By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola Tiger team and fans can just about taste a 10th state championship title after a 38-6 beat down of Madison Central for the North State championship Friday night.

After missing a trip to the state championship last year for the first time since 2001, South Panola Tigers (12-2) were determined.

The win earned the Tigers a trip back to Veterans Memorial Stadium for the 6A state championship game where they will face the eighth ranked Brandon Bulldogs who upset the third ranked Petal Panthers 35-23.

Championship Schedule
The 6A game will kick off at 7 p.m. after the 1A contest between north’s French Camp Academy and South’s Stringer at 11 a.m. and the 2A championship between the North’s Eupora and South’s Bassfield.
Other state championship games on Saturday include the 3A championship at 11 a.m. between neighboring Charleston, who returns as defending champion and from the South, Hazlehurst who played for the 3A title last year. Class 4A pits North’s Noxubee County against Greene County at 3 p.m. The last state championship will pit 5A North’s Starkville against Pascagoula.

SP vs Madison Central
After making the two hour road trip south to Madison Central, fans were met as they entered the stadium by a large wooden sign that read “University of Madison Central,” a take-off of the Tiger’s moniker.

But it was the University of South Panola that had full control of the game from kickoff, dominating every phase.

South Panola scored on its first three possessions leading 21-0 with 7:38 left in the first half.

Junior quarterback Rip Kirk connected with tight end Ryan Lee on a 19-yard touchdown pass and running back Darrell Henderson scored on touchdown runs of eight and three yards. Henderson finished the game with 15 carries for 115 yards.

With 23.5 seconds left in the first half, the Jaguars scored their only touchdown of the game when Jake Schwartz connected with Keith Williams on a six-yard pass but the extra point attempt failed after the Jaguars received back-to-back false start penalties and kicked from the 20-yard line.

Senior Ladarius Strong made his way through the Jaguars’ defense to score a 45-yard run with 1:50 left in the third for the 28-6 lead.

Strong rushed 17 times for 70 yards.
 
Tiger Clayton Sibley kicked a 23-yard field goal with 8:51 left in the game for a 31-6 lead.

Kirk finished the scoring when he connected with DeAndrea Harris for a 62-yard strike. Harris finished with five receptions for 106 yards.

Sibley went five of five on PATs.

“That’s about as good of a complete football game we’ve played in a long, long, long time,” Tiger head coach Lance Pogue told the team afterwards. “Every phase of the game was clicking tonight with the offense, defense and kicking game and that’s what it takes. One guy goes out but another steps in and that’s the way it’s done guys. You did it with heart and with guts.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of you,” Pogue continued. “I told you early in the season when the waters got a little rough if you stick together, hang in there, you’d be right here. And you did it! But please understand there is one more left and it’s about 10 miles south of here.”

Tony Conner said, “This feels lovely. We had a downfall last year but regrouped, stayed as a team, came back and got it.”

Offensively the Jaguars never got in rhythm against the Tigers.

“We watched the film on them and studied it every day really hard,” Conner said. “Then we went on the field and practiced real hard every day this week. We’re playing really good football right now.”

“This is such a blessing and what every senior looks forward to,” said senior offensive lineman Deon Mix. “The difference in this game was the trash talking and the willingness to win. We know how Madison Central talks every year and they’re a competitive team and we expect it every year. This year we wouldn’t be denied. We aren’t settling for anything less than a state championship.”

As far as the sign Mix said he didn’t take it personally but everybody wants to be a University but there’s only one South Panola.

Kirk completed 17 of 24 passes for 232 yards with two touchdowns.

“Winning the north half championship is an incredible feeling and I would’ve never expected to be here on this stage and playing for this team. It’s been hard because of all the naysayers but I came out every day, got better and better and proved them wrong. Tonight’s atmosphere was different than all the other games and Madison Central came ready to play but we were more ready.”

The Tigers dominated the game with 465 total yards while the defense held the Jaguars to 74 yards, of which only 15 came in the second half. The Tigers had 21 first downs and the Jaguars four.
Each team had three penalties. The Tigers controlled the ball for 29:07 minutes while the Jaguars had 18:53 minutes.

Pogue said the turning point of this game was on Monday.

“I thought we had a great plan and I could sense it on Monday,” he said. “It was one of those weeks that if you could draw it up on paper you’d keep it forever because it got better on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as the week progressed. I knew our game plan was out of sight on every phase of the game. I thought we dominated from start to finish and we’d be too much for them with the speed and ability.”

Tevis Flowers led the defense with six tackles. Matthew Davis followed with four and one sack. LaKeddrick Flowers had three and a sack. Darrell Davis had two tackles and two sacks for 13 lost yards. Dashawn Lindsay had three tackles and three deflections. Stephen Sanford had three tackles.