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TROJANS DEFEAT BULLDOGS TO ADVANCE TO ROUND TWO
It was another cardiac night for Trojan Nation. It all started last week as the team executed a gutsy 2-point call by Coach Chase Courtney in overtime to beat Seminary and with a series of events propelled the Red and Gray into the #2 seed for the playoffs. They faced Perry Central at home Friday night and the drama unfolded again.
It didn’t start that way. The Trojans led 32-12 at the midway point as a result of a very dialed in Offense and Defense. The passing attack was on full display in the first half as QB Kendal Middleton connected on long scoring plays with Christian Hubbard and Jeremiah Cole. The junior quarterback finished 16 of 24 for 219 yards and 2 TDs. He added 83 yards rushing with 2 TDs for 302 yards of total offense. The outstanding junior receiver trio of Cole, Hubbard and Antonio Floyd challenged the Bulldog secondary all night. Cole finished with 5 catches for 83 yards and 1 TD. He also had 1 carry for a 2-point conversion. Hubbard had 4 catches for 72 yards and 1 TD. Floyd had 3 catches for 64 yards. The rushing attack was led by Ken Porter. He has left everything on the field all year for the Trojans. He was big on this night rushing for 177 yards on 22 carries.
The Trojans came out flat in the 3rd quarter and an inspired Perry Central team led by a group of speedy skill players took a 34-32. With 10:37 left in the 4th quarter, the Trojans would respond with a touchdown and 2-point conversion to take a 40-34 lead. Perry Central would not go away and scored again, but the Trojans Defense stuffed the 2-point attempt. The score was tied at 40-40 with a little over 5 minutes left in the game. The response by the Offense showed the growth in the Trojans over the last few weeks. In the most poised drive of the year, Middleton led the Trojans on a 70-yard drive with a great mix of run and pass plays. He would finish the drive with a rushing touchdown and would add the 2-point conversion. It was 48-40 Trojans with a little over a minute to play.
Magee fans were on the edge of their seats as the Bulldogs drove into the redzone and looked poised to score with little time left on the clock. The Trojans Defense would come up big when they stripped the ball and recovered on their own 1-yard line. An unsportsmanlike call against the Bulldogs would move the ball out of the shadow of the endzone and Magee would run out the clock for the victory.
The Trojans now face Jefferson County in Fayette at 7:00 pm this Friday night. The Tigers have beaten their last two opponents by a combined 104-18. It will be a challenge for the Red and Gray, but one thing we are learning….do not count the Trojans out. Go Big Red!
(Submitted)
MageeNews.com is an online news website covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
