Friday was a night of blowouts around Calhoun County with the Wildcats and Cougars on the positive side of things while the Trojans and Rams were not.
Calhoun City looked every bit like a state championship contender on Friday. The Wildcats dominated a talented North Panola team in every facet of the game and rolled to a 54-6 victory against the Class 3A opponent.
Calhoun City (6-0, 0-0 Region 4, Class 2A) totaled 429 yards of offense, and the defense held North Panola to just 119 yards while returning two interceptions for touchdowns and recording a safety.
“(North Panola) is a great team. They’re physical, fast. We just played harder tonight,” Calhoun City running back Brieton Sykes said.
Sykes was a big part of the team’s success on offense, defense, and even in the kicking game. He rushed for a career-high 215 yards on 15 carries, and scored four touchdowns. On defense, Sykes matched up against North Panola (4-2) wide receiver Willie Hibbler, who is verbally committed to the University of Mississippi, and held him to one catch for minus-4 yards.
“I really wasn’t worried about what kind of caliber player (Hibbler) is,” Sykes said. “We’re both just players, so it was a player against a player.”
And if all that wasn’t enough, Sykes also added a 26-yard field goal for the Wildcats’ final points with :35 seconds remaining.
“It seems to be often he does that,” Calhoun City coach Perry Liles said. “We (Calhoun City coaches) were talking about how fast Brieton looked against a fast team. He’s a load, and he had another great night for us.”
The Bruce Trojans struggled all night against Amory who spoiled the Trojans homecoming with a 27-0 win at Trojan Field.
The Trojans were plagued all night by penalties, mishandled snaps, dropped passes and missed opportunities. They finished the first half with more penalty yardage than offensive yards.
“We weren’t mentally focsued,” Bruce Coach James Ray said. “We had a great week of practice. I thought we were very prepared but obviously the stress of this season is getting to us and we have to figure out as coaches how to get that back.”
Amory led 17-0 at the half. Their first score came on their first possession and required only two plays. Zatorious Gates scored the touchdown when he caught a 43 yard pass for a touchdown. Isaiah Carter would add a 51 yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter and Caleb Shelly hit a 46-yard field goal to end the opening half.
Bruce looked to rally in the second half, twice driving inside the Amory 20, but both times turning it over on downs short of the end zone.
Amory, 3-3, added another touchdown and a field goal for the 27-0 victory.
Bruce, 2-4, travels to unbeaten Calhoun City next Friday.
The only drama at Vardaman’s homecoming was who would be crowned Homecoming Queen. Laken Lucius received that honor while the Rams suffered a 41-14 loss to Thrasher to remain winless on the season.
Thrasher, 2-3, opened a 12-0 first quarter lead before the Rams got on the board when Israel Murillo recovered a Thrasher fumble for a touchdown. Murillo added the extra point for a 12-7 score, but it was all Thrasher from there.
Thrasher scored the next 29 points to put the game away.
The Rams final points came on a 2-yard touchdown run by Trae Owen. Murillo added the extra point.
Calhoun Academy rolled up a big division win at Strider Friday night.
The Cougars allowed one second quarter touchdown in a 37-6 road win.
The Cougars remain on their lengthy road trip next week when they travel to Briarfield.