The New Hope High School football team took care of its business Friday night with a 31-14 victory against Indianola Gentry in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 1 game at Trojan Field.
The win by New Hope coupled with West Point High”s 21-14 victory at Hernando helped the Trojans secure the No. 2 seed in the region.
The seeding was crucial for New Hope, which will play host to Jackson Callaway on Friday. New Hope defeated Jackson Callaway 34-33 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs in Columbus last season.
“That”s where you want to be. You want to be at home to start the playoffs,” New Hope coach Michael Bradley said. “We are going to be facing a real tough Callaway team. They”ve got some big linemen and some really good running backs and have gotten a lot of good play at quarterback in the second half of the season, and it”s going to be a big challenge.”
The Trojans (7-4, 5-2 region) took control from the start and finished with 351 yards (207 passing yards, 144 rushing).
“We made some big plays but made a lot of mental errors on offense,” Bradley said. “We made some big plays and (Franklin Richardson Jr.) is a playmaker. Anytime you can get the ball in his hands you”d better look out because something big is fixing to happen. We”re just hoping to get some more kids healthy and maybe some big things will happen for us.”
Richardson Jr. only touched the ball three times on offense and finished with 94 yards. He had two carries for 32 yards and a 62-yard touchdown reception.
Zak Thrasher competed 10 of 23 passes for 207 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Johnny Beamon led the Trojans with five catches for 56 yards. He also had an 8-yard touchdown run. Terrence Dentry paced the rushing attack with 15 carries for 43 yards and a score.
New Hope scored on its opening drive thanks to a 39-yard field gal by Tanner Ryals that made it 3-0.
The Trojans extended their lead on the following possession after taking over at midfield. New Hope marched nine plays and crossed the goal line on a 8-yard jet sweep by Beamon.
The score remained 10-0 until midway through the second quarter when the Trojans once again found the end zone. Thrasher orchestrated an 11-play, 91-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Dentry.
Gentry answered with 46 seconds remaining before halftime. Kemong Crawford completed three consecutive passes, with the final going to Demetrius Campbell for a 5-yard touchdown. The extra point clanked off the left upright to make it 17-6.
But the Trojans needed only one play to answer. Instead of taking a knee and heading into the locker room with the lead, New Hope elected to take a shot that paid off. Thrasher hit Richardson Jr. on a short crossing route and he cut 62 yards up the right sideline for the score. Ryals” kick gave the Trojans a 24-6 halftime advantage.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Thrasher hit Darius Petty in stride for a 35-yard scoring strike down the middle of the field. Ryals” point after gave the Trojans a 31-6 lead.
Gentry added its final score with just under six minutes to play when Mississippi State commitment Rufus Warren scooped up a fumble from his defensive end position and rumbled 74 yards for the touchdown.
“Nobody blocked me and I saw the ball,” Warren said. “The quarterback tried to get the ball, so I just pushed him to the side and it was just a regular scoop and score. That was just textbook football.”
The Rams (3-8) had 195 yards against the Trojans, with 129 yards through the air.
Campbell led the Rams in rushing and receiving. He carried 11 times for 58 yards and had eight catches for 60 yards. Warren had three catches for 42 yards.
Crawford was 11 of 21 for 121 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions.
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