For the McComb Tigers, it was one step towards where they want to be. For the North Pike Jaguars, it was one rung they need to retake in a playoff bid.
The Tigers opened their home schedule Friday night with a dominating 39-21 win over the Jaguars at C.C. Moore Stadium.
It was McComb’s first win after three consecutive losses to open the season.
North Pike fell to 2-2.
“In my mind, we did what we were supposed to do,” McComb head coach Malcolm Jones said. “I’m kind of numb right now. A win at this point makes you feel better, but we’ve got a long ways to go.”
For South Pike head coach Chris Smith, the loss was simply a minor setback on the road to bigger and better things.
“This is one step on a ladder. There are 11 rungs to get where we want to be,” he said. “We made too many mistakes, and you can’t make mistakes against a good football team.”
In a game played in a steady mist, the two teams combined for 646 yards total offense. The Tigers outgained the Jaguars 373-273.
The Tigers’ quarterback tandem of Lamarvin Ashley and Marshall Dexter combined for 206 yards passing and four touchdowns.
Ashley was 7-of-13 passing for 181 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His favorite target was junior Demarcus Jenkins. The Tigers’ top rusher and receiver this season caught touchdowns of 49 and 16 yards, and added a 32-yard scoring run.
Jenkins finished with seven carries for 79 yards. He also reeled in three catches for 72 yards.
Before Ashley and Jenkins started their big nights, Dexter had his moment in the spotlight.
The senior’s one pass on the night was a 25-yard scoring toss to senior Tamarion Patterson to put the Tigers on top 6-0 with 3:15 to play in the opening quarter. The extra-point attempt failed.
The McComb defense, meanwhile, collared the Jaguars’ duo running back attack of senior LaDerrick Turner and junior Jalen Adams. While Turner was held to minus-2 yards on nine carries, Adams rushed six times, collecting 30 yards. The Jaguars had just 39 yards on the ground.
North Pike, meanwhile, was haunted by four turnovers, the first recovered by Tigers’ sophomore Jauvurion McCray at the Jaguars’ 37.
The Tigers wasted little time in taking advantage. On the first play of the second quarter, Ashley went around the right end for a 2-yard scoring run to make it 12-0 with 11:51 left before halftime. The PAT try again failed.
Later in the second period, a second North Pike fumble was recovered by Tigers’ junior Mike Anthony Robinson at the Jaguars’ 20.
On the next play, Ashley connected with junior Casey Coney on a 20-yard scoring pass with 4:48 to go before halftime. Dominic Cotton added the PAT to make it 19-0.
On its ensuing drive, North Pike drove 60 yards in four plays and got on the board when junior split end Tonnie Collins reeled in a 27-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Revis Butler to make it 19-7 with 3:30 left before halftime. Tyler Wilkinson added the PAT.
The Tigers quickly struck again, however, with Ashley hooking up with Jenkins on a 49-yard scoring play. Ashley’s pass over the middle found Jenkins at the North Pike 25-yard line. Jenkins then broke a tackle and dashed to the end zone to complete the scoring play to make it 25-7 with 3:09 before intermission. The PAT try failed.
The Jaguars drew closer with a quick 3-play, 72-yard drive that ended with Butler’s pass over the middle finding Collins at the McComb 30.
Collins broke a tackle and weaved his way through McComb’s defense to complete the 48-yard scoring play. Wilkinson added the extra point to make it 25-14 with 2:19 before halftime.
“I’m pleased with how we were able to move the ball,” Smith said. “We had a great game plan. But we made too many mistakes, especially on defense. We had some blown coverages, especially in the secondary. It’s frustrating when you work on it all week, then you do that.”
Jenkins also exposed a weakness in the North Pike run defense when he went around the right end, then cut back inside en route to a 32-yard touchdown run. Ashley then connected with Dexter on the two-point pass to balloon the Tigers’ lead to 33-14 with 9:47 left in the third period.
The score came one play after McComb had a 17-yard touchdown pass from Ashley to Dijon Seals nullified by a chop block penalty — one of three McComb scores on the night erased by chop block penalties.
Jenkins capped his big night when he hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Ashley with 3:23 left in the third to make it 39-14.
North Pike finished off the scoring when Adams broke a tackle around the right end and went in for a 5-yard scoring run with 11:23 to go. Wilkinson added the PAT.
McComb will enjoy its bye week on Friday night, before hosting Picayune on Sept. 25.
Meanwhile, North Pike travels to Loyd Star on Friday. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
