CRAWFORD — Randy Brooks wanted to run the ball Friday night.
Forced to go to the air after the ground game “sputtered,” Devalyn Bell provided a spark.
The senior quarterback threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more to lead the East Oktibbeha County High School football team to a 34-6 victory against Leake County.
“We played well in spots aside for the fact it was hot and we had quite a few cramps on both sides,” Brooks said.
Despite the heat, the Titans capitalized on an offseason in which they worked hard in the weight room, Brooks said. He said the offensive line did a fine job giving Bell plenty of time to throw. The receivers then did the rest by catching the passes.
“I expected us to do a better job rushing the ball because we have some good running backs and an experienced offensive line,” Brooks said. “For some reason, the running game kind of sputtered. We decided to open it up and test their conditioning against our conditioning.”
Bell was 11 of 21 with three passing touchdowns. He also had two rushing scores, including a 50-yard run for a touchdown. Terrence Rice caught two of the touchdown passes, while Kody Petty caught the other one.
The victory helps East Oktibbeha get one step closer to its goal of earning a chance to play host to a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs, which is something a team at the school has never done.
East Oktibbeha will play McAdams next week.
n West Oktibbeha 44, University Christian 36: At Flowood, “Great terrible, bad, and horrible” may not be the best way to open a season, but Adam Lowrey said his Timberwolves ran the gamut in their season-opening victory.
“You have to do what you have to do to win when you back is up against the wall,” Lowrey said. “Winners find ways to win and losers find a way to lose. By the grace of God we found a way to win.”
Lowrey said his team was “whipped” at halftime after University Christian used a punishing ground game “to ram the ball down his team”s throat,” according to Lowrey. Tied at 14 at halftime, West Oktibbeha turned the tables and used its running game to extend drives that ultimately wore University Christian down.
“With us keeping them on the field, we ended up wearing them down, and I think that is what changed the tide,” Lowrey said. “My boys hung in there in the third quarter, which really changed it over.”
Dwight Quinn had three touchdowns, and Shun Fair rushed for 118 yards Friday night to lead the Timberwolves.
Quinn had six catches for 95 yards, while Fair did his damage on 15 carries. The Timberwolves had 258 rushing yards.
Tiberias Lampkin, who had 88 rushing yards, led the defense with seven tackles and two tackles for losses.
Lowrey praised the play of Drake Powell and Michael Grace. He said both players played “exceptional” games and played “wonderfully” on both sides of the ball.
“We had to play everything because cramps were such an issue,” Lowrey said.
n In other local games, Pickens Academy lost its season opener to Southern Academy, 18-7.
Oliver Owens caught an 18-yard pass from Josh Lewis in the fourth quarter for the Pirates.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.