Neshoba Central’s defense shuts down West Lauderdale

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August 25, 2012

Neshoba Central’s defense shuts down West Lauderdale

By Jamie Wachter / Sports Editor The Meridian Star The Meridian Star Sat Aug 25, 2012, 06:00 AM CDT

MERIDIAN —     Neshoba Central coach Chuck Friend was ready to give out a whole host of game balls. One for every member of the Rockets' defense Friday night.

   And with good reason. Neshoba blanked host West Lauderdale 15-0 in Collinsville, allowing the Knights only 49 yards of offense on 47 plays.

   "I thought our defense was excellent," Friend said after the Rockets improved to 1-1. "If we give out game balls, they ought to get this one."

   That defensive dominance came in handy, too. Three times the 0-2 Knights took over possession inside Neshoba territory and twice West lost yardage on the drive.

   Trailing 15-0, the Knights gained possession at the Neshoba 38 following a Noah Nix interception and 32-yard return with 1:26 left in the first half. Following two quick runs, including a seven-yarder from Tyler Turnage to set up a third-and-1, the Knights quickly retreated on back-to-back penalties. Turnage, a sophomore who entered the game early in the first quarter following an ankle injury to starter Richard Thomas, was then sacked on fourth down.

   West's defense again rose to the occasion to start the third quarter, forcing a turnover on Neshoba's first possession and Jabril Coles recovered at the Rockets' 44. However, a penalty on first down led to a three-and-out.

   The Knights had one more golden opportunity when Winston Lewis blocked a Matthew Turcotte punt at the Neshoba 39 with 7:11 remaining in the game. But once again, the Rocket defense was up to the task. They swarmed Milon Roberts for a three-yard loss on first down and then after a pair of incomplete passes, Turnage was again sacked on fourth down.

   It was that kind of night for the West offense, which after a 13-yard run from Thomas on the second play of the game, managed just two more first downs. The Knights totaled 13 yards rushing on 31 attempts, led by Roberts' 44 yards on 16 carries. Thomas, who was hurt just three plays after his first-down scamper, completed his lone pass for 1 yard and rushed for minus-1 yard on three carries. Turnage completed 7 of 15 passes for 35 yards.

   "We made too many mistakes, obviously, self-inflicted," West coach Stan McCain said. "We'd go backwards. And give them credit, they are big and physical. And our immaturity showed.

   "You think you can score more than 15 points to win, and you're going to have to. But we had a few limitations, our quarterback went out. We've got some injuries right now that we just have to fight through."

   The Rockets' offense wasn't sharp either, but did enough on this night. O'Neal McCarty gave the Rockets all the points they needed eight minutes in. There, on Neshoba's second drive, the senior running back found a huge hole on the left side on third-and-3 and raced 60 yards untouched. He then scored on a two-point conversion on a swinging gate.

   McCarty, who left the game in the final minute of the third quarter with a sprained knee, had 112 yards on 20 carries.

   "He's just an outstanding running back," Friend said. "He put up some decent numbers."

   Neshoba tacked on one more score midway through the second quarter when it took over at the West 38 after pinning the Knights deep. After Joseph Willis twice threw for first downs, once to Will James on a third-and-seven and then hitting Caleb Crenshaw on a second-and-9, the Rockets turned to Patrick Burrage, who picked up 12 yards on two totes, including the final 7 yards to the end zone with 4:47 remaining in the half.

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