CLINTON — Calvary Christian's team motto was Focus Forward.
The Cougars can now add back-to-back state champions to the mantra, as Calvary pulled away from Tensas Academy 72-42 at Robinson-Hale Stadium on the Mississippi College campus Thursday to win its second straight MAIS 8-man state crown.
"At the beginning of the season it was a lot of pressure," Calvary senior quarterback Kyle Koch said. "But we just did our conditioning, worked on our timing and came out here and did what we were supposed to."
The Cougars downed the Chiefs 64-54 last year to win the initial title.
The start to Thursday's rematch looked similar to the season-opening meeting between the state powers when Calvary outgunned Tensas 92-60, as each team scored on its first three possessions. However, the Cougars (10-1) pulled away late due to its defense.
"Turning the intensity level up in the fourth quarter, especially defensively, is what turned this thing around," Calvary coach Kirby Newell said. "It was the best quarter we've played all year-long, on both sides of the football.
"The game got a little tight there, but the kids responded."
Calvary blanked Tensas (10-2) in the second quarter to rebound from a 22-20 deficit to lead 34-22 at the break. The Cougars led just 40-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
Calvary's defense even got involved in the scoring in the final period when Zach Carpenter picked off a screen pass at the Chiefs 35 and raced to the end zone for the final score with 2:39 remaining. Koch then sealed the win with an interception in the end zone on the game's final play.
"Now, that was fun," he said about the interception after totaling 610 yards on offense. Koch completed 20 of 31 passes for 412 yards and rushed for 198 yards on 17 carries. He also accounted for nine touchdowns — four rushing and five passing.
Most of that damage offensively came in connection with wide receiver Johnathan Bartlett. The senior hauled in nine passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair of long scores to bookend the win.
He set the tone early as he turned a screen pass into a 74-yard score on the second play of the game. Then, with the Cougars clinging to a 48-42 lead following a 79-yard kickoff return touchdown from the Chiefs' Austin Emfinger, Bartlett streaked wide open on a wheel route to haul in a 66-yard touchdown pass.
"I've got so much confidence in him," Newell said. "If we can the ball to him on the outside in a little space, of course he can do it. And that's his game."
Prior to the final hookup with Bartlett, Koch hit Desmond Grayson on a 20-yard scoring pass with 10 minutes remaining to push Calvary's lead to 48-36. The score followed a fumble from Tensas' Kellon Lee following a 5-yard reception. The Chiefs turned it over four times and Calvary scored following the first three.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game coming in here," Bartlett said. "That was the key, you've got to play a good game."
However, Calvary was unable to pull away prior to the fourth quarter, in part due to a Tensas-dominated third quarter. The Chiefs scored on the initial possession and then recovered an onside kick. The result was just eight plays for the Cougars in the quarter.
"The third quarter was an absolute nightmare for us because of the onside kick," Newell said. "I just said, 'Can we get back? Can we get it back?'"
The Cougars got it back, including the state title.
Sports
Championship Repeat
Cougars down Chiefs again for title
- Sports
-
-
Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
Adding to his impressive collection of coaching hardware, East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was presented with the 2011 George Sekul Award during the All-American Football Foundation’s Banquet of Champions held earlier this month at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
-
The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
-
Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
-
Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
