WEST POINT — The Oak Hill Academy football team celebrated Homecoming in grand style with a dramatic 17-14 victory against West Memphis Christian in Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) action Friday night.
The school also celebrated its 50th anniversary with past Homecoming queens, former board members, and other alumni being recognized.
Grayson Easterling kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Raiders to the win.
“It was a close game the entire night,” Oak Hill Academy coach Chris Craven said. “It was back and forth. The night was full of third-and-longs for both teams. That is how well the two defenses played. If you broke a big play on offense you got excited because it did not happen very often.”
Oak Hill Academy built a 7-6 halftime lead thanks in large to a couple of big defensive stands. Mac Nowell, Macon McBrayer, and John Carver Middleton led the defensive effort. Craven also said the play of Kyle Tabor at an end position was key since West Memphis ran a lot of option.
“We did a great job of keeping them off the end,” Craven said. “I thought Kyle had a great night all night. John Carver had a couple of big tackles for loss setting up punting situations. West Memphis was a lot better than they were last season, so we had to play really well.
“We had a really great atmosphere, and I am glad the kids got to win an exciting game like that in front of everybody.”
The Oak Hill Academy touchdowns were an 8-yard run by Middleton and a 15-yard run by McBrayer. The Raiders rallied from a 14-7 deficit for the win.
Oak Hill Academy (2-2) will remain at home for a date with Marshall Academy (2-2) on Friday night.
n Caledonia 30, Okolona 16: At Okolona, the Confederates took the road win, putting a damper on the first game played at the Chieftans’ new field.
Caledonia sprinted to a 24-0 halftime lead. Spencer Unruh got things started with a 1-yard touchdown run. Spencer then hit Jamel Thomas for a 50-yard touchdown.
“You are worried about a fast start when you have had a week off,” Caledonia coach Andy Crotwell said. “For that reason, it was good to start strong like that. The defense really set the tone and helped us control field position.”
The defense then got into the act with a 10-yard interception return by Robert Hamilton early in the second quarter. Caleb Comer followed with a 32-yard field goal.
In the second half, Caledonia’s Gkywan Johnson caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Unruh.
Unruh was 8 of 14 for 132 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Thomas had three receptions for 72 yards, while Zion Ford had two catches for 38 yards and Hamilton had three catches for 22 yards.
The Confederates ran for 121 yards. Ford had 14 rushes for 84 yards.
“We have made progress each week, and that is what you want to see from your football team,” Crotwell said. “It’s a big rivalry game up next and the kids should come in here ready for a great week of work.”
Caledonia (2-1) will play host to Lowndes County rival New Hope (2-1) Friday night.
n West Lowndes 48, Biggersville 0: At Biggersville, the Panthers rolled to victory in their MHSAA Class 1A, Region 1 opener.
Scoring on five-straight possessions to start the game, West Lowndes built a 34-0 halftime lead.
Marcus Farmer scored on touchdown runs of 30 and 34 yards. Quinshawn Lucious scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Casey Smith. Smith added a 34-yard run in the second quarter. A 4-yard run by Kemario Evans created the halftime score. Also in the half, Kentrell Guyton had a two-point conversion run and Guyton caught a conversion pass from Smith.
In the third quarter, Evans had a 78-yard run. Adolphus Brewer then capped the shutout with a 28-yard fumble return touchdown. Zacchaeus Williams had the final points of the game on a two-point conversion run.
Farmer ran for 116 yards and his two scores. West Lowndes had 350 yards of offense. It allowed 105.
West Lowndes (3-1, 1-0 region) is open Friday night. It will return to action Sept. 23 in a region game at Falkner (0-4, 0-0).
n Calhoun City 43, Aberdeen 12: At Calhoun City, the Bulldogs couldn’t build on last week’s victory and fell to the Class 2A power Wildcats.
The Bulldogs had a strong first half offensively and only trailed 24-12. The Wildcats moved to 3-1 by scoring three second-half touchdowns.
For Aberdeen, Frederick Fields hit Jordan Gillespie on a 32-yard touchdown. Dajoun Rogers scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter.
Keshun Parker scored on runs of 38 and 85 yards, while Joseph Gray had a 3-yard touchdown run and 19-yard touchdown reception from Tyrese Quinn.
The Wildcats also received a 12-yard touchdown run from Jesse Nabors and a 1-yard touchdown run from Treshon Cooper.
Aberdeen (1-3) will play host to Itawamba Agricultural High (3-0) on Friday night.
n Tupelo Christian Prep 34, Columbus Christian 14: At Steens, a fast start by the Eagles hurt the Rams’ cause at home.
Tupelo Christian (3-1) scored on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter. Columbus Christian came back to close the deficit to 14-8 at halftime. Both teams scored in the third quarter before the Eagles scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull away.
For Columbus Christian, RJ DeLoach scored on a 5-yard run and Rashawn Gibson scored on a 26-yard run. Kimarri Whitfield had a two-point conversion run.
Bo Robertson threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Tupelo Christian. Robertson hit Cade Hall for 28 yards, Rob Pillow for 11 yards, and Troy Berry for 50 yards. Robertson called his number on a 3-yard keeper. John Mark Jolly also scored on an 18-yard run.
Columbus Christian (1-3, 0-0) will open MAIS Class A/AA, District 2 play Friday night when it plays host to Winona Christian School (3-1, 1-0).
n Russell Christian 54, Victory Christian 36: At Meridian, Gavin Forrester threw four touchdown passes Friday night, but the Eagles dropped this Christian Football Association (CFA) game.
Forrester connected with Jordan Payne on touchdown passes of 66, 7, and 11 yards. He also hooked up with Kody Anthony on a 50-yard scoring play. Forrester was 9 of 22 for 195 yards. He also threw an interception.
Payne paced the Eagles on the ground with 11 carries for 77 yards. He also had four catches for 116 yards. Garrett Anthony added seven carries for 26 yards. He had two catches for 25 yards and an 80-yard kick return for a score.
Marlon Clay led the way with seven tackles. Payne and Kody Anthony had six, while Garrett Anthony had five.
Victory Christian (2-2, 0-2) plays host to East Memorial Christian Academy (1-2, 0-1) Friday night.
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