By Staff
Photo by Austin Bishop/The Meridian Star
MAKING A POINT Wayne Academy head football coach Tom Boszor goes over last-minute instructions with his team before its 14-7 win on Friday.
By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Nov. 24, 2001
WAYNESBORO Execution in the passing game proved to be the determining factor in Friday night's MPSA Academy A North State Championship game.
Wayne Academy was successful. DeSoto School wasn't. And it now comes to pass that the Wayne Academy Jaguars have earned a ticket into the Academy A State Championship game on Thursday afternoon following a 14-7 decision over DeSoto School of West Helena, Ark.
The Jaguars, now 12-1, will face Trinity Episcopal at 1:30 p.m. at Robinson-Hale Stadium at Mississippi College in Clinton. Trinity beat Glenbrook, La., 28-21 in Friday's South State final.
DeSoto concludes its season at 10-3.
With DeSoto's aggressive defense taking away the outside run, Wayne Academy was forced to find another way to attack the corner. They did it by using the arm and legs of quarterback Steven Wood.
Wood led his team to two touchdown drives in the second half to rally his club from a 7-0 deficit. He accounted for both touchdowns, the first on a 14-yard run in the third quarter and the second coming on a 27-yard TD pass to Brandon McDonald in the fourth quarter.
Starting the second half at their own 34, the Jaguars began a march to a tying score once they started to take to the air. A 15-yard pass interference