MERIDIAN —
No.1-ranked Meridian was challenged Friday night, but the Wildcats held on for a 21-6 win against Quitman at Ray Stadium to improve to 4-0 on the season.
Meridian got off to a quick start, as it forced Quitman to a three-and-out on its first position. After a botched punt, junior C.J. Hampton, an Ole Miss commit, scooped up a botched punt and ran it in for the score to give the the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
Later in the quarter, Meridian quarterback J-Mar Smith broke through defenders and rushed 23 yards to the end zone to make the score 14-0.
Meridian appeared to have the game in control. However, the Wildcats could not seem to put the visiting Panthers away.
“We dropped balls, especially in the first half,” Meridian head coach Larry Weems said. “Then we couldn't get the ball back. They held the ball almost the entire second quarter.”
Much of the reason the Panthers were able to hold the ball was due to the stellar play they received from quarterback Franklin Jones. The Quitman quarterback gave the Wildcat defense headaches all night, rushing 32 times for a total of 139 yards and a touchdown.
“He's a go-getter and a play-maker,” Quitman head coach Steve Bynum said. “He's the engine that drives our bus.”
The score would remain 14-0 until 4:05 left in the fourth quarter when Jones stepped up big for the Panthers. On third-and-10 from the Meridian 32-yard line, the speedy Jones danced his way past defenders and sprinted to the end zone for the score. After a missed extra point Quitman found itself only down eight 14-6.
On the verge of upsetting Meridian, the consensus No. 1 team in the state, on its home field, Quitman lined up for the onside kick. However, the Panthers' attempt failed to go 10 yards giving the ball back to Meridian.
“We had been working that onside all week,” Bynum said. “We had the onside, it was set up perfect, but you have to kick the ball.”
From that moment on, Smith stepped up big for the Wildcats. The Meridian quarterback took the ball on the first play of the drive 16 yards and then again on second-and-10 for six more to set up a third-and-6 for the Wildcats. After a 12-yard run by running back Richard L. McQuarley gave Meridian a first down, it was Smith one more time, as the quarterback ran 14 yards for his second touchdown of the game to cement the game at 21-6. Smith carried the ball nine times for 73 yards and two touchdowns and was 8-for-16 for 90 yards and one interception on the night.
“I just knew I had to push the ball down,” Smith said. “We needed a score. I just had to put the ball in the end zone.”
Quitman (3-1) will return home to face North Forrest next week, while the Wildcats will be off for what Weems said is a much needed bye week.
“We are going to work the slop out of them,” Weems said about getting his team ready for Division 3-6A play. “We aren't anywhere close to heading to region play right now. Way to many mistakes, way too many missed assignments. You can't give up opportunities, because in our league if you do, you will lose.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Meridian's Desmond Grayson tries to haul in a reception against Quitman's Tavarius Moore Friday night. Paula Merritt
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Quitman's Franklin Jones fights for extra yardage against the Meridian defense Friday night. Paula Merritt
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Meridian's J-Mar Smith tries to squeeze through the middle against Quitman Friday night. Paula Merritt
Discussion
Wildcats hold on to beat Quitman 21-6
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