CORINTH – New Hope came out firing early in their season opener on Friday against Corinth, and the early lead proved valuable in the end as the Trojans withstood a Warrior comeback for a 41-33 victory on the road.
“We found a way to almost give it away there at the end, but I’m proud of the guys,” New Hope coach Allen Glenn said. “I told them just then that a 41-33 victory a year ago, it would have been just awesome, but now there’s a tad bit of disappointment to how we finished a ballgame the wrong way. Credit to Corinth because they got after us there at the end, but proud of our guys too. I thought we came out hitting on all cylinders early, and if not for a couple of turnovers, it could have been more.”
New Hope (1-0) marched down the field on an 89-yard drive to open the game, capped off by an 8-yard scoring run by Jeremiah Harkins for the 7-0 lead after Carson Rickman’s extra point.
The Trojans were able to add to their lead early in the second on a 69-yard scoring strike from Tyrekus Brooks to Jacob Jefferson to go up 13-0.
Corinth’s Griffin Carmichiel cut into the lead with a 39-yard field goal, but the Trojans answered four plays later with Harkins’ eight-yard scoring run with 4:21 left in the first half.
Brooks connected with Jefferson again, this time for 48 yards to make it 27-3 with just 55 seconds left in the second quarter.
Pat Crump ended the first half for Corinth with an 80-yard touchdown run to start the Warriors’ comeback attempt, and he added a 71-yard run on the opening drive of the third quarter to make it 27-17.
New Hope padded its lead with two scores by Jefferson – a nine-yard run with 3:55 left in the third and a 22-yard score to open the fourth.
Those two touchdowns proved to be valuable insurance as Corinth ended the game with two scores of their own in the final quarter, including a Crump touchdown with 2:13 to go that made it a one-score game.
Jefferson ended his big night accounting for four touchdowns, finishing with 117 yards rushing and 167 yards receiving. Brooks threw for 201 yards and two scores.
Crump led Corinth’s attack with 217 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.
New Hope will host Choctaw County for its home opener next Friday.
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