By Stan Caldwell
stanmansportsfan.com
BROOKLYN – Brad Hankins could see his team’s worst-case scenario unfolding, a promising season turning sour at the hands of its archrival.
Purvis faced the daunting prospect of possibly having to beat Greene County on the road next week to clinch a playoff berth in Region 7-4A, as the Tornadoes trailed Forrest County AHS late in Thursday night’s game at Henley Field.
But Purvis found a way to win, mounting a touchdown march in the game’s final minutes to defeat the Aggies 18-13. Junior Kade Sherrill’s 6-yard run with 59 seconds to play in the game provided the winning points for the Tornadoes.
Purvis (6-4 overall, 3-1 region) clinched at least a third-place finish in the final region standings. Despite the loss, Forrest County (3-6, 1-3) can take the fourth spot in the standings with a win next week at Stone.
“They kept fighting,” said Hankins, the second-year coach of the Tornadoes. “We talk about adversity all the time. You can’t be a skilled sailor on smooth waters. I’m proud of their effort and proud of the way they fought together.”
The Tornadoes were facing adversity before they ever arrived, as they were playing a largely untested junior at quarterback in Walker Flatt, who was pressed into service when starter Hunter Robinson went out with a season-ending injury last week against Poplarville.
Flatt had some moments when he struggled, especially in the first half, but he was cool under fire in the second half and got more comfortable in his role as the game went along.
“He’s a young puppy, but we’ve got all the confidence in the world in him,” said Hankins. “He played well back there tonight. And the guys looked out for him and protected him well.”
It was the Aggies, though, who had the momentum throughout most of the first half, getting a key play from their special teams midway through the second quarter to set up the first score of the game.
Forrest County brought the house on a Tornado punt and got the block. Purvis punter Jesse Johnson picked up the ball and tried to run for the first down but was tackled four yards short of the marker at the Tornado 22-yard-line.
On the first play of the drive, Aggie junior Justin Williams scampered 16 yards to the Purvis 6, and two plays later, quarterback Evan Clark bulled his way into the end zone from three yards out.
“He’s a tough kid,” said FCAHS coach Brad Calcote. “He’s been developing, and the past couple of weeks he’s sort of separated himself from the other players back there. We appreciate everything he does.”
Purvis was supposed to get the ball to start the second half, but the Tornadoes lost the handle on the opening kickoff of the half, and FCAHS recovered at the Tornado 44.
But the Purvis defense stepped up in the second half, forcing a three-and-out to quell the Aggie threat. The Tornadoes didn’t do much with the ensuing possession but were able to flip the field after a shanked punt gave them the ball at the Aggie 37.
After an incomplete pass and a pass interference call against the Aggies, sophomore Keoki Laphand Jr. dashed around right end, found a running lane down the sideline and raced in for the 22-yard scoring run. The PAT kick was no good, but Purvis was on the board, trailing 7-6.
A three-and-out, followed by a fumbled snap on the punt attempt got Purvis right back in business at the Aggie 38, and the Tornadoes were able to cash it in again, scoring on a six-play drive.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Flatt found junior tailback Ty Badon wide open on the right side on a fourth-and-8 play from the Forrest County 24, and Badon did the rest, scoring easily. Flatt’s PAT pass was no good, but the Tornadoes had the lead 12-7.
It was the biggest play of a productive night for Badon, who led Purvis with 52 yards on 14 carries.
“Our line was doing the job the whole night,” said Badon, “When we got the ball back, we knew we had to make first downs and keep the clock moving. I give all the credit to the line. Without those guys we couldn’t do it.”
However, the Aggies responded with their best offensive drive of the night, marching 65 yards in nine plays. FCAHS converted a pair of third downs on the drive, including the touchdown on a 13-yard run by Clark, to regain the lead 13-12 with 7:42 to play.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, that would prove to be their last play from scrimmage in the game.
Getting the ball at their own 37, Purvis moved methodically down the field in 14 plays, using up 6:43 off the fourth-quarter clock.
Flatt showed his mettle, converting a fourth down on a 5-yard keeper up the middle to the Forrest County 24, then the Tornadoes were gifted a first down when the Aggies lined up offsides for an encroachment penalty on fourth-and-4.
Purvis got the touchdown on a 4-yard run around right end from Sherrill.
“My eyes got pretty big when I saw the running lane,” said Sherrill. “Made me really excited. I think the first half really brought us together, because of all the adversity that hit us. Coach gave us a really good speech at halftime, and we came out and fought.”
Any chance for the Aggies to come back was squashed when the Tornadoes recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, allowing them to run out the clock.
“I think we did,” said Calcote when asked if his players got fatigued near the end. “Emotion will drain you sometimes worse than the weather. Purvis is a tough football team and they play extremely hard. They outexecuted us tonight.
“But we still have a lot of confidence in our kids. You want to be in a position to be playing in games that matter, and next week is going to be a big one.”
GAME SUMMARY
Thursday at Brooklyn
Purvis 18, Forrest County AHS 13
Purvis 0 0 6 12 – 18
FCAHS 0 7 0 6 – 13
Second Quarter
FC – Evan Clark 3 run (Wes Dubose kick), 6:39 (3 plays/22 yards/1:12 possession).
Third Quarter
P – Keoki Laphand Jr. 22 run (Kick failed), 5:08 (2/37/0:20).
Fourth Quarter
P – Walker Flatt 24 pass to Ty Badon (Pass failed), 11:52 (6/38/3:06).
FC – Clark 13 run (Kick failed), 7:42 (9/65/4:10).
P – Kade Sherrill 4 run (Pass failed), 0:59 (14/63/6:43).
TEAM STATISTICS
P FC
First downs 15 10
Total net yards 220 104
Rushes-yards 46-148 31-104
Passing yards 72 0
Comp-Att-Int 4-10-0 0-3-0
Fumbles-lost 4-1 4-1
Penalties-yards 9-94 10-100
Punts-total (avg.) 2-68 (34.0) 4-125 (31.3)
Sacks-yards 1-19 1-11
3rd down conv. 3-10 4-9
4th down conv. 3-4 0-0
Time of possession 25:50 22:10
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Purvis – Ty Badon 14-52, Keoki Laphand Jr. 7-39, Kade Sherrill 3-35, Kaleb Shelby 5-27, Kaden Wines 6-14, Cole Chabert 1-12, Jesse Johnson 1-(-2), Team 4-(-10), Walker Flatt 5-(-19); FCAHS – Justin Williams 8-53, Devonte Davis 8-48, Josh Daniels 4-13, Evan Clark 13-5, Team 3-(-7), Zach Simmons 1-(-8).
Passing
Purvis – Walker Flatt 4-10-0-72; Petal – Evan Clark 0-3-0-0.
Receiving
Purvis – Jesse Johnson 2-41, Ty Badon 1-24, Kade Sherrill 1-7.
