S. Choctaw plays host to Houston
By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Nov. 22, 2002
The Southern Choctaw Indians' playoff tour continues when Houston Academy out of Dothan visits for a third round, Alabama Class 2A playoff game.
Houston Academy comes to Gilbertown on a big roll themselves. The Raiders whipped the defending 2A state champion Gordo 39-13 at Northcutt Field in Dothan last week. The win improves Houston Academy to 11-1 on the season.
Southern Choctaw moved to 11-0 after beating Highland Home 22-6 last week in Gilbertown.
The winner of Friday's third round match-up will face the other South 2A semifinal winner which pits Washington County (11-1) against Slocomb.
Indians head coach Larry Boykins said his team must again play at the highest level to advance toward a potential third school state title in five years. Southern Choctaw won back-to-back 2A titles in 1999 and 2000.
The Indians are led by defensive end Chris Pugh. Pugh has been nominated for the Alabama Class 2A Defensive Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Pugh, a 6-2, 230-pounder is the team's leading tackler this season. He had seven tackles and six assists in the Highland Home game.
The Indians took charge last week against Highland Home when Bernard McGrew threw a 22-yard TD pass to Detric Causey. The score was the only one in the first half as the Indians led 6-0.
Southern Choctaw opened the second half with a long drive that stalled after a fumble deep in Squadron territory. Highland Home, though, turned the ball back over to the Indians when McGrew intercepted a pass. McGrew would later score on a 2-yard run. He also added the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.
Highland Home responded scoring on a 65-yard TD pass. The try for two failed leaving the score at 14-6.
It stayed that way until Highland Home fumbled a punt with Pugh recovering. That mistake led to a McGrew 2-yard TD run. JoJo Dozier added the two-point conversion to make it 22-6.
Dozier led the team with 58 yards rushing while Causey had 38 and McGrew 37. McGrew passed for 57 yards.
