By By Richard Strength/Special to the Star
Nov. 18, 2001
MOORHEAD It was supposed to be a close game between two evenly-matched teams.
But the No. 9 Jones Junior College Bobcats dominated both lines of scrimmage in a 22-6 state championship victory over No. 12 Mississippi Delta Saturday in Jim Randall Stadium.
defensive back Bobby Keyes, who broke his arm late in the third quarter.
The stars for the winning Bobcats littered the field. The offensive line opened holes for Bobcat runners to roll up 336 yards on the ground and both Jones running backs ran for over 100 yards.
On defense, the Bobcats recorded seven sacks for 59 yards in losses and
limited the Trojans' top-ranked rushing offense to just 38 yards on 35
carries.
The score was indeed close throughout the first half. Mississippi Delta got on the board first with a 48-yard field goal by Jay Jones with 5:46 to play
in the first quarter.
Jones responded with a 33-yard field goal by Nick Terracina with 2:09 to go in the opening period.
Jones and Terracina each missed field goal attempts in the first half.
The Bobcats grabbed their first lead with 1:07 remaining in the second quarter.
Davis scored from one yard out, but a bad connection between the Jones snapper and holder kept the score at 9-3.
Delta quarterback Kiki Womack hit four quick passes in the final minute of the first half to move the Trojans from their own 29 to the Bobcat 37.
Time appeared to run out on the drive when Womack threw well past his receiver as the buzzer sounded. However, Jones was whistled for defensive holding and Jones made a 44-yard field goal on an untimed down to provide a 9-6 halftime score.
The Bobcats defense had thrown Delta runners for several losses in the first half . The Trojans had minus 14 yards rushing in the half on 13 carries.
Delta sustained a drive on its initial possession of the second half, moving from the Trojan 33 to the Bobcat 13 in 10 plays. But Delta was penalized for illegal procedure, then Demarcus Moody sacked Womack for a 10-yard loss.
Delta lined up to attempt a game-tying 44-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked by Chris Swain and returned 10 yards by Randy Craft for Jones.
The Bobcats squandered another scoring opportunity late in the third quarter when Terracina's 36-yard field goal try hooked just to the left of the
upright.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Bobcats. David Scott stepped in front of a Womack pass to set Jones up at the Trojan 26. Davis ran for four yards, then Hales kept around the left side and rambled 22 yards for a touchdown.
Terracina's kick was good and JCJC led 16-6 with 11:29 to play.
In the ensuing series, he Trojans were forced to punt after a third down
sack by Josh Tate.
The punt went out of bounds at the Bobcat 10. One play later, Rashard Phillips took a pitch to his left and weaved his way to an 87-yard touchdown run, diving into the end zone for the last few yards.
Phillips was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing Terracina
to attempt a 35-yard extra point. It was wide left, leaving the final score
at 22-6.
Delta made a bid to score on its last possession of the game, marching from its own 20 to the Jones 8, where the drive stalled.
The Bobcats picked up four first downs in the final 4:29 to run out the
clock with the ball at the Trojan one foot line.
Phillips led all rushers with 140 yards on seven carries, while Davis ran 24 times for 115 yards.
Hales carried 16 times for 70 yards and completed 8-of-18 passes for 115
yards. Alonzo Nix caught three passes for 73 yards and had a 40-yard
completion called back.
Marcus Ross led the Trojans with 62 yards on 15 carries. Womack lost 28 yards on 15 carries. He was 14-of-31 passing for 186 yards, all but 47 of which came in the Trojans' first and last drives of the game.
Nate Hardage and Moody each recorded two sacks, while Kenny Covington, Swain and Tate added one sack apiece.