By By JIM LUKE/The Meridian Star
Nov. 17, 2001
COLLINS The Collins Tigers used a stingy defense to stymie a high-powered Philadelphia Tornado offense en route to a 23-0 victory here Friday night in second-round action of the State 3A football playoffs.
The Tigers allowed the Tornadoes only 18 yards rushing and 52 yards through the air while picking up 180 yards on the ground and 104 yards passing.
Philadelphia had the first opportunity in the game when senior Kenshay
Hunter picked off a Kethone McLaurin pass and returned it 50 yards to the
Tiger 21 yard line.
The Tiger defense rose to the occasion, forcing a field goal attempt that did not clear the goal post.
Collins then drove the ball 80 yards with Marcus Barnes capping the drive on a one-yard plunge.
The point after touchdown was good to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 4:03 left to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers added a 22-yard field goal with 4:34 left in the second quarter
as Brook Buffington drove the ball through the uprights to make a 10-0
advantage for the home team.
The half ended with a pair of interceptions, with each team almost putting points on the scoreboard.
An apparent interception return of 80 yards for a touchdown by Collins' Brandon McDonald was wiped out by a penalty as time expired setting up an untimed down.
Philadelphia's Tyler Threadgill then returned an interception to the 10-yard line before being tackled to end the half.
Neither team was able to put points on the scoreboard in the third quarter as both defenses found ways to stop any offensive momentum.
It was defense that set up the final two touchdowns of the game for the Tigers.
The Tigers' Marvin Gray batted a pass at the line of scrimmage before
pulling it in himself and returning the ball to the Philadelphia 14 where
Voncarie Owens did the rest with a run around the right side for the score.
The point after failed and Collins led 16-0 with 9:20 remaining in the
contest.
Quinten Sullivan picked off a pass on the next Philadelphia offensive play
to set up a McLaurin to McDonald pass that was good for five yards and the
touchdown after being batted by the Tornado defense.
Buffington hit the extra point for the final 23-0 margin with 7:30 left in the fourth quarter.
Philadelphia coach Marcus Wood was disappointed with the loss, but was still proud of the effort by his team this year.
and this season.
the way our guys fought to the end. We got good senior leadership tonight
and this is probably the best defensive game we have had all year."
there almost all night."
Owens led the Tigers offensively with 99 yards rushing on the night while
McLaurin had 104 yards through the air.
Philadelphia ends the season with a 7-5 record, while Collins 10-2 (with
both losses being forfeits because of an ineligible player) continues the
season by travelling to Newton County who was a winner over West Lauderdale Friday night.