By By Ryan Griffin/EMG/Laurel Leader Call
Nov. 10, 2001
A hard fought offensive battle between Heidelberg Academy and Mississippi County Christian Academy saw the Rebels, last year's 1A state champions, come up a few points short, losing in the first round of the playoffs, 33-28.
With two minutes left in the game, Heidelberg forced MCCA to punt for their first time on their own 27-yard line. The Rebels took the ball back to the 40, but could not get any more yards and turned the ball over on downs with just over a minute left. MCCA ran out the remaining time on the clock.
Heidelberg's workhorse Heath Ainsworth scored two touchdowns, while Lee Aultman and Blake Bass accounted for six points apiece. Mason Key kicked all three PATs.
Ainsworth scored on the ground for his first touchdown, while Rebel
quarterback Josh Webb connected with Bass in the air for the other score of the first half. Both came in the opening quarter.
Quarterback Jim Harris and running back Matthew Robinson did the leg work for the Golden Eagles scoring three touchdowns in the first half to give MCCA a 21-14 lead at the half.
HA took the ball to open the second half and drove it 55 yards, with Ainsworth taking in the score from the two. The PAT was good and the game was tied at 21-21.
But the Golden Eagles answered with Harris throwing to Robinson for a 39-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was wide left, providing MCCA with a 27-21 edge.
MCCA would not let the Rebels into the endzone on their next possession and took the ball over on downs at the 12-yard line. With 8:19 left in the game, Harris carried the ball from the 2-yard line for the touchdown, the two-point conversion failed and the Golden Eagles were up 33-21.
The Rebels scored once more on a 2-yard run by Aultman. Key added the PAT, but it was not enough for HA, and the game ended at 33-28.
Lewis said his team had a chance, but came up a short on a fourth-down conversion.
Lewis said he was pleased with the season as a whole.