Friday sports: Horn Lake holds off Quistors for second straight win

Photo: Players line up for the post-game handshake after Horn Lake defeated Olive Branch Friday night. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Sparked by a pair of touchdown runs from Demarkus Crain and a 75-yard sprint to the end zone by Floyd Sinegal, the Horn Lake Eagles held on to defeat the Olive Branch Conquistadors 22-19 Friday night at Horn Lake. The win was the Eagles’ second straight victory of the football season (2-1), while Olive Branch dropped to 0-2 for the year.  

Olive Branch also had a spark in their offense with talented freshman quarterback Thomas Heffner, who tallied all three of the Quistors’ touchdowns in the contest. However, missed extra points and a failed field goal attempt in the third quarter hampered the Olive Branch second half comeback try.  

The Conquistadors struck first in the battle when Heffner, part of a dual quarterback attack with Dominic Pupo, found an opening on the left side of the offensive line and broke free for a 26-yard touchdown late in the first quarter with 1:26 remaining. The extra point kick made the score 7-0 Olive Branch. 

Horn Lake came back and scored its first touchdown of the night when Crain blasted through the line for the first of his two scores, this one from two yards out. The extra point was not good, however, and Olive Branch held a one-point lead into halftime at 7-6.  

Heffner put Olive Branch ahead by a touchdown early in the third quarter on a five-yard score with 10:29 left for a 13-6 lead, a lead the Quistors could not extend when the extra point attempt failed.  

It was just under six later when Horn Lake started its comeback. Sinegal broke free near the Eagles’ 25 yard line, and when he did there was no stopping him as he went 75 yards for an important touchdown to give the Eagles a 14-13 lead when Linkin Sanders went in for the two point conversion.  

The Eagles added to the margin with another important score with a five-yard run from Crain for his second touchdown of the contest just seconds into the fourth quarter for a 22-13 advantage after Crain also went into the end zone for the two-point conversion.  

Olive Branch made one final attempt to get the Conquistadors within a field goal when Heffner scored this third touchdown on a five-yard dive to get to 22-19 Horn Lake with 1:26 left in the game.  

The Quistors tried for the miracle finish on the ensuing onside kick, but the Eagles recovered and ran out the clock to win the game.  

For the night, Crain rushed for 117 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Sinegal ran 11 times for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Both teams return to action next Friday, as Horn Lake hosts Lake Cormorant in the annual rivalry Lake Bowl game, and Olive Branch will be back at home to host Lewisburg.  

Sep 13, 2024

Prep football

Copiah Academy 26, Northpoint Christian 0

DeSoto Central 27, Jonesboro, Ark. 12

Horn Lake 22, Olive Branch 19

Tupelo 35, Hernando 6

South Panola 42, Southaven 20

Center Hill 15, Lewisburg 7

Lake Cormorant 56, North Panola 0