By Stan Caldwell
stanmansportsfan.com
PETAL – The Petal Panthers completed the first step toward what they hope is a trip across the Leaf River to the University of Southern Mississippi in December, and they did so in emphatic fashion.
The Panthers used a workmanlike offense and a smothering defense to rout Biloxi 31-0 in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs Friday night at Panther Stadium.
Petal (11-1), ranked fifth in the Mississippi Gridiron Overall and 6A rankings, will host Region 3-6A rival Brandon next Friday in the second round of the playoffs. Biloxi completed its season 8-4.
“We had a great week of practice leading into this game,” said Petal senior quarterback DeCarlos Nicholson. “Everybody realizes that it’s win or go home, so we knew we were going to get their best shot.
“We felt like it was important for us right from the start to hit them in the mouth and let them know we weren’t backing down.”
There was never any fear of that, thanks to a sensational effort by the Panther defense.
Petal held the Indians to just one first down – and that came on a penalty in the fourth quarter – and a net of 22 total yards of offense.
“Biloxi is a dominant running team,” said Panther senior linebacker Ja’Korian Newsome. “We just stepped up and stopped them in their tracks. We weren’t going to let them run on us. We were probably the most physical team they’ve played.”
The tone was set with each team’s first possession of the game.
After taking the opening kickoff, Biloxi had a 2-yard run and two incomplete passes that were nowhere near their target. Petal took the ensuing punt at midfield and needed just seven plays to score, on Micah McGowan’s 1-yard run.
It was a business-like night for the Panther senior tailback, who ran the ball 30 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns.
“He runs really hard,” said Petal coach Marcus Boyles. “He’s a real patient runner, and our offensive line did a great job again tonight. They’re playing real well as a unit right now. No big runs, but very methodical.”
The Panthers benefitted from outstanding field position all night long, thanks to their defense, and used that advantage to pad their lead late in the first quarter.
Starting at the Biloxi 42-yard-line, Nicholson found junior Jeremiah Robinson for a 16-yard pickup, then McGowan had a pair of 10-yard runs followed by a 6-yard burst up the middle for the score to make it 14-0.
Sophomore kicker Nate Jones added a 27-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, then Petal applied the coup de grace right before halftime, driving 87 yards on 10 plays with McGowan scoring from 4 yards out with 10 seconds to play in the first half.
“That gave us a lot of momentum going into the second half,” said McGowan. “The offensive line did a great job tonight. All the credit goes to them.”
Petal took all of the fight out of the Indians by taking the opening kickoff of the second half and driving 80 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown.
Nicholson had a 13-yard scramble to convert a third down to the Biloxi 30, then on fourth down, he found Jonathan Harris along the right sideline for a 20-yard gain to the Indian 9. One play later, Nicholson and Harris hooked up again for an 8-yard scoring pass over the middle.
“He played well for us again,” said Boyles. “Tonight, he didn’t have to do a lot, but when we did ask him to throw, he did a really nice job.”
Nicholson finished the night completing 14 of 18 passes for 140 yards and one interception, and he ran five times for 54 yards.
For the second straight season, the Mississippi High School Activities Association state football championships will be held at USM’s M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg on December 6-7. Standing in Petal’s way next is a familiar foe.
Brandon defeated D’Iberville 35-23 Friday night to set up a rematch of a thriller from earlier this season, a 27-24 Panther victory on a last-second field goal.
“We’re just going to enjoy the weekend and come back to practice on Monday ready to go,” said McGowan.
GAME SUMMARY
Friday at Petal
Petal 31, Biloxi 0
Biloxi 0 0 0 0 – 0
Petal 14 10 7 0 – 31
First Quarter
P – Micah McGowan 1 run (Nate Jones kick kick), 8:34 (7 plays/50 yards/2:31 possession).
P – McGowan 6 run (Jones kick), 0:11 (7/42/3:00).
Second Quarter
P – Jones 27 field goal, 5:54 (8/43/4:33).
P – McGowan 4 run (Jones kick), 0:10 (10/87/3:21).
Third Quarter
P – DeCarlos Nicholson 8 pass to Jonathan Harris (Jones kick), 7:16 (11/80/4:44).
TEAM STATISTICS
B P
First downs 1 23
Total net yards 22 343
Rushes-yards 21-17 48-203
Passing yards 5 140
Comp-Att-Int 3-12-0 14-18-1
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-60 10-78
Punts-total (avg.) 7-236 (33.7) 2-71 (35.5)
Sacks-yards 0-0 3-10
3rd down conv. 0-9 4-9
4th down conv. 1-2 1-1
Time of possession 15:44 32:16
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Biloxi – Chad O’Neal 9-28, Dajour Brown 2-9, Krisshun Kendrick 6-0, Team 1-(-1), Elijah Sabbatini 2-(-5), Blake Smith 1-(-14); Petal – Micah McGowan 30-129, DeCarlos Nicholson 5-54, Hezekiah Miller 5-27, Rashad Handford 5-3, Team 3-(-10).
Passing
Biloxi – Chad O’Neal 3-12-0-5; Petal – DeCarlos Nicholson 14-18-1-140.
Receiving
Biloxi – Jervin Smith 1-8, Elijah Sabbatini 1-(-1), Demetrius Smith 1-(-2); Petal – Jermiah Robinson 5-53, Micah Cherry 3-38, Jonathan Harris 3-37, Rashad Handford 3-12.
Great article on the Panthers of Petal