Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
TROJANS WIN OT THRILLER OVER TIGERS
The scene on Tiger Field said it all Friday night as Magee had just won 34-33 over archrival Mendenhall in a Simpson County Super Bowl for the ages. Senior, Michael Allen, lay on the field exhausted and emotional. He had played on both sides of the ball and had left everything on the field as did the rest of the young men that wear the Red and Gray. Students had tears of joy. The student section, Trojan flag bearers, band and cheerleaders had poured their hearts into encouraging their team from start to finish. These kids love their school and they showed that Trojan Spirit is alive and well.
Coach Coats said it best in his interview with Fox40 sports. “I’m really happy for our kids. Our kids deserved to win. We’ve had our ups and downs this year but the kids haven’t quit. We fought hard. We practiced hard. We came up here to win and we did.”
Mendenhall jumped on the Trojans early taking a 14-0 in the first quarter. Make no mistake, the Mendenhall Tigers have a good team with outstanding skill players. Quarterback, Quantavious Dampeer, and running back, Deion Dampeer, turned in outstanding performances on the night.
The Trojans showed their grit and fought back when Tyrique McAfee connected with Jadarius Payne on a 50 yard screen pass for a touchdown. Canaan Collins added the PAT and the lead was cut to 14-7.
The Trojans would tie the game when on 4th and goal Jamal Keyes scored on a reverse and Collins’ PAT made it 14-14.
The Trojan Defense would shut out the Tigers for the remainder of the half with a big play by Jamal Keyes when he intercepted a Tiger pass on a 4th down attempt in Trojan territory. It was 14-14 at the half.
After an outstanding performance by the Magee Trojan Band, the Trojans came out for the second half looking to build on the momentum they had established at the end of the first half. It didn’t take long as they drove down the field and a pass from McAfee to Hopkins made it 21-14 after the Collins’ PAT.
The back and forth flow continued as the Tigers would rally to tie the score when Dampeer rumbled in for the touchdown and the PAT was good. The Trojan Offense would stall on the next series and it looked like momentum was on the side of the Tigers. In the next series the Trojans appeared to have Dampeer sacked at midfield but he heaved a pass down to the 10 yard line and his receiver, Zykiel Woodard, made an adjustment on the ball hauling it in and giving the Tigers first and goal. The Tigers would cash in scoring from 2 yards out but the PAT was missed and the Tigers led 27-21 with 4:32 left in the game.
The Trojan faithful were on their feet encouraging their team to keep fighting. The young men that wear the Red and Gray didn’t disappoint. In what could be considered one of the clutch drives of the year in the State of Mississippi, the Trojan Offense would move the ball down the field with the help of outstanding connections by McAfee to RJ Hopkins. Then what is considered one of the top plays of the week by Fox40 Sports, McAfee would connect with Hopkins in the right corner of the end zone with 1:30 left in the game and the large Trojan contingent would erupt. (Trojan students and fans need to go online to www.msnewsnow.com to the Sports Page and vote for this play as the “Play of the Week”. You have until Wednesday to vote.) The crazy twists of this game would continue when the Trojans missed the PAT when Collins was apparently hit in the helmet on the attempt. The score remained 27-27.
While Collins was being attended to on the sidelines, the Trojans had to kickoff. A line drive kick would be returned to the Trojan 30 and the Tigers were in great position to win the ballgame. But the Trojan Defense would come up big and force a fumble to give the Trojan Offense the chance to win the game. Unable to score, the Trojans and Tigers would end up with a 27-27 tie at the end of a regulation and the game would head to overtime.
The Trojans would receive the ball first in the first overtime starting on the 10 yard line. It didn’t take long for the Trojans when Tyrique McAfee scampered for 10 yards and the score. Collins converted the PAT and it was 34-27 Trojans.
An unsportsmanlike penalty on the Tigers made the home team start on the 25 yard line. All the Trojans had to do was hold the Tigers out of the end zone on 4 downs and the ballgame was over. The Tigers had other plans. The Tigers would score on a 25 yard pass play and it looked like the game was going to the second overtime. However, after a timeout the Tigers decided to go for two and the win. The stadium was electric when the ball was snapped. Courtez Hubbard and Kornelius Rogers stuffed the Tigers on the half yard line and the Trojans’ celebration would ensue. The 92nd edition of the Simpson County Super Bowl would belong to the Trojans for the third straight year. It will be a picture that will be etched in the memories of the Trojan family for a long time especially for these Seniors playing in their final game against their rival: Jamal Keyes, Courtez Hubbard, DJ Granberry, Ben Warren, Matyus Whitlock, Justin Shaw, James Williams, Trez Bridges, Kornelius Rogers, Trevor Maddox, Michael Allen and Canaan Collins.
The Trojans will need to move on quickly as district play begins this Friday night on Trojan Field against a very good Morton Panther team that defeated them last year. Trojan players, students and fans will need to bring the same effort and energy as the push for the playoffs begins. FCA Student Tailgate will begin at 5:30 in Trojan Park. Game time is 7:00.
