By Stan Caldwell
stanmansportsfan.com
HATTIESBURG – Scott Central was simply too much for Charleston Saturday in the Class 2A State Championship Game.
A year after putting up a record 72 points in last season’s 2A final, the Rebels made it a repeat with an efficient 42-12 victory over the Tigers in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Gridiron Classic at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Scott Central finished 13-2 in winning its fourth state title. Charleston finished 11-4, losing for the fifth time in its sixth state finals appearance.
As was the case last year, Rebel senior quarterback Quez Goss was unstoppable for Scott Central. And so too were his senior sidekicks, Antreyvious Edwards and Javieon Butler.
Goss completed 9 of 14 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns, three scores going to Edwards, who totaled 133 yards for his three receptions, while Butler had five catches for 131 yards and two scores.
Scott Central got the party started early, just 26 seconds after the opening kickoff. On the Rebels’ second play from scrimmage, Goss connected with Edwards for a 50-yard scoring strike. Mario Galicia kicked the first of his six successful conversion for a quick 7-0 lead.
Charleston answered with a scoring drive of its own, moving 60 yards on 10 plays. Freshman Marcus Flowers had the big play, a 32-yard run to the Rebel 17-yard-line.
Freshman quarterback Devon Olive hit junior Deandre’ Riley for a 6-yard touchdown pass, but Olive’s PAT run was stopped short, and that was the last of the highlights for the Tigers until the issue was long settled.
Midway through the first quarter, Goss and Butler holed up for a 73-yard touchdown pass, an after the Rebels blocked a punt, Goss threw to Edwards for a 31-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left in the first quarter.
Scott Central continued its onslaught in the second quarter. The Rebels needed just two pl ays to dent the scoreboard again, on a 52-yard touchdown pass to Edwards.
Later in the second quarter, Scott Central drove 63 yards in six plays, the closest the Rebels came to a long drive, taking just 1 minute, 33 seconds. Scott Central’s other scoring drives took 26 seconds, 54 seconds, 57 seconds, 49 seconds and 1:11.
The Rebels made state championship history after scoring midway through the third quarter. Goss ran for a 21-yard run to give Scott Central a 42-6 lead, invoking the MHSAA’s new mercy rule, which dictates a running clock when the margin reaches 35 points.
Charleston got a consolation score in the fourth quarter when Olive and Riley connected for a 4-yard scoring pass, capping a 10-play, 63-yard drive.
GAME SUMMARY
Class 2A State Championship
Saturday at Hattiesburg
Scott Central 42, Charleston 12
Scott C. 21 14 7 0 – 42
Charleston 6 0 0 6 – 12
First Quarter
SC – Quez Goss 50 pass to Antreyvious Edwards (Mario Galicia kick), 11:34 (2/65/0:26).
C – Devon Olive 6 pass to Deondre’ Riley (Run failed), 6:15 (10/60/5:19).
SC – Goss 73 pass to Javieon Butler (Galicia kick), 2:04 (3/75/0:54).
SC – Goss 31 pass to Edwards (Galicia kick), 0:10 (3/13/0:57).
Second Quarter
SC – Goss 52 pass to Edwards (Galicia kick), 9:38 (2/54/0:49).
SC – Goss 28 pass to Butler (Galicia kick), 2:27 (6/63/1:33).
Third Quarter
SC – Goss 21 run (Galicia kick), 6:23 (4/32/1:11).
Fourth Quarter
C – Olive 4 pass to Riley (Pass failed), 11:04 (10/63/7:19).
TEAM STATISTICS
SC C
First downs 16 6
Total net yards 364 97
Rushes-yards 30-83 36-53
Passing yards 281 44
Comp-Att-Int 9-14-0 5-10-1
Fumbles-lost 4-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-69 6-40
Punts-total (avg.) 0-0 (0.0) 6-131 (21.8)
Sacks 2-11 3-21
Third down 3-6 4-12
Fourth down 0-2 1-2
Time of possession 21:25 26:35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Scott Central – Zechariah Parodi 5-29, Jeremiah Hicks 3-29, Quez Goss 11-22, Tyquan Bounds 2-14, Jarvez Ficklin 5-5, Team 4-(-16); Charleston – Marcus Flowers 11-48, Rodrigues O’Bannon 10-22, Cor’terrius Johnson 7-11, Tee Edwards 1-3, Quentin Carter 1-2, Terrence Marco 1-1 Team 1-(-6), Deondre’ Riley 1-(-10), Devon Olive 3-(-18).
Passing
Scott Central – Quez Goss 9-14-0-281; Charleston – Devon Olive 5-10-1-44.
Receiving
Scott Central – Javieon Butler 5-131, Antreyvious Edwards 3-133, Tyquan Bounds 1-17; Charleston – Deondre’ Riley 3-18, Terrence Marco 1-24, Jaylon Brooks 1-2.
Photos courtesy of Jesse Johnson
