CLINTON — Playing on a warm Saturday morning at Mississippi College’s Robinson-Hale Stadium, Winston Academy leaned on its defense and a second-half surge to defeat Oak Hill Academy 20-0 in the MAIS Class 2A Division II state championship.
Oak Hill received the opening kickoff and started at the 35 after a return from Chantz Harris. Running back Boston Cunningham opened the game with a five-yard rush, but the Raiders were quickly pushed backward and forced to punt. Winston’s Beau Boatner returned the kick to the 22, but on the Patriots’ first play, Oak Hill recovered a botched snap and took over deep in Winston territory.
Cunningham carried three straight times to move the ball near the 12, and quarterback Jackson Holton hit Harris to set up fourth down and manageable. Oak Hill decided to keep the offense on the field and threw short to Cunningham, but the play came up just shy of the first down. Winston took over inside its own 4, and the Oak Hill defense immediately forced a three-and-out. After recovering a muffed punt, the Raiders got possession near midfield, but the next drive stalled after an incompletion and three short runs.
Winston began to build traction late in the first quarter, using consecutive runs from Boatner to move into manageable downs and convert near midfield. But the quarter closed with both defenses firmly in control.
Oak Hill forced another three-and-out to begin the second quarter. Simon Reynolds provided a spark with a 6-yard carry, but penalties slowed the Raiders’ progress. Winston responded with one of its best drives of the half, converting a fourth down near the 33 and completing a pass to James Haven Joiner to move to the 23. The Patriots pushed inside the 20 before a false start created third and long, and a fumble on the following play gave the ball back to Oak Hill.
Neither offense could break through before halftime, as both defenses continued to limit explosive plays and force punts. The teams entered the locker room in a scoreless tie.
Winston received the second-half kickoff and began the drive at the 44 after a return from Trenton Rhodes. Boatner carried three straight times to set up fourth-and-short, and Winston converted to reach midfield. After an incompletion, back-to-back gains from Joiner and Johnson Wykoff moved the Patriots into scoring territory. Two plays later, quarterback Ben Caperton found Kingsley Ashford on a nine-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good, giving Winston a 7-0 lead with 5:29 left in the third quarter.
Oak Hill’s next possession began with a fumble recovered by the Patriots at the Raiders’ 31. Boatner broke off a 10-yard run, and Winston moved inside the red zone. A fourth-down pass into the end zone was broken up by D.J. Gardner, giving the Raiders another chance.
Holton helped spark the next drive with a scramble and a completion to Gardner, but a holding penalty backed Oak Hill up. Gardner responded with a 12-yard run, and a sideline interference penalty erased an interception and advanced the Raiders to their own 30. Just two plays later, Oak Hill fumbled again, setting Winston up near midfield.
The Patriots opened the fourth quarter already inside the 30. Joiner picked up five yards, and Caperton followed with a 17-yard scramble to the 3. Two snaps later, Caperton powered in on a 1-yard keeper for the Patriots’ second touchdown. The extra point was good, extending the lead to 14-0 with 10:02 remaining.
Oak Hill tried to mount a final push. Harris returned the kick to the 20, Holton broke loose to the 40, and Gardner added a short gain before catching a pass to move inside the 30. But a sack and consecutive penalties forced fourth and long, and the Raiders turned the ball over on downs.
Winston sealed the championship moments later. On the first play of the possession, Boatner burst through the middle and sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good, but Winston held a commanding 20-0 lead.
Oak Hill fumbled the ensuing return but recovered, and its final drive ended with an interception as the Patriots celebrated their title after kneeling in victory formation to run out the clock.
After the game, Oak Hill head coach Tom Goode praised his team’s effort, especially on the defensive side.
“Our defense played really hard, but our offense just put them in bad spots,” Goode said.
He followed by expressing pride in what his players accomplished to reach the championship stage.
“I am proud of every one of these guys. To be right here after last year, that is incredible,” Goode said.
Winston Academy 20, Oak Hill Academy 0
Winston Academy (5-8) 0 0 7 13 — 20
Oak Hill Academy (9-4) 0 0 0 0 — 0
First Quarter
No scoring.
Second Quarter
No scoring.
Third Quarter
WA — Kingsley Ashford 9-yard pass from Ben Caperton (kick good)
Fourth Quarter
WA — Ben Caperton 1-yard run (kick good)
WA — Beau Boatner 50-yard run (kick no good)
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
