Photo: Players gather for the postgame handshake after South Panola’s 35-0 victory at DeSoto Central Friday night. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The South Panola football Tigers dominated the DeSoto Central Jaguars 35-0 Friday night at DeSoto Central, a game the Tigers had control of from the very start.
DeSoto Central dropped into a third-place tie with Center Hill at 3-2 in the region. The Jags fell to 5-4 overall.
After a fumble recovery by South Panola on the Jaguars’ opening possession, running back Julius Pope ran in from 19 yards out for a touchdown with 10:20 to go in the opening quarter and a 7-0 Tigers’ lead.
Later in the quarter, Tigers’ Michael Johnson went in from two yards away to increase the lead to 14-10 South Panola at the end of the first quarter of action.
South Panola added another score in the second quarter on Pope’s second touchdown of the game, a three-yard dive for a 21-0 advantage at halftime.
In the third quarter, the South Panola lead became 27-0 when D’mariun Perteet scored from 11 yards away. The extra point kick was blocked, however, as the Tigers held on to the 27-point margin.
Quarterback David Hubbard wrapped up the scoring with a three-yard run and a two-point conversion run by Johnson became important because it meant a 35-point lead at 35-0 and the running clock mercy rule went into effect, keeping the game clock moving for the remainder of the contest.
Elsewhere in DeSoto County prep football Friday night, one-sided results were common with one exception. Center Hill won its first ever football meeting with crosstown rival Olive Branch 24-20. The Mustangs had to rally, trailing 20-17 before a late touchdown gave Center Hill the victory.
Olive Branch had won three previous meetings, including last fall’s 20-13 conquest.
Southaven spoiled Lewisburg’s homecoming with a 48-0 thrashing of the Patriots. The Chargers blistered Lewisburg’s defense with 463 yards of total offense to 154 for Lewisburg.
In other games, Hernando rolled to a 37-0 lead before Horn Lake scored late in a 37-7 Tigers’ victory, Lake Cormorant won an important Region 1-5A contest with Columbus New Hope 35-3, a win that kept the Gators in fourth place and still in the playoff hunt.
Northpoint Christian roared past Memphis Sheffield 49-7 in a game that was part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Bob Bakken is the most recognized and most trusted name in DeSoto County news and sports reporting, as readers continue to express their appreciation for his accuracy and fairness in the stories he writes. Bob is also heard on 95.3 The Rebel twice a week with sports updates and high school football play-by-play broadcasts in the fall. A former newspaper editor and writer, his award-winning background also includes television news producing, sports media relations, and radio broadcasting.
