By Brian Livingston / blivingston@themeridianstar.com
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
If you are going to end a decade of frustration against a cross-county rival, then shattering a streak is the way to do it.
Amid a playoff-like atmosphere, the Southeast Lauderdale Tigers mauled the Northeast Lauderdale Trojans on Friday night at Northeast by the tune of 33-14. As fans and players alike romped on the field, Southeast coach Boo Smith, horse from urging his team on during the game, said his team just wanted this one more than the Trojans.
"Our motivation was the last 10 years of losing to this team," said Smith, as his players whooped it up in the background. "We ran hard and the receivers really went after the balls thrown to them."
Again, Ladarious Clark for the Tigers led the way, rushing 19 times for 98 yards and four touchdowns. Each time the Tigers got close they put the ball in the hands of their money man as they ended a 10-year losing skid and closed the series to 25-20 in favor of Northeast.
"We told the guys we'd win this one in the trenches and that is what we did," Smith said.
Northeast head coach Steve Nelson was certainly disappointed in his teams performance in front of the home crowd. He said the defense just didn't tackle well enough to stop the Tiger attack.
"We just didn't do a good job of stopping their running backs," said Nelson. "We could get them in long yardage situations but we let them off the hook. We, as coaches, have to get the kids better prepared."
Southeast opened up the game in excellent fashion as they started from midfield. Clark capped the 10-play drive from 2 yards out after two big passing plays from the arm of senior quarterback Shelby Moseley. Moseley, who finished the night 6 of 14 for 161 yards, connected with C. J. Scott for 25 yards and then 19 yards to the shifty Demarcus Pringle to move the Tigers deep into Trojan territory. Chase Pearson added the PAT and with 8:04 left in the first quarter, Southeast was up 7-0.
Northeast came right back but the Southeast defense, stopped the drive at their own 10-yard line. The Tigers would go on the prowl again mounting a nine-play, 90-yard drive. Clark and Pringle would provide the running game as they shared getting huge chunks of yardage — Clark breaking for a 25-yard scamper while Pringle added another 22 yards during the drive. Clark brokewould break through the middle from 1 yard out for the second Tiger score. Pearson tacked on the PAT for a 14-0 Southeast lead.
"We just couldn't get the defense off the field," Nelson said.
But the Trojans would respond.
A six-play, 55-yard drive was just what Northeast needed to get into the end zone and give their defense time to catch their breath. Junior quarterback Alex Nicholson, who finished the night 17 of 30 for 187 yards, found Ben Brooks for 12 yards. With the Jesse Lang PAT, the Trojans pulled to within a touchdown with 10:02 left in the half. Brooks finished the game with 106 yards receiving and a rushing touchdown.
Southeast answered with a 10-play, 67-yard drive highlighted by Clark taking in a swing pass from Moseley on the left side. Clark started up the sideline and then cut back across the field against the grain of the defense. He was finally run down at the Trojan 10. Three plays later Clark slashed in from the 3. Pearson's PAT gave Southeast a commanding 21-7 lead going into halftime.
Northeast, after giving the ball up on downs at the Southeast 39 on its first possession of the second half, let a golden opportunity slip away from them midway through the third quarter.
Driving from their own 20 down to the Southeast 14, Nicholson, who threw four interceptions on the night, suffered his first interception when Tiger cornerback Jagradi Webster stepped in front of Nicholson's intended target, Brooks, at the Tiger 10-yard line. Webster would grab his second theft on Northeast's next possession as the Trojans were driving deep into Southeast territory again.
The Tigers took over at their own 28 and put together an eight-play, 72-yard drive. From the Northeast 47, Moseley found his tall, athletic wide receiver Nathan Freeze who plucked the pass out of the sky for a 38-year gain down to the Trojan 9. On the next play, Clark picked up his fourth touchdown on the night.
Northeast would show signs of not giving up with 4:03 left in the game when Brooks took a reverse pitch 4 yards to paydirt. But it was too little, too late.
Southeast's Pringle would seal the deal on the ensuing drive from 9 yards out. The PAT was no good but the Tigers celebrated the 33-14 win and maybe the start of a new streak — this time in their favor.
