BROOKLYN —
Quitman quarterback Franklin Jones was in so much pain he could barely call his cadence from under center. The senior quarterback had taken a helmet to his side early in the fourth quarter and was in excruciating pain, but not even that was enough to stop him from leading the Panthers to a 47-40 win against Forrest County AHS on Friday night.
Down 26-19, Jones returned to the game after missing the Panthers last possession. He wasn’t going to let his team down, and he certainly wasn’t going to spend his final game sitting on the sidelines.
“It hurt every step I took,” Jones said. “But it is my senior year and I was determined to fight through the pain.”
A long kick return gave Jones and Panthers the ball at the Aggie 32-yard line to start. Even with the good field position, the task was still daunting for the quarterback.
After a false start to begin the drive, Jones connected with Kyle Colston for a 24-yard gain to give the Panthers the ball at the Aggie 13-yard line.
However, three-straight plays failed to produce any yards, and Quitman was faced with a fourth-and-10 with its season on the line.
Once again, battling pain with every small movement he took, it was up to Jones to save the Panthers. On fourth down, the quarterback dropped back and delivered a bullet through traffic, hitting receiver Tavarious Moore in the end zone for the 13-yard touchdown to tie the game at 26-26.
“It was like a story book, or something from the movies,” Jones said. “I’m just glad it happened to us.”
Heading into overtime, Jones continued to carry the Panthers. After the pocket collapsed on a third and 12, the agile quarterback scrambled his way out of pressure and scampered into the end zone to give the Panthers a 33-26 lead.
“I was just focused,” Jones said. “There was no way I was going to let us lose.”
The Aggies would answer back on their possession, sending the game into double overtime. Forrest County AHS would come back again on its next possession, scoring on a half-back pass to put them on top 40-33 to put the pressure right back on Quitman.
Jones just kept coming, taking the ball for nine yards on first down and jumping over the goaline on second down to tie the game.
Quitman running back Josh Davis would rumble in from three yards out on the Panthers next possession to give Quitman a 47-40 lead in the third over time.
This time, it was the Panthers defense that stepped for Quitman. The Panthers forced fourth and goal from the four-yard line when Aggie Quarterback Carter Hankins dropped back for a pass. Quitman linebacker Joshua Robinson was there for the Panthers though, stepping in front of a pass in the back of the end zone to ice the win 47-40 for the visiting Panthers.
The win moves Quitman to South State where it will travel to Greene County next week for a chance to play in the state championship.
“It’s going to take practice, hard work and focus,” Jones said. “They are a real good football team and we have to prepare for them.”
Sports
Quitman edges Forrest County AHS in three OTs
- Sports
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Newton County beats Houston 10-0 to claim 7th fast-pitch championshi
Players from Newton County’s dugout barely made it to the foul line before a celebratory dogpile ensued here Saturday. Indeed, winning never gets old.
The Lady Cougars blanked Houston 10-0 Saturday at Freedom Ridge Park, completing an easy sweep of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series and gaining a measure of revenge after falling short a year ago. -
Rockets roar by East Central, claim 5A crown
Trae Embry took somewhat of a gamble when he accepted the softball
coaching job at Neshoba Central -- leaving his hometown and his comfort zone for a
new opportunity. - Newton County wins state
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Enterprise falls twice to East Webster
It just wasn't to be.
After 16 innings of big plays and tense moments, the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs fell just short of their third MHSAA Class 2A State Fast-Pitch Softball Championship on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision in the decisive game three. But EHS head coach Davey Dewitt said he was pleased with the way his team played, battling East Webster to the last out. -
Richmond leaves Clarkdale for Neshoba Central
Former Clarkdale High School head football coach Chris Richmond is leaving the team to serve as a position coach at Neshoba Central next season. Richmond, who went 1-21 in his two seasons as the Bulldogs head coach said the move to Neshoba will help him stay closer to his family
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Neshoba Central shuts out East Central 8-0
Neshoba Central’s last two rounds of the state softball playoffs involved grueling series wins over Lake Cormorant and New Hope. And while no one knows what today holds in the Class 5A State Championship Series, the Lady Rockets zipped through East Central like a hot knife through butter in Ridgeland Friday night.
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Enterprise tops East Webster 6-3
Just one more win.
That's how far away the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs are from closing out an amazing season. After beginning the year 4-8, EHS has won 15 of their last 19 games, including Friday afternoon's 6-3 win over East Webster in the MHSAA Class 2A Fast-Pitch Softball Championships. -
Newton County romps Houston 16-3
In the second inning of the opening game of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series, Newton County left the bases loaded without pushing across a run and coach Justin Chaney said he was worried his squad wasn’t taking advantage of a key opportunity.
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Upton, Braves slam Dodgers 8-5
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
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Enterprise in search of 3rd fast-pitch title
Davey Dewitt has accomplished a lot in his first year as head softball coach at Enterprise High School. After a runner-up performance in 2A slow-pitch last fall, Enterprise and Dewitt have returned to the state championships in fast-pitch.
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