Tylertown finally found an offense that could match itself play for play, and it subsequently ended the Chiefs’ state title hopes.
Greene County used four scoring plays of 28 yards or more Friday night en route to a 49-26 win over Tylertown in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The loss ends Tylertown’s season at 10-2 along with any hopes the Chiefs, who were early favorites to represent 4A South, may have had of making a trip to Jackson.
“We played well. We played our guts out and we lost to a good football team,” Tylertown coach Jason Johnson said. “What else can you say?”
Both teams went back and forth to start the game and Greene County took a 21-14 lead heading into halftime using several big plays. Greene County scored on plays of 65, 44, 28 and 31 yards and never trailed the entire game.
Tylertown had its chances in the second half but those ended when Green County intercepted Tylertown quarterback Tyre’oune Holmes and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown and a 42-24 lead.
The Chiefs had marched down to the Wildcats’ 38-yard line before the interception and a touchdown could have tied things at 34.
Holmes accounted for all four of Tylertown’s touchdowns and finished with a game-high 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Holmes also was 14 of 28 for 183 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions through the air.
“We played as good as could be expected with that type of team,” Johnson said. “We had stops. We created turnovers at opportune times. … The main storyline was in the trenches. We were beat in the trenches.”
Green County’s offensive line wore down Tylertown as the game went on. The Chiefs’ defense, which had been especially strong in the second half this season, allowed 28 points after halftime.
The Wildcats’ quick-strike ability forced the Chiefs into a come-from-behind passing mode, which isn’t exactly their forte — as evidenced by Holmes’ season-high 28 passes.
A 48-yard run by Holmes to start the second half cut the lead to 21-20 but Greene County quickly answered with a 28-yard run of its own.
Holmes then had another TD run, this one from 30 yards out, to make it 28-26.
Greene County quarterback Terrance Woods added a 1-yard TD plunge at the end of the quarter to give the Wildcats a 34-26 lead.
“They’re a big-play offense, and they were again tonight,” Johnson said. “We would hold them down, hold them down and then all of a sudden they would rip a long run or a long pass on us. It wasn’t one of those things where they ran up and down the field on us.”
Tylertown will lose Holmes, running back Chris Jones and defensive back LaDarrius Slocum to graduation, along with several others, but the Chiefs boast several talented young players and should be in the hunt for another district title next season.
“Our first season, I’ll deem as a success,” Johnson said. “And you would be a fool not to deem a 10-win season and a district championship a success. We’re proud of it, while not satisfied, but we are proud of our accomplishments and what we were able to do.”
