LAUREL — Tylertown had Laurel on the ropes Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A football playoffs but couldn’t find the knockout punch.
Tylertown used its familiar time-consuming, grind-it-out offensive attack to take an 18-14 lead with 9:06 to go.
But Laurel’s quick-strike offensive weapons teamed up to score what proved to be the winning touchdown with 2:20 left in the game at Laurel’s R.H. Watkins Stadium for a 21-18 victory to eliminate the Chiefs.
With the loss, Tylertown finishes the season 11-2 overall in its first season in 4A after moving up in classification.
Laurel (12-1) advances to play 10-4 Quitman, who was an 18-16 winner over South Pike. Laurel was the top seed out of Region 5, while Quitman was No. 3.
Tylertown’s kicking game proved to be a thorn in the Chiefs’ side, missing two extra points. Tylertown also lost a fumble at its own 23 on the kickoff return right after Laurel’s late touchdown that put the Golden Tornadoes up 21-18.
The Chiefs got the ball back on downs, but the damage had been done. Tylertown gained possession at its own 33 with 4.8 seconds left, but managed only a 24-yard completion to Willdarrius Smith as time expired.
Laurel also recovered an on-sides kick at the beginning of the game.
“We just struggled in the kicking game,” said Tylertown coach Walter Denton. “Situations like that will get you beat. You have to change all your plans if you don’t make (the PAT). You have to prepare two-point plays.”
The Chiefs marched 79 yards in 16 plays to go up 18-14 with 9:06 left in the game. THS junior quarterback Tyre’oune Holmes burst in from 2 yards out.
Chris Raiford was again wide right on the PAT, but the Chiefs led 18-14.
After an exchange of punts, Laurel gained possession at its own 12. The Tornadoes went the distance in 10 plays. Quarterback Dontreal Pruitt connected with Justin Mack on a short pass over the middle on a third-and-1. Mack, however, out-ran the defense for a 48-yard touchdown with 2:20 left.
Harrison Thomas added his third successful PAT.
“We tried to play (Mack) inside, but didn’t get a jam on him,” Denton said. “Good football players make good plays. We didn’t come up with the big play, but Laurel did. They deserved to win.”
Mack entered the game with 53 receptions for 1,042 yards and 18 touchdowns to lead the Tornadoes in that department.
“Mack got a crease and found his way into the end zone,” Laurel coach Milton Smith said. “(The Chiefs) were double-teaming Mack early, but took it off. The kids just made the plays and I’m tremendously proud of them.”
Pruitt had passed for 2,536 yards and 31 touchdowns entering the game. Before Friday, he had thrown just two interceptions.
Pruitt threw two interceptions Friday, including one that senior cornerback DeAlbert Pittman returned 35 yards for a touchdown with 5:35 left in the third quarter. The score gave the Chiefs a 12-7 lead after the run for two failed. Pittman had both interceptions.
Laurel snatched momentum right back.
On the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Pruitt lofted a pass to Dequan Heidelberg, who had gotten behind the defender. Heidelberg hauled in the pass at around the Tylertown 40 and avoided a shoe-string tackle for a 73-yard touchdown.
Pittman’s first pick led to Tylertown’s first score. Pittman picked off Pruitt at the Tylertown 38. From there, the Chiefs scored in 12 plays. Holmes scored from 1 yard out with 4:55 to go before halftime. That drive consumed seven minutes
“We wanted to slow Laurel down and control the clock,” Denton said. “That was our gameplan.”
Laurel went up 7-0 when Pruitt scored from 4 yards out at the 4:24 mark of the opening quarter. The hosts needed but four plays to score after a 24-yard punt. The Tornadoes took over at the Tylertown 40.
Tylertown junior running back Chris Jones led the Chiefs in rushing with 110 yards on 29 carries.
Denton said prospects for next season are bright as the Chiefs’ speed in the backfield returns. He said the offensive line will have holes to fill.
“We had a great season, but the goal at Tylertown is to not just make the playoffs, but to win state championships,” Denton said. “That’s the goal every year at Tylertown.”
