PHILADELPHIA —
The Neshoba Central Rockets took a first half lead and held on to defeat visiting Northeast Lauderdale 18-14 Friday night in prep football action.
Both teams now stand at 2-2.
Neshoba Central finished with 229 total yards while holding the Trojans to 152 total yards. The Rockets rushed for 169 yards on 38 carries, and completed 4-of-10 passing attempts for 60 yards. The Trojans rushed for 127 yards on 39 carries and completed 2-of-10 passes for 25 yards. Neshoba Central was penalized for 80 yards on eight calls, while the Trojans were called five times for 45 yards in penalties.
“We were happy with the win but we made too many mistakes,” Neshoba Central coach Chuck Friend said. “We needed this win. We’ve got a week off and then we start our district schedule. We have a lot of things we need to improve on.”
Shundrick Russell recovered a fumble in the first quarter to set up the Rockets’ initial score of the game. Neshoba Central took over on the Trojans’ 22-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Joseph Willis bulled his way into the end zone from 2 yards out. Caleb Crenshaw kicked the extra point and the Rockets led 7-0 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
Northeast Lauderdale took the ensuing kickoff and drove it 60 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown. Running back Phillip Everett pushed the drive down field on a 32-yard gain. He later scored on a 3-yard run. The extra point try failed and the Rockets led 7-6 with 7:28 left in the first half.
Neshoba Central bounced back with a score on its following possession. Seven plays into the drive, the Rockets went for it on fourth down and Willis bulled his way up the middle to give his team a first down on the Trojan 42-yard line. On the next play, Russell ran around the left end and went all the way for the touchdown. Patrick Burrage ran in the two-point conversion and the Rockets went up 15-6 with 3:09 left in the first half. That’s how it stood at the half.
Neshoba Central took the second half kickoff and drove down to the Northeast Lauderdale 18-yard before running out of downs. Crenshaw booted a 35-yard field goal to give his team an 18-6 lead with 6:36 left in the third quarter.
That’s how it stood until midway through the fourth quarter when Everett scored on a 2-yard run. Josh Everett threw for the two-point conversion and the Rockets’ lead was cut to 18-14 with 6:52 left in the game.
The Trojans forced the Rockets to punt and Matthew Turcotte, who averaged 43.5 yards on five punts, put Northeast Lauderdale back on its 10-yard line. The Trojans couldn’t put together a scoring drive and time expired.
“We just couldn’t get going in the first half and that cost us the game,” Northeast Lauderdale coach Curt Blackburn said. “I was pleased with our effort in the second half. We didn’t give up and kept playing hard.
“Neshoba Central has a very good defense. They are very physical. We have to go back to work and get a better effort in the first half.”
The Trojans will back in action Friday when they visit Philadelphia. Neshoba Central is open next week. They host Yazoo City on Sept. 21.
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