HAZLEHURST — Leading 12-7 at halftime, Tylertown appeared to be in good position to pull off an upset over defending State 3A champion Hazlehurst.
But Tylertown couldn’t maintain the pressure over the next 24 minutes of play. Hazlehurst made the big plays the second half and scored 13 points off turnovers on its way to a 34-12 victory Friday night in the South State semifinals at Robert McDaniel Stadium.
One of the aforementioned big plays was a 102-yard interception return by defensive back Dycelious Reese with just 31 seconds left in the game.
Another Hazlehurst interception in the third quarter led to a 42-yard touchdown run by Reese. On the second play of the possession, Reese cut off right tackle for the score and a 27-12 advantage with 9:16 left in the stanza.
“We played our style of game the first half. The second half turned into Hazlehurst’s style of play,” Tylertown head coach Jason Johnson said. “We wanted to slow the pace of the game and limit their possessions. We did that the first half.”
Johnson said the second half was another matter.
“I think our numbers got to us the second half,” Johnson said. “We have seven who go both ways and that wore on us. It’s hard to throw when you get behind and it makes the scoreboard look worse than it really is.”
Chiefs’ quarterback Ja’moz Mark was 12 of 26 passing for 85 yards and threw three interceptions. His twin brother, Ja’Mori Mark, had his one halfback pass intercepted as well.
Tylertown saw its seven-game winning streak snapped and completed the season 8-6 overall. The Indians improved to 13-1 and plays Wilkinson County next Friday for the South State championship. Wilkinson County eliminated Seminary, 20-18 Friday night.
Penalties were especially troublesome for the Chiefs. They were penalized seven times for 65 yards, but the penalties came at the worst possible times for the Chiefs. Big plays by Tylertown that appeared to result in a first down were nullified by costly penalties.
One call in particular hurt Tylertown’s chances at pulling off the upset. The Chiefs faced third-and-20 from their own 28 near the end of the third quarter. Ja’moz Mark completed a pass to Vashea Jefferson for an improbable first down, but a holding call behind the play nullified the gain.
Tylertown punted and Hazlehurst took advantage and scored in three plays. D’Alex Rockingham burst off the right side for a 45-yard touchdown run, giving Hazlehurst a 21-12 lead.
During the second half, Johnson was livid along the sidelines over the perceived infractions.
“By the rules, we’re not allowed to criticize the officiating,” Johnson said. “But I will say I have better moral convictions than to criticize referees. I do hate the way my kids were done.”
Hazlehurst took the game’s first possession and drove 67 yards in 14 plays to score. The 5:32 drive was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jarvis Warner, who scored standing up.
Ja’Mori Mark’s 41-yard kickoff return to the Hazlehurst 43 got the Chiefs going. A 13-play drive was culminated by Mark’s 1-yard plunge for the score at the 10:48 mark of the second quarter.
After a Hazlerhurst punt on the next series, Tylertown was right back at it.
The Chiefs marched 66 yards in 12 plays. Ja’Moz Mark went around left end for the score 3:35 before halftime. The run for two failed, but Tylertown led 12-7.
The Indians asserted themselves quickly at the start of the second half. On the third play from scrimmage, Reese took a middle screen 61 yards for a score and a 14-12 lead with 10:35 to go in the third.
After the score, Ja’Mori Mark’s 41-yard return gave Tylertown field position at the hosts’ 43. In eight plays, Tylertown got as far as the 8, but bogged down. On fourth down from the 10, a pass fell incomplete.
A fumble recovery by senior defensive back Curtis Magee at the Hazlehurst 23 gave the Chiefs another opportunity. But Ja’Mori Mark’s halfback pass to Ja’Moz Mark killed that threat.
Reese scored from 42 yards out off right tackle for a 27-12 lead with 9:16 left.
“You’re always disappointed when it ends,” Johnson said. “Our six seniors had a great career at Tylertown. They were district champions all four years.”
Tylertown’s seniors are cornerback Ben Smith, tight end Gabriel Johnson, fullback Jenkins Lacroix, guard Damichael Payton, tackle LaWayne Lenoir and Magee.
