South Pike eighth grade beat Alexander for district crown

Published 5:00 am Friday, October 27, 2000

A defensive stand by South Pike on a potential game-tyingtwo-point conversion allowed the Eagles to escape King Field with a20-18 win over the Panthers last night, in the eighth gradechampionship game for District 7.

Quantrelle Green of South Pike gained 187 yards on 14 carriesand produced four touchdowns as the Eagles defeated the BrookhavenHigh (ninth grade) Panthers 44-0.

Other members of District 7 are Crystal Springs, FranklinCounty, Lawrence County, McComb and Tylertown.

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In the eighth grade game, South Pike would takethe early 8-0 lead when Sam Reed returned the opening kickoff 79yards for a touchdown. Johnathan Williams tacked on the two-pointconversion and the Eagles were off and running.

Alexander, with their first possession of the game, would cuttheir deficit to 8-6 with 3:06 remaining in the opening period.Grant McDonniel capped off a long drive for the Panthers, with aseven-yard touchdown jaunt. The conversion run was stopped short ofthe goal line.

The Panthers gained their first lead of the game with 7:52 leftin the second quarter. Ronnie McNulty jetted around end 27 yards topaydirt. The conversion run was stopped short of the goal line.

Eagle quarterback Vincent Wheatly called his own number, fromtwo yards out, with 43 seconds remaining in the first half. Theconversion try failed and South Pike held a 14-12 lead at theintermission.

After several possession exchanges by both teams, South Piketacked on another touchdown with 3:22 left in the third period.Reed scored from eight yards away. The two-point try failed and theEagles had increased their advantage to 20-12.

Defense would play a key role in the final stanza as both teamsprepared for an exciting finish. Both teams made several defensivestops in the period, but turnovers also played an important part inthe final eight minutes.

South Pike appeared to be headed for an insurance score late inthe ballgame, but fumbled the pigskin away at the Alexander 1.Michael Byrd recovered the loose ball for the Panthers.

With less than two minutes on the clock and 99 yards of realestate in front of them, the Alexander offense went to work.McNulty took the handoff from quarterback LaKendrick Williams andraced 85 yards for a touchdown with 55 seconds left in thegame.

On the potential tying two-point conversion try, running backDarius Perkins was stopped at the one-yard line.

The Panthers tried the onside kick, but the Eagles recovered andran out the clock.

McNulty paced the Panther offense with 15 carries for 208 yardsand two touchdowns. McDonniel added 23 yards on six carries and atouchdown.

Alexander is coached by Jessie Terrell and Jeff King.

Defensively, Alexander got tackles from Darrell Smith, FrankEdwards, Jimmy Johns, T.J. Quarles and Cameron Newell.

In the ninth grade game, South Pike would sweep thedoubleheader. Green would accumulate 246 yards of total offensethat included a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Green also scored on runs of 34, 28 and 27 yards.

Eagle runningback Daniel Montgomery added two scores as SouthPike would shut out the Panthers in their final game of theseason.

Brookhaven got 56 yards on eight carries from Roy Benjamin.Generio Richardson added 146 yards on total offense, including 67yards on kickoff returns.

Defensively, Panther coaches Randy Spring and Aurelio Quinn gottackles from Phillip Tobias, Kevin Humphrey, Derrick Butler andAljur Herring.