By Don Rowe
Special to The Dispatch
ABERDEEN – Although there are no statistics to back it up, most high school coaches believe it is difficult to beat a team twice in the same season.
That theory turned out to be spot-on here Friday for AHS coach Mark Bray, as division rival Kemper County avenged a home-field 40-36 setback back on October 10 with a come-from-behind 52-14 win over Aberdeen to bounce the Bulldogs from the Class 3A playoffs.
High-powered Kemper County came into the game sporting a 10-3 overall record, including wins over Water Valley (64-34) and Cleveland East Side (42-6) in the first two rounds of the playoffs, so the Wildcats’ offensive prowess was no surprise to Bray.
“Based on the shoot-out we had the first time around, I knew they had the ability to put points on the board,” said Bray after the game. “I also thought we would score on them, but that wasn’t the case here tonight.”
Bray’s erroneous belief was buoyed by two quick Aberdeen touchdowns and a 14-0 lead less than six minutes into the game. But then the explosive Wildcats turned to their ground-and-pound game and dropped 52-straight points on an Aberdeen defense which was either a step behind, out of position or just couldn’t make a tackle for the remainder of the game.
“They ran at will in the first game and after their first two series tonight, we just couldn’t get the stops,” said Bray. “And when we did get the ball back we had to go the length of the field.”
In the shoot-out six weeks ago, Kemper County picked up 257 yards rushing on 35 carries, with a long run of 48. If Bray thought the ‘Cats “ran at will” the first go-round, he was in for the shock of his life as the Wildcats had amassed 230 yards by halftime and punched out 244 more in the second half en route to a 474 yards rushing total – a 9.5 average every time they ran the ball.
“When you get to the third round of the playoffs, you’ve got to play better defense and you’ve got to score more points,” said Bray.
Second-year Kemper County head coach Chris Jones can thank senior running backs Devante Scott and Lacederick Odom, along with sophomore quarterback Eric Clark, for the lopsided turnaround.
Scott proved to be the workhorse for the ‘Cats with 232 yards on 36 carries and Odom chipped in with 177 yards on just nine carries – seven of which went for eight yards or more. Clark, meanwhile, finished with 57 yards on only four carries.
“In my opinion, I think our running backs are two of the best in the state,” said Jones, who should know a good one when he sees one after a sterling career as a wide receiver at Jackson State and a brief professional career with the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2005-09.
Jones, who played quarterback for AHS nemesis M.C. Miller at Noxubee County, said Aberdeen’s quick start had him concerned, but he felt his squad had what it took to get back in the game.
“We came into the game determined to stop their quarterback from running the ball and they burned us with the pass their first two possessions,” said Jones. “But we made some adjustments and thank God they worked.”
It took Aberdeen two minutes and 10 seconds on its first possession to take a 6-0 lead. The Dogs opened with three straight completions, one for 17 yards to Jerrick Orr and two to B.J. Williams for 22 and 11 yards respectively before three straight short runs by Donte Carter set up a 5-yard TD dash by quarterback Josh Williams.
The Bulldogs dodged the proverbial bullet on Kemper County’s initial possession when a 26-yard kickoff return, a 15-yard face mask penalty and a pass interference call against Aberdeen set the Wildcats up with a first at the 15. But the Dogs’ defensive unit came up with one of its rare stops on the night when Orr drove receiver Otis Cross out of bounds at the seven on a fourth-and-10.
Four plays and a successful 2-point conversion later, it was a 14-0 game. Williams started the series by recovering a bobbled snap at the one-half yard line, but then sandwiched pass completions of 42 yards to Tyreke Gates and a 55-yard TD pass to Orr around a 2-yard run by Carter. A shuffle pass to Carter gave Aberdeen a 14-point advantage with 6:49 to play in the first quarter.
Those two series covering 164 total yards proved to be the last hurrah for the Dogs, as Aberdeen mustered just 147 total yards the remainder of the first period and then over the final three quarters.
“Things didn’t look good there early on,” said Jones, who reportedly also qualified for the United States Olympic fencing team but did not participate due to his Jackson State football commitments. “But I have to take my hat off to our defense – they didn’t panic.”
A protege of M.C. Miller, Jones credits his former coach and boss with teaching him what it takes to be successful coach.
“He taught me how to play physical, how to build a tradition, how to do things the right way and how to develop structure on a football team,” said Jones. “Having played and lost to Aberdeen last year and then again earlier this year, coach Miller advised me what it took to beat Aberdeen and I listened.”
Bray’s defense came up with its second stop after Kemper County drove to the Dogs’ 21 when Gates stopped Cross three yards short of a first at the Aberdeen 18 on the Wildcats’ second possession. The Bulldogs then marched to Kemper’s 32, but a fourth-and-inches run by Williams came up short and Aberdeen lost an opportunity to take a three-touchdown lead early in the second quarter.
Kemper County’s potent offensive unit promptly marched 67 yards for its first score, a 7-yard run by Scott out of the Wildcat, but the 2-point conversion run failed.
Aberdeen’s next possession ended with a fumble near midfield and Kemper County took advantage of the turnover with a game-tying touchdown and 2-point conversion by Scott. Prior to the score, Scott had a 24-yard touchdown called back on a holding penalty and then a chop block infraction gave Kemper a first-and-34 back at their own 48.
But three straight pass completions by Clark covering 40 yards moved the ball to the 13 and set up Scott’s second touchdown of the game with just under five minutes left in the second quarter.
Seconds before halftime, Odom capped a 70-yard march with a 57-yard TD scamper on which he weaved his way through Aberdeen’s entire defensive unit to give his team the lead for good at 20-14.
An 11-play, 70-yard march – all on the ground – ended on an 8-yard burst by Odom and a 2-point conversion run by Scott to start the third period upped the lead to 28-14 and the rout was on.
A short Aberdeen punt early in the fourth quarter gave Kemper a first at the Bulldogs 29 and it took the Wildcats just four plays to make it a 36-14 contest when Scott scored from a yard out and Cross hauled in the 2-point conversion pass.
Williams left the game with an injury on the Dogs’ next series and Kemper came up with an interception seven plays later on a tipped pass at its own 10 which was returned to the 43. After three short running plays, Scott bolted 49 yards and Cross added the conversion for a 44-14 lead with 1:26 left in the game.
Adding insult to injury, Odom converted an Aberdeen fumble into a 23-yard touchdown and Cross scored the 2-point conversion with 25 seconds left.
With the loss, Aberdeen finished the season with a 10-4 record, while Kemper County (11-3) moves on to the Class 3A North final against Charleston.
In spite of the dismal ending for the Bulldogs, Bray said his seniors have nothing to be ashamed about.
“The seniors don’t have to hang their heads for any reason,” said Bray. “They have had a great four years, 35 total wins and a couple of 10- and 11-win seasons and I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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