Yes, the South Pike Eagles have a passing game.
South Pike’s vaunted rushing attack in the Wing-T has garnered most of the attention this season with three backs each with the ability to surpass the century mark in any given game.
South Pike junior quarterback William James has not been called upon to show his passing ability much this season, as his 23 pass attempts on the season suggests.
But when James was called on to put the ball in the air Friday night in the second round of the South State 4A playoffs against heavy favorite Forrest County AHS, James — generously listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds — delivered in a big way.
With South Pike leading 6-0 in the first quarter and backed up at its own 19 following an AHS punt, James dropped back and heaved a long pass downfield to senior wingback Dewayne Pounds. Pounds gathered the ball in without breaking stride and raced into the end zone for a 12-0 advantage with 5:17 left in the opening quarter.
The touchdown pass was James’ third of the season and the longest completion of the season. It was also his only pass attempt of the game,
The touchdown pass also proved to be the catalyst in South Pike 36-28 victory.
The victory put South Pike at 8-5 overall and moved the Eagles into the third round. South Pike travels to play Quitman in the next round. Quitman (9-4) defeated 10-3 Florence 35-14 Friday.
Forrest County AHS was eliminated and finished the season 11-2 overall.
“I knew we needed a big play. I saw Pounds open, so I needed to get it to him before he was covered,” James said. “We practiced on it all week. That had to be my most accurate pass of the season.”
“That was just beautiful. All along, we knew we had to work on our passing game,” said South Pike coach Willie Brown. “That play-action pass is hard to defend, especially with the way we run the ball so well. He put it on the money.”
Leading 28-21 after three quarters, South Pike held off a late AHS charge in the waning seconds.
After South Pike marched 85 yards in 10 plays to score on a Russell Roberts 1-yard plunge with 67 seconds left, AHS returned the kickoff 73 yards.
On the first play from the 9, Wingback Dontavian Lee threw to Le’Darian Lee for the touchdown with 52 seconds left. Grant McLaurin’s second of two successful PAT kicks made it 36-28.
South Pike recovered the on-sides kick. A James kneel down ran out the clock.
“They run the Wing-T just like we do, but they throw the ball more,” Brown said. “We were able to stop them early. This was like a heavyweight fight going 15 rounds in that the team which makes the most plays is going to win. (AHS) wasn’t going to lay down.”
South Pike jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter before Forrest AHS knew what had hit it.
On the game’s opening series, James sneaked it in from 1 yard out at the 8:33 mark following an 80-yard march in seven plays. A 48-yard run to the 1 by Pounds was the drive’s key play.
Leading 12-0 after James’ long pass, Jamorris Shaw recovered a fumble on the kickoff at the AHS 35. On the fourth play, Roberts burst up the middle 30 yards for the touchdown 3:06 before halftime. Pounds ran it in for the first of his two successful two-point conversions.
The Aggies recovered a fumble at their own 30 to help them get started toward their first score. AHS covered the distance in eight plays. Stacey Garner caught a 25-yard halfback pass from Clarence Atkinson for the score 7:36 before halftime.
“I really don’t think they were trick plays,” Brown said. “That’s just a part of their offense. We kind of knew that was going to happen. They just caught us confused one or two plays.”
The Aggies scored 9 seconds before halftime after a 72-yard, 10-play drive. Dontavian Lee caught a 26-yard pass from Lukas Dubose. McKinley Howell caught the two-point conversion pass from Lee.
South Pike’s defense scored on the first play from scrimmage of the second half.
After a touchback, AHS had possession at the 20. On the first play, senior defensive end Charles Muse scooped up a fumble and took it 15 yards for the score and a 28-14 lead only 9 seconds into the third quarter.
“It was just like a rebound in basketball,” said Muse, who also plays center on the basketball team. “I’m real proud of that.”
“We needed that. That was a big play,” Brown said.
AHS coach Larry Dolan agreed.
“The turnover opening the second half killed us,” Dolan said. “We weren’t as sharp as we’ve normally been, but South Pike might have had something to do with that.”
Hunter Young’s 5-yard touchdown run got the Aggies to within 28-21 with 10:04 left in the quarter. A 41-yard kickoff return helped set up the score.
Defensively, linebackers Dayon Simmons and Roberts both had eight tackles. Simmons is second on the team in tackles with 78. Kentyrelle Allen and Austin Gross both had five tackles Friday.
“Look at this team we just played. I knew we could play with them,” Brown said. “We’ve just got to take it one game at a time. Anything is possible. I’m just happy to be a part of this family.”
