Although the game was already in hand, McComb’s Quartavious Smith returned his third punt of the season for a touchdown.
Well, the first two were called back on penalties; so the real thing was that much sweeter.
“I knew I had to get another … I had to try it again,” said Smith, whose 73-yard punt return in the fourth quarter helped seal McComb’s 28-0 win Friday over rival South Pike.
Smith had a touchdown called back last week in the opener against Terry. And another was called back against South Pike after an illegal block in the back occurred away from the play.
The third time was a charm for Smith. The senior fielded the punt at his own 27-yard line, took a step to the right, then darted back left as a wall of blockers formed near midfield.
Smith’s score was the icing on the cake for McComb (2-0), which avenged a 20-6 loss to South Pike (0-2) in 2011.
“We want to whoop them, they want to whoop us,” Smith said of McComb’s in-county rival. “Practice was awesome. Everybody was going at it and we took it to the game field.”
McComb overcame four turnovers and only 39 rushing yards by throwing for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the defense responded after allowing 28 points last week to Terry. The Tigers held the Eagles to 164 total yards and 134 rushing yards on 50 carries (2.68 yards per carry).
South Pike never really got its offense going and fumbled four times. The Eagles crossed the 50-yard line only three times, leaving the Tigers with outstanding field position for most of the game.
The Eagles also suffered a setback when quarterback and leading rusher William James left in the third quarter with a knee injury. James led all rushers with 64 yards.
Backup quarterback Jamorris Shaw chipped in with 48 yards on 15 carries.
“(McComb) is well organized and have been working together for quite a while … any time you have turnovers like that, it’s hard to win the ball game,” South Pike coach Michael Andrews said.
The first fumble came on the first play of the game and led to McComb’s initial touchdown. Junior quarterback Alex Woodall hit a streaking Kevonte Dillion in the middle of the field for a 17-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
Dillon hauled in four passes for 86 yards, but it was Smith who continued to be Woodall’s go-to receiver.
Smith grabbed five passes for 140 yards, including a 66-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter.
“It was good,” Smith said of the passing game. “We spread it. Everybody did their assignments.”
Woodall’s third touchdown pass went to sophomore Jacquarious Landrews in the third quarter. Woodall, who ran for 115 yards and threw for another 153 against Terry, rolled to his right and floated one into the arms of Landrews for a 19-yard score.
His only mistake came in the second quarter when he threw into triple coverage and was picked off.
“We realize with the offense we run, turnovers are going to happen,” Jones said. “You want to eliminate some of those, but I don’t want him to be scared back there from throwing the football.”
McComb gave away a golden opportunity when a bad exchange between Woodall and running back Aquindus Henson at South Pike’s 3-yard line led to a costly turnover.
South Pike marched the ball down the field after the turnover. The Eagles got all the way to McComb’s 21, but James fumbled on a fourth down keeper.
“No. 1, (Alex) shouldn’t have been under center,” Jones said. “He thought we told him to get under center and we fumbled.”
South Pike eyes its first win next Friday at home against Amite County, which South Pike beat 18-6 last year. The Trojans opened their season Friday, losing 32-8 to Wilkinson County.
McComb gets an extra week of rest before traveling to North Pike on Sept. 7. The Tigers also have a bye week after North Pike before opening district play against Stone County.
“It’s going to be hard, but we are going to keep pressing like we don’t have an off week,” Smith said.
