By Angie Ledbetter

Before a standing room only crowd, Olive Branch handed South Panola a 24-6 loss that ended a 10-year win streak for the Tigers.

This was the annual Great American Rivalries Series game sponsored by the United States Air Force.
The Great American Rivalries trophy was presented to the Conquistadors and senior quarterback Todd Mays was awarded the Most Valuable trophy.

Mays completed nine of 17 passes for two touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown.

From South Panola, fullback/tightend Hunter Lawrence received the Student Athlete Award, a $500 college scholarship, for having the highest grade point average on the team.

Lawrence said, “I received a $500 scholarship from Rivalry tonight for the highest grade point average on the football team. I’m a senior and been a starter for three years. I want to thank them for it and I really appreciate it. I’ll use the money wisely.”

Former Tiger Marvin Burdette was inducted into the 2011 Hall of Fame for the South Panola-vs-Olive Branch series during halftime Friday night. Burdette is a junior linebacker with the University of Alabama-Birmingham and could not be present to receive his award. His parents, Brenda and Marvin, accepted the award on his behalf.

Marvin sent a message from Birmingham to his parents, “Mom when you and dad step on that field tonight to accept that award for me I want you to think about how you and dad have raised me because that’s what I do whenever a reward is presented to me. I thank God for blessing me with two wonderful parents such as you two. And this is the real reason why I do what I do. I love you two with all of my heart and no matter what the award says I dedicate that award to you and dad for all your hard work and for being  great parents. I love yall.”

The Tigers (2-3) dropped to 1-1 in division play while the Conquistadors improved to 2-0 and stayed undefeated 6-0.

South Panola head coach Lance Pogue said he has to give credit to Olive Branch.

“Our kids tried so hard and played hard and wanted to win so bad but Olive Branch has a really good football team and played better than we did. They have all of those senior players that have been playing a long time. Mays, Cowan and Miller made some plays.”

South Panola failed to make some plays and breaks, according to Pogue.

“We didn’t make enough plays and had a couple of chances to make some breaks but didn’t. When you don’t do that,  you give a team with that many weapons the opportunity to keep hanging in there. They hit a couple of big plays which was a concern of mine all week.”

A few seconds into the game Tevis Flowers connected with DeAndrea Harris on a very long pass to the Conquistador’s 24 but an illegal procedure call negated the play.

“That kind of hurt when you scratch and fight so hard to make a big play and you need some momentum to get the crowd going,” Pogue said. “The timing of it was bad but that’s how football goes. Then we had a chance one time for an interception I thought we might could’ve run back and score and things like that.”

The only score for the Tigers came in the first quarter when sophomore running back Quandez Lee scored from five yards out, capping a six-play, 35-yard drive with 2:47 on the clock. The PAT failed as South Panola enjoyed a 6-0 lead.

Olive Branch answered with one second left on the clock when Mays connected with Jaylen Miller on a 53-yard pass. With the PAT by John Pittman, Olive Branch took a 7-6 lead.

At the half, Olive Branch had a 14-6 lead after Mays scored on a two-yard run and the PAT.

Olive Branch scored two more times in the second half but held the Tigers scoreless as they broke the 14-game losing streak to the Tigers.

The Tigers had 191 total offensive yards, including 121 rushing and 70 passing while Olive Branch had 311 total with 85 rushing and 226 passing.

Tony Conner led the team with 16 rushes for 70 yards. Lee had 14 for 37 with one touchdown. Tevis Flowers was six of 16 for 70 yards and four interceptions. Ron Taylor had four receptions for 33 yards. Shaquille Simmons had one for 24 yards.  

On the defense Issac Gross led the team with eight total tackles and one sack. Kendall Carr had five tackles with two sacks and LaKeddrick Flowers had five tackles.

“I thought overall, defensively we played good. It was about three big pass plays that made a difference and we just didn’t make the play.”

South Panola will be back on the road to face Columbus (4-2 overall, 1-1 district), who is coming off a 35-7 loss to Southaven last Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.