INDIANOLA — The West Point High School football team opened regional play Friday night with a 34-8 victory against Indianola Gentry in a Class 5A, Region 1 matchup.
LaKendrick Thomas and Justin Cox each had two touchdowns for West Point, the defending Class 5A champions. Thomas scored on runs of 2 and 15 yards, while Cox threw a 17-yard scoring pass to William Harrell and ran 35 yards for another.
Cox completed 11 of 15 passes for 100 yards. The Green Wave collected 274 yards rushing on 43 attempts.
“I thought we did OK,” said West Point coach Chris Chambless, whose team is 4-1. “We had to adjust to that long, hot bus trip.”
Eric Lemus accounted for the other Green Wave points with field goals of 26 and 20 yards.
- Starkville 38, DeSoto Central 16: At Southaven, Jaquez Johnson threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another to help the Yellow Jackets (3-2) keep DeSoto Central (0-5) winless in the Class 6A, Region 1 opener for both teams.
Johnson threw for an 87-yard touchdown to Martavius Foster, ran 4 yards for a score, and hit Shaquille Hill from 20 yards for another score to help give Starkville a 28-3 lead.
Garrett Smith finished the first-quarter scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run.
In the second quarter, Taego Catledge had a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Daniel Fumo, who booted seven extra points for the Yellow Jackets, kicked a 30-yard field goal before halftime to end the Starkville scoring.
- Oak Hill Academy 45, Carroll Academy 41: At West Point, Bo Sanford had 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns and Doss Miller added 156 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders (2-4) held on after nearly losing a 21-point lead.
Oak Hill Academy recovered the third of three onsides kick and earned a first down on a run by Sanford in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.
Sanford, a sophomore, also had three receptions for 53 yards and caught a touchdown pass from Jeb Stevens and returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown.
The win was especially sweet for Oak Hill Academy coach Leroy Gregg, who has watched his players respond after the team lost its first four games.
“One of the things we are most proud of how is how few teams overcome an 0-4 start and still see the big picture: What is our team going to do in the playoffs?” Gregg said. “To the credit of these kids, they have responded to every challenge and have continued to work hard in the weight room, in conditioning, and in practice.”
- Louisville 21, West Lauderdale 7: At Collinsville, The Wildcats scored on the first play of the game and then tacked on the decisive points in the second half.
At their 15-yard line, Wildcats quarterback Tajh Ford hit C.J. Bates near midfield, and the junior receiver broke a tackle and scampered the remaining yards for the touchdown.
With the extra point, Louisville (3-3) carried the 7-0 lead into intermission.
West Lauderdale (0-6) tied the game in the third quarter on a 6-yard run by Warren Trussell. Louisville, however, got the game-winner midway through the third quarter on Ford”s 10-yard run.
The final touchdown was Ford”s 2-yard run to cap a 13-play, 73-yard drive.
- Aberdeen 40, Houston 0: At Houston, the Bulldogs got the opportunity to clear the bench after taking a 34-0 halftime lead.
Aberdeen (5-1) opened up the offense, handing Houston its fifth defeat against one victory.
“We played everybody,” Aberdeen coach Chris Duncan said. “I think we threw the ball every down in the first half. We spread the wealth around.”
Desmond Jones, who completed 9-of-13 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns, hit Jalen Devauld for a 12-yard touchdown for the first score.
Aaron McMillian, who had two receptions for 67 yards, got 52 on the next scoring toss from Jones. Aberdeen received scoring runs of 14 yards from Victor Hodges and 15 from Michael Hodges.
Jones threw his third touchdown to Patrick Lockett for 35 yards. Chico Harrison scampered 74 yards for the Bulldogs” final tally.
Harrison rushed seven times for 103 yards, while Jones had 99 rushing yards on three carries.
- Amory 27, Pontotoc 13: At Pontotoc, the Panthers used special teams and defense to put away Pontotoc.
“Neither offense scored during the entire game,” Amory coach Trent Hammond said. “The only offensive points were a two-point conversion. I have never been in a game like this.”
Abaris Woodrick led the Panthers” defense, which had a blocked punt and four interceptions. Amory (2-4) started the scoring on a safety by Zack Khima in the first two minutes.
Woodrick”s blocked punt led to Jeremy Roberts” recovery in the end zone for a Panthers” score. Pontotoc scored on a 45-yard interception return by Rashad Dixon to close the gap to 9-7.
Pontotoc (4-2) took the lead on Michael Bounds” 35-yard field goal in the second quarter. But Amory widened the gap to 17-10 when Channing French recovered an errant lateral in the end zone for a touchdown. Quarterback Forest Williams completed the two-point conversion pass.
Bounds added a 23-yard field goal for Pontotoc in the third quarter.
Woodrick scored the final points on a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.
- East Webster 32, Alcorn Central 0: At Glen, the Wolverines remained unbeaten after Demetrius O”Briant rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.
Ledrick Patterson rushed for 100 yards and two scores. He also threw a 27-yard touchdown.
n Central Academy 70, Veritas 20: At Ridgeland, the Vikings built a 32-6 halftime lead and coasted home for the District 1 eight-man victory.
“We were really happy with the way things turned out,” said Ronnie Sciple, whose Central Academy team remained undefeated at 6-0 and 2-0 in the district. “The younger players got to play most of the second half.”
- West Oktibbeha 45, Edinburg 0: At Maben, Von Smith had 396 passing yards and four touchdowns to help the Timberwolves improve to 5-1 and 4-0 in Class 1A, Region 3.
The win helped West Oktibbeha reach the five-win mark for the first time in the month of September since the school opened.
Smith connected with Aaron Brownlee on a 76-yard scoring strike for the longest passing score of the evening.
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