NEW HOPE — For nearly a half Friday night, New Hope looked like the team in control. But a steady dose of Jerimiah Miller and a second-half surge flipped the script, as Choctaw County stormed back to hand the Trojans a 35-24 loss. 

The first quarter was all about missed opportunities. New Hope recovered three Charger fumbles in the opening minutes, including one deep in Choctaw territory, but the Trojans’ offense sputtered each time. A bad snap stalled one drive and a quick three-and-out ended another, forcing New Hope to punt despite prime field position. Even so, the Trojans broke through first. Carson Rickman nailed a 28-yard field goal late in the opening quarter to put them on top 3-0. 

Early in the second, quarterback Tyrekus Brooks and running back Jacob Jefferson churned out key yards, and Jefferson muscled across the goal line for New Hope’s first touchdown. That score, paired with the earlier field goal, gave the Trojans a 10-0 cushion. 

Choctaw quickly reminded everyone why Miller is one of the area’s most dangerous playmakers. After a roughing-the-passer penalty extended the drive, Miller slipped in from nine yards out to cut the deficit to 10-7 midway through the quarter. New Hope had an answer, though. Jefferson struck again, this time on a 22-yard run that restored a double-digit margin. The Trojans carried a 17-7 lead into halftime. 

“We forced those turnovers (in the first half) and didn’t capitalize on them,” New Hope head coach Allen Glenn said. “We competed all night but just shot ourselves in the foot with that.” 

The Chargers came out of halftime looking like a different team. Quarterback KJ Kork hit a pair of big pass plays to Ethan Miller before Jerimiah Miller punched in a short run, trimming the score to 17-14. Brooks briefly restored New Hope’s cushion with a designed keeper that pushed the lead back to 24-14, but Choctaw’s quick-strike offense was beginning to settle in. 

Kork went to the air, connecting with Ethan Miller and Kaden Cork to set up another score for Jerimiah Miller, who brought the game to 24-21. Suddenly, New Hope’s offense had gone quiet, with the Trojans struggling to convert on third downs and finding little running room for Jefferson. 

Early in the fourth, Choctaw took its first lead of the night. Kork hit Miller on a 15-yard touchdown pass, and the Chargers never looked back. New Hope had a chance to respond, driving near midfield, but a fourth-and-inches play was stuffed by the Choctaw front. With the clock winding down, the Chargers delivered the knockout blow. Kork found Zaylen Patten streaking across the middle for a 23-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 35-24 with just over three minutes to play. 

The Trojans’ final drive fizzled, and Choctaw ran out the clock to secure the win. Miller finished with three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air, while Cork and Patten both hauled in critical receptions to fuel the comeback. 

For New Hope, the story was missed chances. The Trojans forced five turnovers but converted only one into points. 

“We have to be ready to play with our league,” Glenn said. “This is the toughest league in the state, and we have to be ready to meet that schedule as we go on down the stretch.” 

New Hope will have next week off as it prepares to face Brother Martin from New Orleans on Friday, September 19. 

Choctaw County 35, New Hope 24 

Choctaw County (2-0) 0 7 14 14 — 35 

New Hope (2-1) 3 14 7 0 — 24 

First Quarter NH — Rickman 28yd FG 

Second Quarter NH — Jefferson 7yd run (PAT good) 

CC — Miller 9yd run (PAT good) 

NH — Jefferson 22yd run (PAT good) 

Third Quarter CC — Miller 3yd run (PAT good) 

NH — Brooks Jr. 5yd run (PAT good) 

CC — Miller 5yd run (PAT good) 

Fourth Quarter CC — Miller 15yd pass from Kork (PAT good) 

CC — Patten 23yd pass from Kork (PAT good)