STEENS — After waiting three weeks for its first victory of the prep football season, Immanuel Christian School was willing to wait three and a half hours Friday night.
Playing perhaps the most dramatic football game of the season, Immanuel Christian held off New Site High School 82-80 in seven overtimes.
The teams combined for two strong offensive nights in regulation time alone. However, that play ended in a 34-34 deadlock.
Each team scored a touchdown in each of the seven overtime periods. The Rams (1-3) made a two-point conversion stop in the seventh overtime to secure the win.
Immanuel battled back from an early 12-0 deficit on a 4-yard touchdown run and 65-yard interception return by Justin Tate. The Rams finally pulled even in the third quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from K.C. Cunningham to Joshua Dantzler.
A few plays later, Immanuel took its first lead at 26-20 on an 85-yard punt return by Tate. Cunningham sprinted for a 78-yard touchdown run to give the Rams a 34-26 lead. The lead was short-lived as New Site (0-3) battled back to tie. The Rams tried to win the contest early but ended regulation on the Royals’ 3-yard-line.
In the overtime periods, Cunningham ran for touchdowns of 6, 10, and 5 yards. The sophomore signal-caller also found Dee Young on a 10-yard touchdown, Dantzler on a 10-yard touchdown and Dee Young on a 10-yard touchdown. The decisive score was a 10-yard run by Tate, followed by two-point rushing keep by Cunningham.
Cunningham rushed 16 times for 118 yards, with four rushing scores. In the air, Cunningham completed 14-of-22 passes for 191 yards and four additional scores. Dantzler ran 13 times for 29 yards, while Tate ran 15 times for 22 yards, with two rushing scores.
Dantzler caught six passes for 69 yards, with two touchdowns. Tate had three catches for 48 yards, while Omar Aquil had three catches for 29 yards. Young had two catches for 35 yards.
Linebacker Luke Hudson led the defensive charge with 13 tackles. Dantzler, Young, Cunningham and Aquil had five tackles apiece.
Immanuel returns to Mississippi Association of Independent Schools action Friday night with a Class 2A, District 2 contest at Canton Academy.
n West Lowndes 27, Ethel 14: At Ethel, a monster night by senior defensive back Devonta Koger sparked the defense as the Panthers put won the Class 1A, Region 3 opener for each team.
Koger was credited with 14 tackles as West Lowndes (2-2, 1-0 region) made a 13-0 halftime advantage stand up.
Breshon Brooks added seven tackles, while Phytrel Williams and Ronnie Porter each added six tackles. Koger also had a fumble recovery.
“We played well as a defensive unit,” West Lowndes coach Anthony King said. “We have been trying to get more players involved and I thought we did that in this game. We did a good job of limiting big plays and played with more confidence.”
Justin Stephenson was 9 of 13 for 111 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Eric Harris rushed 10 times for a team-high 104 yards, with a touchdown. Stephenson hit Dearius Douglas and Harris for passing touchdowns. Jevontrae Williams and Justin Stephenson each had rushing touchdowns.
Harris had three receptions for 44 yards, while Mack Smith also had three receptions for 16 yards.
“Offensively, we had a good start,” King said. “The kids got some confidence early and it carried over for the rest of the game. When you play on the road, it is important that you get a couple of things to go your way early.”
After back-to-back losses, West Lowndes will carry some positive momentum into this week’s open date. On Sept. 21, West Lowndes will play host to East Oktibbeha in the first of seven straight region games to finish the season.
n Hamilton 52, Hatley 8: At Hamilton, the Lions were looking for someone to step up after quarterback Quinshay Heard went down with a separated shoulder in last week’s loss to Kossuth.
Senior running back Deion Howard answered that call.
Howard rushed for 14 times for 323 yards, with four touchdowns, as the Lions improved to 2-2.
The Lions struck quickly as Howard scored two first-half touchdowns and Hamilton led 31-0 at the intermission.
“We had to make some changes to the offense this past week,” Hamilton coach Ray Weeks said. “They had a hard time tackling Deion, so we made sure to get him the ball as much as we could. We did more play-action passing and it worked to our advantage.”
Hamilton had a full week to prepare with senior Seth Dement as the new signal-caller. Hamilton did use more play action and also made Howard the feature back on some pass plays and option plays out of the backfield.
Junior running back Pallas Fair added 24 -yard touchdown run. Dement also found Cole Richardson on a 27-yard scoring play.
Trailing 31-0, Hatley (0-4) scored its lone touchdown on the first possession of the second half. The Lions moved the contest back out of doubt on scoring runs of 82 and 37 yards by Howard. The Lions also recorded a safety, helping cap a solid all-around night by the defense.
“Defensively, we played really well,” Weeks said. “It was the most complete game we have played this season. I thought we attacked the football and really forced the issue.”
Hamilton will look for its second straight win Friday night with a home game against undefeated Houston. The Lions then complete non-region play with a contest at Walnut. Those additional contests will help Hamilton get its timing down pat before Class 2A, Region 2 play begins.
“Seth (Dement) and Cole (Richardson) really work well together,” Weeks said. “Now it is a matter of getting more practice time and getting a rhythm established, so we will be ready for region play.”
n Hebron Christian 38, Clinton Christian 28: At Clinton, Hebron Christian coach David Foster was concerned about the offensive abilities of Clinton Christian.
“I knew they had some players who could make some plays,” Foster said. “When I saw them in person, they were even better then they looked on film. Earlier in the year, they scored 62 points on Victory Christian, so I knew we would have our hands full on defense.”
Offensively, Hebron Christian (4-0) received a strong night from Taylor Coggins, who ran the ball 17 times for 76 yards and caught four passes for 67 yards. Coggins had a two-point conversion run, as well as an 81-yard kickoff return for touchdown.
