McCOMB-The McComb Tigers defeated the Lawrence County Cougars 28-21 in Division 7-4A high school football action Friday night a C.C. Moore Stadium. McComb, led by sophomore quarterback Venchenza McCray, scored three touchdowns in a 5-minute span during the second quarter, that proved the difference in the game.

With the win, McComb, coached by Malcolm Jones, improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in Division 7-4A play. Lawrence County, under first-year coach Jaymie Palmer, fell to 4-4 overall, and 0-2 in the division.

Lawrence County took the opening kickoff and quickly drove the length of the field for a touchdown. A 23-yard run by quarterback Charl’Tez Nunnery and a 29-yard jaunt by Quitten Brown set up Nunnery’s 22-yard touchdown pass to T-Tez Cole. Joshua Stephens kicked the first of his 3 extra points to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

It remained 7-0 until the third play of the second quarter, when McComb’s McCray scampered 28 yards for a touchdown, cutting Lawrence County’s lead to 7-6. The P.A.T. attempt failed.

That was the start of a big night for McCray, a 10th-grader who has filled in admirably for the graduated Alex Woodall, who took his quarterbacking talents to Louisiana Tech. McCray passed for 57 yards, but hurt the Cougars much more with his legs, rushing for 160 yards on 14 carries.

Moments after McComb’s initial score, the Tiger defense forced a quick three-and-out punt from Lawrence County. McComb struck immediately thereafter, with Ali Henson streaking 64 yards down the McComb sideline for a touchdown. McCray’s 2-point pass to Ronald Clayton gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead.

Not long after that, a Ladarrius Young pass interception, and 55-yard return, set the Tigers up at the Lawrence County 15-yard line. That set up a 9-yard run by Dequan Smith, making it a 21-7 game.

Lawrence County would fight back before halftime. Senior defensive end Cedric Rhodes blocked a McComb punt, setting the Cougars up at the Tiger 27-yard line. Four plays later, on fourth down, Quitten Brown swept the right side for 20 yards and a touchdown, cutting McComb’s lead to 21-14 at halftime.

The third quarter was scoreless, thanks to two red-zone takeaways by the LCHS defense. First, cornerback Keith Davis intercepted a McCray pass to foil one deep Tiger penetration. On McComb’s next possession, the Tigers got as deep as the Lawrence County 8-yard line. However, when McCray was shaken up and out of the game for one play, a botched handoff ended up in the hands of Lawrence County defensive tackle Paul Carter.

McComb got one of those turnovers back late in the third quarter, as Nunnery was sacked, and fumbled, at the McComb 37-yard line. McCray, recovered, darted 50 yards, setting up the Tigers’ final score of the night, a 2-yard run by Jaquarius Landrews. McComb had a 28-14 lead.

Lawrence County battled back. Midway through the fourth quarter, Brown ripped off 27 yards on a fake punt, setting up T-Tez Cole’s 35-yard touchdown run. Thanks to a pair of Toi Jones fumble recoveries, the Cougars got the football back two more times in their own territory, but were unable to cross midfield.

Brown led Lawrence County with 111 yards on 17 carries. Cole rushed six times for 39 yards, and caught three passes for 73 yards.

This Friday, Lawrence County finally returns home after four straight road games, taking on Columbia. McComb will host Purvis with first place in the division on the line. Both teams are 2-0 in division play entering that game.