answered on a one-yard run touchdown and Renfroe’s PAT put the Tigers up 42-6 at end of fourth.
The Tigers scored the first touchdown in the fourth when Brassell connected with Renfroe on a 25- yard pass and the PAT was good.
The Yellowjackets answered with a touchdown when Agnew scored on a 29-yard touchdown. The PAT by Akins was good.
Brassell returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards to score. With Renfroe’s PAT the Tigers led 56-14 with 6:59 left in the game. The Yellowjackets scored the last touchdown of the game with 4:39 left on the clock when Tillery caught a 27-yard pass from Johnson. The 2 point conversion by Young was good.
Tiger head coach Lance Pogue started substituting players. With 59 seconds left in the game, Kendrick Market intercepted the Yellowjacket’s pass and took it deep into Yellowjacket territory. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the nine-yard line.
“As far as the streak, we don’t mention it,” Pogue said. “Everybody is proud of it within the school, community and town but it doesn’t make any difference right now.
“What you’ve done in the past means nothing now. Playoffs are here and it’s going to be a fun time. There are a lot of good teams out there but we think we’re one of them.”
Starkville always fields a good football team but Pogue said they are “down a little bit” this year. Playing in Starkville was a concern, but he was pleased with the way the Tigers responded and got off to a fast start in scoring.
“We’re 10-0 and it gives us complete control of the division championship. It puts us in good shape going into the playoffs. We have one more regular season game and we’re one week away from playoffs. I like where we stand but we still have a ways to go.”