TYLERTOWN — It wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
After losing 22 seniors following their unbeaten 15-0 state championship season in 2009, the Tylertown Chiefs weren’t supposed to be playing for the 2010 Class 3A South State championship.
“This was supposed to be a rebuilding year. We weren’t supposed to be here,” Tylertown head coach Walter Denton said.
But after wins over Saint Patrick, Southeast Lauderdale and Jefferson County in the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Chiefs were on the verge of another state championship game berth.
That dream, however, came to a crashing halt Friday night at the hands of the Forest Bearcats’ defense.
Tylertown was limited to 40 total yards of offense in a season-ending 21-0 loss to the Bearcats in the South State title game.
The loss also brought an abrupt end to the Chiefs’ 11-game winning streak. Tylertown finishes the season at 11-3.
It was the Bearcats’ ninth shutout of the season and sixth in their past seven games.
Forest (14-0) finds itself in the same position as Tylertown did last season. The Bearcats advance to next Saturday’s state championship against North State champion Aberdeen, a 28-0 winner over Winona on Friday night.
Aberdeen lost last season’s state title game to Tylertown, 34-20.
“They’ve had some shutouts this season,” Denton said. “Now we’re one of them.”
The Chiefs struggled with Forest’s bigger, more physical defensive line that plugged the gaps and stymied Tylertown’s ground attack.
Early on, the Chiefs’ defense appeared to be up to the task, holding Forest running back Jonathan Warnsley for no gain on fourth-and-inches from the Tylertown 47-yard line. After the officials’ measurement, the Bearcats were short of the first down by the nose of the football.
The Chiefs, however, struggled offensively and were held to just two first downs in the first half. Tylertown missed a golden opportunity to jump on top early when quarterback Ashton Ellzey’s pass went through the hands of running back Chris Jones.
Jones had beaten double coverage and was wide open in the middle of the field at the Forest 30-yard line, but the pass slipped through his fingers.
Forest took the lead on its second drive, an 8-play, 84-yard march that ended when quarterback Matthew Evans found tight end Marquez Johnson in the right front corner of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds to go in the first quarter. Juan Rodriguez added the extra point to make it 7-0.
After Tylertown again went three-and-out on its next drive, a high snap over punter Chris Raiford’s head gave Forest a first-and-goal at the Chiefs’ 4.
But Warnsley fumbled on the very next play, and Tylertown defensive tackle Kendrick Magee recovered the loose ball at the Chiefs’ 2.
The Tylertown drive, however, quickly stalled and the Chiefs’ punt was partially blocked and rolled out of bounds, giving Forest possession at the Chiefs’ 16.
Three plays later, fullback Quillian Jones went off left tackle for a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 with 7:12 to go in the first half. Rodriguez added the PAT.
Another Forest turnover, this one on a muffed punt return, gave Tylertown a first down at the Forest 27-yard line later in the second period.
But the Chiefs again struggled with the wet turf, soaked from rains earlier in the day. Ellzey twice found room around the left end, only to slip and fall for a loss.
The Chiefs’ defense stiffened in the third period. On Forest’s second possession of the second half, Tylertown cornerback Maquile Bridges stepped in front of a Forest receiver to break up Evans’ pass and force a Bearcats’ punt.
After another stalled Tylertown drive and punt, Forest gave the ball back when Warnsley, trying to run around the right end, slipped and fumbled and Chiefs’ cornerback Trye’oune Holmes recovered at the Tylertown 27.
Two plays later, however, Ellzey pitched to his left to Holmes, whose halfback pass was intercepted by Forest cornerback Nathan Reynolds near the Tylertown sideline at the Forest 43.
From there, the Bearcats found the end zone in seven plays when Treshawn Mitchell went around the right end en route to a 28-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 with 10:09 to play. Rodriguez added the PAT.
The Chiefs lost another scoring opportunity when De Albert Pittman scooped up a fumble and began running for the end zone after a Rodriguez 31-yard field goal try was blocked. But officials whistled the play dead, drawing Denton’s ire.
After the game, the Chiefs announced that defensive coordinator Jimmie Lee was retiring after 28 years at Tylertown.
“It’s pretty emotional to walk away,” Lee said, “when you work for one school for 28 years.
“I’m grateful for the effort the boys have given over the past 28 years,” Lee added. “I’ve gotten more satisfaction coaching players who didn’t have much talent and making them better football players.”
