The way Scott Central is currently playing it would be almost impossible to think they will not make the Class 2A state playoffs, but nothing is for certain in Mississippi high school football. If, and that’s a very probable if, the Rebels make the playoffs this team will have faced some of the best football teams Class 2A has to offer and the defending state champions will be battle tested.
The Rebels started the season with a tough loss to No. 1 Taylorsville, beat Pelahatchie on the road and then came from behind last Friday night to defeat a very tough Charleston team. The Rebels knew going in the visiting Tigers were going to be tough to handle, and they lived up to that billing giving Scott Central all they had until the last seconds ran off the game clock.
Rebels’ head coach Devin Cooper said Charleston was every bit as tough as advertised. “Charleston was big, physical, fast just like we expected,” he said. “They are a tough, tough football team, especially on defense. They just do not give up a lot of yards on defense, but our guys kept grinding it out and when we finally had an opportunity, we took advantage. This was a good win that was hard earned and I’m proud of this team.”
On offense, the visiting Tigers came out swinging from the very first snap. After stopping the Rebels first offensive drive, Charleston used a little trickery that caught the Rebels defense off guard and hit a long flea-flicker touchdown pass to take an early lead 6-0. The ensuing two-point attempt failed, and that would ultimately cost Charleston big in the end.
Later in the first quarter, junior field general and quarterback, Treyon Wash, got the Rebels offense moving with a big run before being brought down deep in Tiger’s territory. He followed up with a 20- yard scoring run to that got Scott Central on the scoreboard. The Rebels missed the point after attempt which left the game tied 6-6.
The teams settled down in the second quarter, and Charleston put together a 60-yard drive capped off with an 11-yard touchdown run mid quarter. The Tigers failed to convert the two-point conversion which left the score 12-6 in favor of the visitors.
“We came out after halftime and really settled in on defense,” Cooper said. “Late in the third quarter we were able to build some momentum on offense, and found a few things that started to work on offense late in the third quarter. We were able to put some good plays together for a scoring drive, and kicked a big PAT to take the lead in the fourth quarter.”
The 5’6, 214-pound, freshman bowling ball, Elijah Robinson took the ball the final 8 yards on a touchdown run to finish the scoring drive that tied the game 12-12. With just under 6 minutes left to play in the game, place kicker Austin Doughty gave the home team their first lead of the night at 13-12.
On the ensuing Charleston possession, the Tigers completed a mid-range pass before two Rebels converged on the receiver and forced a fumble with the big hits. Kadarrius Johnson came up with the loose ball and the Rebels took possession at the Charleston 48-yard line with under five minutes left in the game.
Scott Central was forced to punt the ball back to the Tigers with 4 minutes left to play, but the SC defense refused to allow the Tigers to even get close to scoring.
“This was a good win,” Coach Cooper said. “We played a really good team tonight and our guys never gave in and just kept grinding the entire game. This was a hard earned win against a very good and tough football team.”
With the big win Scott Central moves to 4-1 on the year. The Rebels will travel to Smith County to play the Class 3A Raleigh Lions (1-3) this Friday night. Cooper said people may be fooled by Raleigh’s losing record, but this is a very good team.
The game between the Rebels and Lions is scheduled to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. from Lions Field on the Raleigh High School campus.
