Jarquez Hunter finished with 223 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries for Neshoba Central as the Rockets defeated Canton 35-12 on homecoming in Thursday evening prep football action.

The threat of Hurricane Delta forced most East Mississippi teams to move their Friday night games to Thursday night.

Hunter also caught three passes for 56 yards, and the Rockets finished with 418 yards of total offense to Canton’s 205. Quarterback Eli Anderson went 6 of 12 passing for 76 yards and an interception while also having two rushing touchdowns.

“I thought we played well,” Neshoba Central head coach Patrick Schoolar said. “Defensively, we played really well all night long, and we’ve said since Day 1 that we’ll lean on them until we figure things out offensively. On offense, I thought we did some good things, but we have to get better in all facets of the game.”

Defensively, Jaharon Griffin finished with 10 tackles, seven assists, four sacks and three quarterback hurries. Kelby Holmes tallied eight tackles, one assist and one sack, and Jashawn Mathis had six tackles, four assists and one sack.

“Our defense, as good as they are, is very underrated as far as national people knowing their names,” Schoolar said. “They’re as good a unit as I’ve ever coached. Griffin’s stat line is a career stat line for a lot of people, and he and Kelby do that week in and week out. I’ll go out on a limb and say we have a top-three linebacking corps in the state of Mississippi.”

Neshoba Central improved to 6-0 overall, 3-0 in Region 2-5A. The Rockets have a bye next week before returning to Region 2-5A action Oct. 23 at home against Ridgeland.

“It’ll give us two weeks to prepare for Ridgeland, which will be a good battle,” Schoolar said. “I think the winner of our game will decide the division.”

LAMAR 31, HERITAGE 14 

Will Morris went 16-for-26 passing with 285 yards and three touchdowns for Lamar as the Raiders beat Heritage Academy at home Thursday.

Daulton Nelson rushed 26 times for 102 yards and a touchdown, and Miller Hodge caught the ball seven times for 173 yards and a touchdown. Hayden Farrar finished with four catches for 62 yards and a score for Lamar, and Farrar also had two interceptions on defense.

Zagar Cooper hit a 22-yard field goal for the Raiders. 

The Raiders (5-2, 2-1) have won four straight and will travel to Hartfield Academy next week.

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 50, RUSSELL CHRISTIAN 35

Micah Taylor threw for 286 yards and five touchdowns, but Russell Christian Academy fell to Jacksonville Academy in Thursday night ACEA football action.

Destin Lea rushed eight times for 87 yards, and Kyle Ingram finished with 164 yards receiving and two touchdown catches.

On defense, John Benny Jones had 13 tackles, Barrett Harwell tallied nine tackles and Issac Watson finished with seven tackles.

RCA fell to 6-2 on the season.

LEAKE CENTRAL 30, NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE 16

Chris Hardy was 9 of 19 passing for 104 yards, and Ja’Michael Jackson had a touchdown run, but Northeast Lauderdale fell to Leake Central Thursday in Region 4-4A action.

LaSanto Rowe had a kickoff return for the Trojans, and Trey Murphy made a field goal for Northeast Lauderdale to round out its scoring.

Northeast Lauderdale (1-5, 0-2) plays at Choctaw Central next week.

ENTERPRISE 38, MIZE 0 

The Bulldogs (4-0) tallied 408 yards of total offense as they blanked Mize Friday at Enterprise’s homecoming.

Kristian Milsap rushed seven times for 101 yards for Enterprise, while Ridge Kidd added two carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Derryon Gray was 3-for-6 passing for 92 yards and a touchdown, and Milsap had a 30-yard touchdown reception.

Defensively, John Campbell had two tackles for loss for Enterprise, and Trace Roy finished with two tackles and one assist, while Milsap had a sack.

Enterprise hosts Taylorsville next week.

OTHER SCORES

Morton 27, Clarkdale 20

Newton County 45, Quitman 0

Sylva Bay Academy 35, Newton County Academy 10

Union 42, Stringer 3

Philadelphia 34, Lake 0

Louisville 35, Choctaw Central 3

Christian Collegiate Academy 48, Kemper Academy 42 (Friday)