South Pike’s run at a 3A state championship fell short Friday night as the Purvis Tornadoes eeked out a 20-18 overtime victory at Colee Field.
The loss ended the season prematurely for an Eagles team that always seemed to find a way to win this season.
South Pike finished the 2007 grid campaign at 6-4, claiming the District 7 title along the way with a 5-1 district record.
It was a disappointing finish for the Eagles, who hoped to advance further in the playoffs this season after last year’s first-round elimination at Hazlehurst.
“I thought we would go a little deeper,” South Pike coach Randall Huffman said. “But that’s the way this game is. If we get a break here or get a break there it’s a whole different ballgame. We didn’t get any in the second half.”
For a team that had stepped up and pulled off several last second victories this year, the Eagles came up a yard short Friday night.
With the score tied 12-12 at the end of regulation, Purvis scored on its first possession of overtime when Mike Saucier crossed the goal line from 2 yards out. Saucier then forced his way into the end zone to complete the two-point conversion giving the Tornadoes a 20-12 lead.
In overtime, the ball is placed on the 10-yard line and teams have four plays to score. South Pike needed all four downs after hitting a wall against the Purvis defense.
On 4th-and-5, with the game in the balance, Eagle quarterback Isaac Tate somehow managed to find a hole and plowed into the end zone for the touchdown. The score put South Pike within striking distance at 20-18.
But the Eagles couldn’t find a seam in the Purvis defense to complete the two-point conversion and Tate’s quarterback draw was stopped shy of the goalline.
“We knew it was going to be a close game,” Huffman said. “Anytime you go to overtime you’re in a situation where you know you have to score to stay in the game. We let (Purvis) hang around too long. They figured us out and we couldn’t get anything going again. We had chances to put them away early and we didn’t.”
South Pike dominated the first half of play and it appeared the Eagles would have an easy time with the fourth-place finisher from District 8. Purvis made some defensive changes at halftime and closed the Eagle running lanes leaving South Pike’s offense scrambling to make plays.
The Eagles scored on their opening drive of the game going 34 yards on the ground before Tate hooked up with wide receiver Brian Byrd for a 20-yard touchdown reception across the middle.
The touchdown gave South Pike a 6-0 lead.
The Eagle defense was out in full force in the first half. Eagle defensive back Donell Jackson had one of his biggest games of the season.
The senior was all over the field aided by Brandon Hall, DeMario Richard, LaBradley Morgan, Jewel Christian, Brandon Givens and LaDarrius Stallings. Adrian Ross stepped up, too, for the Eagles on defense and helped shut down the Tornadoes in the first half.
“Our seniors did a great job this year,” Huffman said. “We didn’t have many of them, but they really showed some heart. We had a lot of young kids. We needed that senior leadership. It was some of the best we’ve ever had.
“Our coaching staff did a great job too. They worked hard all season and never complained.”
At halftime the score was 6-0 and it looked like both teams would buckle down and grind out the remainder of the game. But with 2:14 to go in the third quarter, Purvis picked off a pass deep in South Pike territory and went on to score when Jayboyria Badon took it in from 5 yards out. The extra point attempt was no good leaving the score tied 6-6.
A South Pike turnover on its next possession set up a second Purvis touchdown when Tornado quarterback Andrew Lacina hit Saucier for a 31-yard
touchdown pass play and a 12-6 lead.
The Eagles battled back and drove 65 yards, culminating the drive when Owen Royal Jr. burst through the line for a 16-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 12.
Royal and John Taylor took turns running the ball through some big gaps in the Tornadoes defensive line, but the gaps narrowed in the second half making it more difficult for the Eagles to move the ball.
Royal finished the game with 82 yards on 10 carries and led the team.
Taylor rushed for 75 yards on the night on 13 carries.
Tate carried the ball 13 times for 57 yards. He was 5-of-12 passing for 65 yards with two interceptions.
Badon was Purvis’ top rusher. He picked up 113 yards on 19 attempts, followed by Saucier
who rushed 19 times for 79 yards.
“Almost all of our young kids got some good playing time this year,” Huffman said. “That’s going to be good experience for next year.”
