Football Playoff Roundup: Enterprise Clarke uses big plays to put away Wesson
Published 12:04 am Saturday, November 4, 2023
- PHOTO BY CLIFF FURR Wesson junior quarterback Cole Gibson looks for an open receiver in the third quarter against Enterprise Clarke on Friday.
Here’s a look at how area high school football teams fared on Friday night.
Enterprise Clarke 38, Wesson 26
The visiting Enterprise Clarke Bulldogs took advantage of Wesson miscues Friday in the MHSAA 3A playoffs to earn a 38-26 victory in a back-and-forth ballgame.
In the first half the Cobras twice had fumbles near the Enterprise 10-yard line. They also had a punt return that struck a Cobra and was recovered by Enterprise and the Bulldogs also recovered an onside kick after a score.
The Cobras and head coach Jeremy Loy led 14-12 at halftime, but then saw the Bulldogs pull ahead 20-14 with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Wesson tied the game on the first play of the fourth quarter as sophomore wide receiver O’Mari Johnson took a screen pass from junior quarterback Wyatt Garrett and raced 25-yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick was no good and the game was tied at 20-20.
After that score, the Cobras attempted an onside kick that was recovered and returned by Enterprise Clarke. Just as quickly as Wesson had tied the game, Enterprise went back ahead on a 32-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Zee Sims.
The 6-foot-1 Sims is a rangy athlete that can make people miss in space and then can run away from defenders with long strides.
Wesson didn’t stop fighting though, the Cobras tied the game at 26-26 when Johnson caught another touchdown pass, this one from Cole Gibson, for a 9-yard score.
Another well recovered onside kick by Enterprise put them near midfield and Sims only needed a few plays to rip off a long touchdown run that dampened the mood on the Wesson side of Stone Stadium as the Bulldogs took a 32-26 lead with 5:48 left in the game.
Loy’s squad put together a strong drive after recovering a Bulldog onside kick near midfield. The drive ended when Sims picked off a Wesson pass on the Enterprise 15-yard line and returned it to the Wesson 15-yard line.
That play set up the final Enterprise Clarke score of the night.
For Wesson and coach Jeremy Loy, the season ends with an 8-2 record, a second-place finish in Region 7-3A and the knowledge that just two players on the roster are seniors.
Enterprise-Clarke (5-5) moves on to play Jefferson Davis County (9-2) next week in the second round.
Scott Central 43, Bogue Chitto 28
The 2023 season ended for Bogue Chitto (5-5) and longtime head coach Gareth Sartin with a loss at Scott Central (8-3) on Friday in the opening round of the MHSAA 2A state playoffs.
The game was tied at 7-7 after the first quarter and the two-time MHSAA 2A defending state champion Rebels from Scott Central led 21-14 at halftime.
SC outscored BC 15-0 in the third quarter. The Rebels will face Mize (8-3) in the second-round next week.
Lawrence County 44, Mendenhall 27
Coach Jesse Anderson and the Lawrence County Cougars (6-5) are on to the second round of the MHSAA 4A playoffs after breaking open a game that was close early with their old rivals from Mendenhall High (5-6).
Next week Lawrence County will attempt to do what no other school has been able to accomplish this season, beat the McComb Tigers (11-0).
McComb beat Bay High 55-7 in the first round on Friday. The Tigers will host Lawrence County in C.C. Moore Stadium on Friday in the second round.
The playoff win is the fourth in six years for Anderson (4-4) at his alma mater in Monticello. Former LC head coaches Danny Adams (4-1) and Mike Davis (4-6) won four playoff games each during their respective time at the school.