By Jamie Wachter / executive sports editor
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.
