Hernando edges Horn Lake 22-21 in Region 1-7A football thriller

HORN LAKE, Miss. – Hernando High School’s defense came through in the clutch Friday night, stopping Horn Lake’s last-second two-point attempt to secure a 22-21 victory in the Region 1-7A opener.

The win improved the Tigers to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in region play, while Horn Lake dropped to 4-2 and 0-1, snapping the Eagles’ three-game winning streak.

Horn Lake struck first when Linkin Sanders, filling in at quarterback for the sidelined Jason Edwards Jr., scored on a seven-yard run with 9:48 left in the first quarter. Sanders later split snaps with sophomore quarterback Artravius Pinkins.

Hernando answered in the final minutes of the first half. Sophomore quarterback Asher Lawson connected with senior receiver Adrian Mears for a five-yard touchdown at the 2:40 mark. Just under a minute later, Joseph Newberry scooped up a Horn Lake fumble and raced 33 yards for a score, putting the Tigers ahead 14-7.

The Eagles retook the lead before halftime when Floyd Sinegal broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run with five seconds left. A successful two-point conversion from Sabin Williams gave Horn Lake a 15-14 advantage at intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter, Hernando surged back in front. Running back Cooper Lankford powered in from the 1-yard line with 7:28 to play, and a trick-play two-point pass to Lawson extended the Tigers’ lead to 22-15.

Horn Lake mounted a late rally, with Sanders scoring his second touchdown on a two-yard run with 22 seconds left. But the Tigers’ defense stood tall on the two-point try, preserving the one-point win.

Both teams will have a bye next week before returning to region action Oct. 17. Horn Lake will host DeSoto Central, while Hernando will take on defending 7A state champion Tupelo at home.

Photos courtesy of Mary Scott, Oak River Media

SCOREBOARD

Friday, Oct. 3

Prep football

• Hernando 22, Horn Lake 21
• Northpoint Christian 21, St. George’s 0
• DeSoto Central 44, Germantown, Tenn. 28
• Jackson Academy 52, Magnolia Heights 0

Final from Central Parkway!! JAGS WIN!! pic.twitter.com/N4OvsQCbY1

— DeSoto Central Athletics (@athletics_dc) October 4, 2025

Northpoint blows it open over St. George’s. Trojans up 21-0 with 3:50 left. ⁦@NCSThePoint⁩ ⁦@NCS_Trojans⁩ pic.twitter.com/k5A15PQDD7

— Jim Ferguson (@ferguson_jim) October 4, 2025

JUCO volleyball

• Northwest vs. Lurleen B. Wallace (25-21, 26-24, 27-25)
• Northwest 3, Reid State 0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-12)

JUCO men’s soccer

• Pearl River 5, Northwest 1

JUCO women’s soccer

• Northwest 2, Pearl River 1

Monday, Oct. 6

Prep volleyball

TSSAA Division 2-A West Region

• Northpoint Christian vs. Tipton-Rosemark/St. Benedict’s at Auburndale winner

Tuesday, Oct. 7

MHSAA 7A Playoffs – first round

• Germantown (Madison) at DeSoto Central
• Starkville at Lewisburg
• Hernando at Oxford

MHSAA 6A Playoffs – first round

• Greenville at Lake Cormorant
• Olive Branch at Neshoba Central
• Ridgeland at Center Hill