NE Jones downs QHS Panthers 11-7
By By Dale McKee / special to The Star
Oct. 23, 2004
LAUREL Northeast Jones junior quarterback Bud Dial sprinted 58 yards with 8:55 to play in the game to lead the Tigers to an 11-7 Homecoming win over Quitman in Region 5-4A play.
The win secures a playoff spot for the Tigers as they improve to 4-1 in region play and 7-2 overall. Quitman fell to 1-4 in region play and 3-5 overall. The Panthers will host Florence next week in their final game of the season while Northeast Jones travels to undefeated Wayne County.
"I thought the kids played hard tonight," said Tiger head coach Bubba Hathorn.
Quitman took the opening kickoff of the game and marched 68 yards in 14 plays to score on a 14-yard run by Randy Carter. Carter, Victor Pickens, and Brandon Marshall gained all the yardage in the only scoring drive on the night for the Panthers. Carter picked up 36 yards on the seven-minute drive. Justin Holliman added the kick conversion.
"After that opening drive, I thought the defense shut Quitman down," Hathorn said.
Northeast took the short ensuing Panther kickoff at its own 41-yard line and marched to the Quitman one-yard line before being stopped on downs. The Tigers used the running of Taurean Wilkins, Alexis Keller, and Jeremy McCullum to move the ball to the Quitman one.
Things would work out for the Tigers when Barron Blakeney tackled Carter in the Quitman end zone giving Northeast a safety and two points, two plays after turning the ball over to the Panthers.
Northeast took the free kick after the safety and moved 22 yards in 12 plays to score on a 22-yard field goal by Read Caver that cut the Panther lead to 7-5 with four minutes to play in the half.
The Tigers defense stepped up in the second half and limited Quitman to 14 rushing yards and 13 yards passing.
Northeast kept Quitman in the game with numerous second half penalties and two costly fumbles that stopped two scoring chances.
The Tigers took the ball over with 10 minutes to play at their own 35 yard line and faced a second and fifteen when Dial broke free on his 58-yard run.
Late in the game Dexter McKenzie picked off a Quitman pass as the Tigers then ran out the final 1:37 on the clock.
Dial led the Tigers with 99 yards on 11 rushes. Carter led Quitman with 57 yards on 22 rushes.
Willie Jones, DeMarcus Lewis, and Josh Lafferty each recovered fumbles for Quitman.
