Trojans take big win over Quitman

By By Thomas Burton/special to The Star
November 2, 2002
Someone must have dropped a match on the field. Despite the cold conditions, the Northeast Lauderdale Football team played like a team burning with passion.
Against the playoff bound Quitman Panthers, Northeast played like a contender as they didn't go down for the count, with big time defensive plays and a mix of passing and running they won 28-7.
The Panthers cruised to an early lead on their first drive of the game. Mike McLendon for a run of 57 yards for the score. Jonathan Russell followed with an extra point to put Quitman up 7-0.
Northeast didn't ease off. Maurice Langston with under seven minutes to go in the first quarter, ran 44 yards to the Quitman nine yard line.
Running back Marcus Betts took care of the rest with two runs for the Touchdown. The PAT missed low as the Panthers held control 7-6.
The Panthers went to the passing attack early. Russell hit Roderick Laphand for a 16-yard gain from the Panther 25-yard line.
Next the Panther quarterback used his wheels for a pick up of 32 yards on third down. Quitman was threating again from the Trojan 21 yard line.
If the Trojans were going to win this game the defense needed to step up. Eric Boyd and Jason Pritchett put huge hits on Quitman running back McLendon. After drawing the Panthers offside, Northeast forced Russell to throw the ball away, Rod Smith nearly made an interception as Quitman turned the ball over on downs with the clock showing 10:50 left in the first half.
The momentum shifted over to the offense with Langston running up the tab with a 72-yard run. A personal foul against the Panthers put the Trojans at the Quitman 10 yard line.
Betts finish up the drive again on an eight-yard carry. Hector Rodriguez punched in the PAT for the score 14-7.
Northeast wasn't done. With 4:47 left in the half Quitman caused a pass interference penalty and a holding penalty to get the Trojans in scoring territory.
Langston, with some help from Dontray Walker and a pass of 15-yards to Michael McShane, set up a 15-yard touchdown run by Betts. The PAT by Rodriguez put the Trojans up 21-7.
Quitman could not make the pieces fit with NEL getting outstanding defensive plays by Calvin Scott, Josh Pearce, and Larry Hopson to cause the Panthers to try for a field goal from the Trojan 29-yard line. The kick failed, leaving it at 21-7 at the half.
The Trojan defense kept the armor on for the first drive by Quitman. Russell made pass plays of 14, 10 and 13 yards and McLendon ran for 17 yards to put QHS in scoring position. Cedric Locke appeared to be in for the touchdown, but a holding call ended the party for the Panthers.
With the ball now at the Northeast 14-yard line Quitman was greeted with another tackle by Hopson and Ed Pearce tipped a pass that stopped the Panthers cold as they failed to score.
Northeast had one more big play to give as Quitman made a run for a score with 9:36 left in the contest.
Russell tried to pull a trick out of the bag on fourth-and-3 from the Trojan 12-yard line but Cedric Blanchard almost picked it off as Quitman never got anymore chances to score.
The Trojan final score came with 3:45 on the clock. Blanchard was back on the rebound with Northeast punting Panther Breland Clark misplayed the bounce as Blanchard carried the ball to Quitman's 27-yard line.
The duo of Langston and Betts finished off the drive running the ball in for the final touchdown the PAT by Rodriguez capped of the night for the final score of 28-7
Quitman ended the regular season with a 3-3 division record and a record of 4-6 overall, they will advanced in the playoffs.
Northeast played like a playoff caliber team but they end the season on a high note with a division record of 2-4 and 4-6 overall.