On the opening kickoff, both McComb and South Pike’s bands were playing the same song.
Once the Eagles started from their 38-yard line, the two teams didn’t sing the same tune for the rest of the night.
South Pike’s defense scored nine points and set up the offense for an easy shot at the rest on its way to a 28-0 victory over McComb.
The Eagles shut McComb out after losing the previous two seasons by scores of 7-0 and 6-0.
“We’ve been waiting for that for two years,” South Pike defensive lineman Jewel Christian said. “Glad it finally came out.”
South Pike held McComb scoreless by limiting the Tigers’ field position and forcing some turnovers.
The Eagles first points came off an interception return for a touchdown when TraBradley Morgan jumped a route in the first quarter and returned it 20 yards for the score.
Next, South Pike recovered a McComb fumble and started on the Tiger 22. After first-and-goal on the 9-yard line the Eagles had made it to the 4th-and-inches inside the 1.
Quarterback Tevin Martin couldn’t sneak it in as McComb’s line and linebackers got enough of a push to stand Martin up and keep him out of the end zone.
With the momentum swung the Tigers had a shot, but had to start from their 1.
Mario Smith broke through the line on the first carry, but as he stumbled to the ground, the ball came out and was recovered by South Pike.
It only took three plays for the Eagles to score from the 9 as Martin took it in for a 14-0 lead at the start of the second quarter.
Lavern Vaughn had two tackles for a loss in McComb’s next two series before Brandon Givens was held in the end zone while pursuing McComb quarterback Marshall Dexter for a safety and a 16-0 lead.
Three plays after the free kick, John Taylor ran in from 2yards out for another touchdown.
McComb’s next possession ended with a snap over the punter’s head. South Pike took over on the 16-yard line, and quarterback Isaac Tate ran in from there for the final points of the game.
“I don’t know if we can play any better on defense,” South Pike head coach Randall Huffman said. “We were pretty consistent from our down play to our defensive backs and our linebackers.”
With the defense stopping the Tigers and getting good field position, the Eagles had their pick on offense as well.
“We got them on traps inside and they took the inside away, so we attacked outside,” Huffman said.
Jasper Martin was the main beneficiary of migrating outside as he gained 70 yards for the Eagles on six carries.
The second half saw more tough play from the defense as each side recovered early third quarter fumbles, but cramps from the heat and the first game of the season also helped put a damper on third- and fourth-quarter offenses.
The Eagles stand at 1-0 for the first time in three years to enter the rest of their non-division slate without a loss.
“The first ballgame of the year is the one you need to win,” Huffman said.
“We’ll see how they react when they win.”
As for the Tigers, a myriad of turnovers and mistakes cloud what Coach Randy Martin saw as an improvement over last week’s jamboree.
“That’s the best goal line stand we’ve had here in a while,” Martin said. “They bowed up and got after it.”
Whenever the offense got rolling or the defense made a stop, a penalty, a fumble or a bad snap erased it pretty quickly.
Martin chalked it up to a young team gaining experience.
“Those are mistakes that players make that are doing things for the first time,” Martin said.
The experience did show through on defense for the Tigers. Linebackers Donovan Hill and Bradley Brock played well both stopping the run and getting after the quarterback and sophomore defensive end Tradarius Holloway was able to penetrate from his spot on the line.
