MCCOMB – After five years of frustrating losses to ancient rival Brookhaven, the McComb Tigers ended the streak with an emotional and  hard-fought 28-21 Friday night triumph in muggy C.C. Moore Stadium.

     McComb (5-0, 2-0) wasn’t assured of victory until Kevonte Dillon intercepted a halfback pass by Tykwan Bridges in the end zone with 1:44 left in the seesaw struggle. The Tigers had roared to a 21-0, second-quarter lead over the mistake-plagued Panthers who fell to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Region 3-5A race.

     The Panthers had reduced their deficit to 28-21 with 6:41 left in the game on a 5-yard run by Treviunte McDaniel and Noah Allen’s PAT kick. They held McComb to a 3-and-out on the next series and took over at the BHS 48 with 5:23 left.

     BHS senior quarterback Zach Smith guided the Panthers to McComb’s 11-yard line in 7 plays, hitting Fred Trevillion with a 31-yard completion. But three plays lost 1 yard. After Ole Brook coach Tommy Clopton called a timeout to plot the fourth down strategy, Smith tossed a lateral to Bridges who launched a pass to the end zone. It was picked off by Dillon.

     “Our guys didn’t drop their heads when they got behind,” said Clopton. “We got some momentum with that second quarter touchdown.”

     Clopton’s team struggled through a disastrous first half. The Panthers were intercepted 3 times and lost a fumble, giving McComb some early Christmas gifts.

     Alex Woodall, McComb’s talented senior quarterback, rambled 5 yards for the game’s first touchdown. It was set up when Smith was intercepted by Quatavous Smith and returned 40 yards to the BHS 7-yard line.

     Trevillion was in punt formation when a high snap sailed over his head. He was tackled at the BHS 42. Four plays later, McComb running back Damarius Brown broke loose up the middle for 23 yards and a TD. Stephen Jeanson nailed his second of four extra points and it was 14-0.

     McComb’s Jaquarius Landrews  intercepted Smith in the second quarter and returned it to Brook’s 23. A 10-yard illegal block pushed the Tigers back to the 33 but Woodall found Q. Smith on first down and he raced to the end zone. It was 21-zip with 8:16 left in the first half.

     The Panthers finally jump-started their offense. Smith hit running back Justin Blue on a short pass and he zoomed down the left sideline 57 yards to paydirt. Allen’s PAT cut the deficit to 21-7 with1:18 left in the first half.

     On the last play of the third quarter, Blue scored on a 5-yard plunge and it was 21-14. The Panthers capitalized on a short, 18-yard punt, taking over at the McComb 27.

     After gaining 1 first down, the Tigers were forced to punt. Brook’s Jermone Kelly signaled a fair catch but the ball bounced off his shoulder pads and Kayonta Addison recovered at the BHS 19. On first down, Woodall found Q. Smith wide open in the end zone, making it 28-14.

     Overall, BHS had a slight advantage in total yards but the 6 turnovers were decisive. Smith completed 9 of 20 passes for 202 yards and 1 TD. Woodall completed 12 of 25 passes for 155 yards and 2 TDs.

Postgame Confrontation

     After the game, as the players and coaches lined up for the traditional “Good game” handshake at midfield, Clopton and McComb coach Malcolm Jones exchanged words and it quickly became a shouting match. Assistant coaches separated them and the teams were sent to opposite sides of the field.

     Clopton said, “I told Coach Jones to get control of a player because he was taunting ours. Jones told me to quit whining and worry about my own players.”

     Jones tried to shrug off the victory “as just another game.”

     According to Jones, he told Clopton, “To quit crying and take care of your team. I’ll take care of mine.”

     Meanwhile, former BHS assistant coach Jessie Bowman grinned and greeted BHS players and coaches with hugs, handshakes and backslaps. He was hired to coach McComb’s defensive line last summer.

      Bowman, a 2005 BHS graduate and defensive line coach for the Panthers, had his position in the Brookhaven school system’s maintenance department terminated last spring after a disagreement with a supervisor.

     Bowman was a decorated player on the 2004 state championship team at BHS. He starred for Co-Lin and Mississippi State as a defensive tackle.

     The Panthers celebrate homecoming Friday night, hosting the West Jones Mustangs. McComb  visits Wayne County.