Rockets blow past NE Lauderdale
By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Oct. 16, 2004
PHILADELPHIA All fall, the Neshoba Central Rockets have been looking for a few breaks to finally go their way. Little did they know they would all come at once.
The Rockets intercepted three passes, recovered a crucial fumble early, and blocked a punt in Friday's 45-20 whipping of Northeast Lauderdale.
Both teams are 2-6 with two games remaining.
The Rockets, who gave up long touchdown passes late in losses to Philadelphia and Ridgeland, took advantage of a break right off the bat. Following a 40-yard pass to the Neshoba 11 on the first play of the game, the Trojans fumbled into the end zone on their second play with the Rockets recovering for a touchback.
But it didn't cost the Rockets this time.
Neshoba then drove 80 yards in eight plays with Ken Robinson scoring from 32 yards out on a speed sweep around left end. Derek Crenshaw's extra point made it 7-0 with 7:02 left in the first quarter.
The Rockets finished the game with 272 yards on 39 rushes and 61 more yards through the air.
Neshoba got a 35-yard touchdown run from freshman quarterback Tyler McNeal on the first play of the second quarter. He made a nifty spin move on a Trojan defender and raced the final 20 yards untouched. The Rockets also got a break on the extra point try as McNeal ended up flipping the ball to Crenshaw, who juggled it and then found the end zone for a two-point play and a 15-0 lead.
Four plays later, the Rockets blocked a Trojan punt and took over at the Northeast 5. Kevin Marshall scored on the next play as Neshoba went up 22-0 following Crenshaw's kick.
Northeast got on the scoreboard when Maurice Langston hit Shawn Loyd with a short pass that turned into a 48-yard touchdown with 8:09 to go in the second quarter. After two penalties, the Trojans' two-point try failed.
The Rockets extended their lead to 29-6 with 57.6 seconds left in the first half on a 25-yard interception return by Jason Yarbrough.
Northeast's misfortunes wouldn't end before the break as the Trojans failed to pick up a yard on two plays from their 44.
Neshoba took over on downs and McNeal hit Yarbrough for a 27-yard gain that set up Crenshaw's 38-yard field goal as the first half ended with the Rockets up 32-6.
Another interception of Langston by Harvey Brown resulted in a 27-yard touchdown return with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter.
It only took Langston two plays to get those points back as he scrambled and broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run.
The Rockets made it 45-12 with 3:44 left in the third quarter when McNeal cut up field and made a late option pitch to Robinson, who completed the 40-yard touchdown run.
The Trojans added an 18-yard scoring run by Cortney Scott with 44 seconds to play. Elijah Lee ran in a two-point conversion.
