By Myra Bean
South Panola was having a pretty smooth game with Hernando when the great equalizer showed up in the second quarter. Despite the rain and wet footballs, the Tigers walked away with a 32-7 district win.

Though rain was threatening and delayed the Southaven/Tupelo game for two hours and 15 minutes in Tupelo, the rain did not make an appearance in Hernando until right at the beginning of the second quarter. The steady drizzle lasted through the third quarter.

South Panola is preparing for another district rival contest against Tupelo on Friday at home. The two have a storied history and despite Tupelo’s 3-4, 1-2 record, memories are long between these teams. Tupelo lost in overtime to Southaven 13-7 Friday night in a game that did not end until 11:27 p.m. Kickoff in Robert H. Dunlap Stadium is 7 p.m. The coach’s call-in show with Tiger head coach Lance Pogue is Thursday at 6 p.m. and can be heard on WBLE 100.5 FM.

SP vs. Hernando
Despite the positive outcome of the game, the Tigers had some mistakes and problems.  The first point after attempt was missed but it was not clear if the wind was a factor. The Tigers did not convert the two-point attempt after the second touchdown. Also, special teams lost two balls on fumbles.

Regardless, the Tigers amassed 331 total yards of offense, 218 rushing, 113 receiving. Senior quarterback Tyler Pogue completed six of 11 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Donald Twilley, who led the receivers with 68 yards on three receptions, scored on a 54-yard pass from Pogue in the second quarter with 55.3 seconds left. The two-point conversion run by Quadarius Shivers capped a five-play, 99-yard drive. On the punt, Hernando downed the ball on the one.

Also on the receiving end of a touchdown was senior Devyn Pegues on a three-yard grab from Pogue with 8:09 on the first quarter clock. That touchdown opened the scoring for the Tigers, but the extra point kick was missed giving the Tigers a 6-0 lead. The play covered 12 yards in four plays.

The Tigers got the ball on the 12 after a bad snap on a Hernando punt sailed over the punter’s head and was downed deep in Tiger territory.

With 6:21 left in the first quarter, senior linebacker Derrick Sanford caused a fumble and senior defensive back Turner Rotenberry recovered on the Tiger 35 yard line. Sanford had four tackles on the night, one for lost yards. Seven plays latre Oluwain Hoskins scored from 31-yards out on a run with 3:25 to go. The two-point conversion pass attempt failed and the Tigers led 12-0.

Hernando avoided the shut out with a 26-yard pass reception with 6:33 to go in the half. The PAT cut the Tiger lead 12-7. Hernando got a second chance on the drive as they recovered the Tiger fumble on the punt at the Tiger 35-yard line and drove down the field for the touchdown in six plays.

Twilley’s touchdown in the second quarter gave the Tigers a 20-7 lead going into the halftime.
 In the third quarter, the Tigers were set to punt but instead, the snapper found Demetrius Market in the wildcat formation. Market, senior athlete, raced 53-yards for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. The touchdown capped a five-play, 63-yard drive as the two-point pass attempt failed for the 26-7 lead.

Market had 57 yards on four carries and one touchdown on the night.

The last touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Hoskins with 8:05 remaining to cap a seven-play, 60-yard drive. The PAT failed. The drive was aided by a 35-yard pass from Pogue to Love McBride to the one-yard line, his only reception of the night.

Hoskins had 108 rushing yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns to lead the rushers.
Other rushers included Shivers, 22 yards, four carries; Patrick Shegog, 13 yards, one carry; JaMichael Robinson, 12 yards, two carries; and Jamian Johnson, five yards, two carries.
Cole Rotenberry also had one catch for seven yards.

The defense once again held up the steady attack of a much-improved Hernando offense. O’Bryan Goodson and D. J. Hall led the defense with eight tackles each. Goodson also had a sack, and three tackles for a loss yards. Hall had two tackles for lost yards and a fumble recovery.

JaTerrion Draper recorded seven tackles.

The rest of the defense recording tackles include: Drelan Porter, five tackles, one for loss; Jaylon Ford, five tackles; Kentravius Benson, four tackles, one sack; Eriq Kitchens, four tackles, one for loss, two sacks; and Kasey Hankins, three tackles, one sack. Getting two tackles were Cole Rotenberry, Turner Rotenberry and Taiwan Obey. Turner Rotenberry also had an interception and a fumble recovery.

Getting one tackle each were Shivers, Kenon Johnson, James Johnson, Gerrian Key, James Ellis and Maurio Love. K. T. Pegues also had an interception.