Austin Foster scored three touchdowns, with 14 rushes for 87 yards, including a 32-yard receiving score. Foster ran for two rushing scores and added a two-point conversion rush.
Will-Corben Rogers was 7 of 9 for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Rogers also ran 10 times for 76 yards, with two two-point conversion runs. Rogers also hit Ryan Moore for a 63-yard passing touchdown.
“We played really well,” Foster said. “Offensively, we had some turnovers. We had a couple of good drives and shot ourselves in the foot. So that is something we need to work on. But it was really hard to find something to complain about. The kids have been doing everything we asked them to do.”
Foster led the Eagles’ defense with 16 tackles. Coggins had 14 tackles, a sack, and an interception. Ryan Moore also had 14 tackles, while Collin Moore had eight tackles.
“They had a couple of really good backs,” Foster said. “When they got to the edge, they were pretty much off to the races. The key for us defensively was to keep them in the middle of the field. I thought we did a really great job of that.”
Hebron Christian, which matched last season’s win total with Friday’s victory, will play host to Mt. Salus Friday night for homecoming.
n Sebastopol 42, East Oktibbeha 20: At Sebastopol, East Oktibbeha trailed by one score entering the fourth quarter. Sebastopol then erupted for four fourth-quarters to put away
For East Oktibbeha (1-3, 0-1 region), quarterback Justin Williams hit Juwan Roberts on touchdown passes of 46 and 45 yards. Williams also scored on a 12-yard rushing touchdown.
Sebastopol (2-1, 1-0) grabbed a 8-6 halftime lead after Cody Shaw hit Luther Burks on a 55-yard touchdown pass. In the second half, Colton Tharp had three rushing scores, and Shaw called his own number for another pair of rushing scores.
East Oktibbeha plays host to Ethel in another region contest Friday night.
n Manchester 27, Oak Hill Academy 6: At Yazoo City, Oak Hill Academy dropped its second straight after opening the season with a pair of wins. This contest was the Raiders’ first loss inside MAIS Class 2A, District 2 play.
The Raiders (2-2, 1-1 district) will play host to Winona Christian Academy Friday night.
n Marvell (Ark.) Academy 62, Central Academy 0: At Marvell, Ark., the Vikings (0-4) lost starters Jacob Craig, Steven Lane, and T.J. Coleman to injury in their road loss Friday night.
Turnovers gave Marvell Academy too many short fields for Central Academy to stop.
Central Academy will play host to Kemper Academy on Friday night for Homecoming.
WEST ALABAMA
n Aliceville 39, Hale County 0: At Aliceville, Ala., the homestanding Yellow Jackets piled up 530 yards of total offense in offense while winning their Class 2A, Region 4 opener.
For Aliceville (1-1 overall, 1-0 region), quarterback Jocarious Spruill was 14 of 30 for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Robinson led the receiving corps with four catches for 126 yards, including 69-yard touchdown. Christopher Crowell had six receptions for 106 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown catch. Spruill also found Jeremy McMullen on a 43-yard scoring play.
Aliceville’s balanced offensive attack also included a potent ground attack. McMullen led the way there with 19 rushes for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Darrion Manning also ran five times for 52 yards.
Defensively, Aliceville allowed only 106 yards of total offense and forced five fumbles.
David Hughes paced the Yellow Jackets with 10 total tackles, while Jerquindez Hill added nine tackles and both Oscar Sommerville and Thomas Colvin added seven tackles apiece. Jarrell Lee and Dalvin Smith each had two fumble recoveries, while David Hughes had the other. Hill, Smith, Jakari Garner, Kadarius Little and Willie T. Phillips each had a sack.
Aliceville took the game’s first possession 79 yards on two plays for the score. The quick start helped lead to a 20-0 advantage at the intermission.
Aliceville remains in region play Friday night with a road trip to Sulligent.
n Pickens Academy 39, Southern Academy 14: At Greensboro, Ala., Pickens Academy rushed for 395 yards as the Pirates stepped outside of region play to roll past Southern Academy.
Quarterback Josh Lewis was a one-man wrecking crew as he rushed 14 times for 297 yards. On the ground, Lewis scored on touchdown runs of 87, 19, and 83 yards. The junior signal-caller threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Reese McGlawn and a 24-yard touchdown pass to Phil Fikes. Garrett Estes added a 4-yard touchdown run.
Defensively, Cody Scott and Chase Britt each had a team-high seven tackles.
After winning three games all of last season, the Pirates have matched that total with this season’s 3-0 start.
Pickens Academy will look to keep things rolling Friday night when it plays host to South Choctaw Academy.
n Sulligent 28, Cold Springs 7: At Bremen, Ala., after a tough night offfensively in its season opener, Sulligent made major strides while winning its Class 2A, Region 4 opener.
Senior Deion Jenkins led the offensive attack for Sulligent (1-1, 1-0 region). Jenkins ran 13 times for 102 yards and also totaled four catches for 89 yards. In the air, Jenkins caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from Ladadrick Coleman, while also scoring on a 1-yard run.
Jamar Plant followed in the rushing attack for the Blue Devils, with four rushes for 61 yards. Plant scored on runs of 4 and 20 yards. Coleman was 7-for-12 passing fo 106 yards.
Sulligent will travel to Aliceville for another region showdown Friday night.
n Oakman 41, Lamar County 24: At Oakman, Ala., despite rushing touchdowns from Tim Harton and Cullen Carter,Lamar County still came up short in its Class 2A, Region 4 opener.
Brice Miles also added an interception return for touchdown for the Bulldogs (1-1 overall, 0-1 region).
Lamar County will remain in region play Friday when it plays host to R.C. Hatch.
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