The Poplarville Hornets are making recent history this week as they continue to advance through the playoffs. The Hornets wiped the floor with the Mendenhall Tigers in a 60-12 game Friday night.
Poplarville’s defense continued to prove insurmountable for the Tigers, allowing one scoring play early in the first quarter and holding them off of adding to their total until the final 40 seconds of the game.
“We got off to a great start and that’s what we really needed against a team like this,” Poplarville Head Coach Jay Beech said.
Poplarville’s Jesse Pernell ran in the first score less than two minutes into the game. Mendenhall fought back when quarterback Quantavian Dampeer completed a pass to Malik Bethea who ran it to the end zone just two minutes after Pernell’s score.
The Hornet’s began to dominate the game in the first quarter, with Pernell running in two more touchdowns, one with about six minutes left and another one with 4:38 left.
Poplarville changed up their strategy for their fourth scoring play, with quarterback Antonio Barnes completing a pass to Tyson Holston who ran hard to the end zone with just eight seconds left in the quarter, ending the first 27-6 after Poplarville missed a field goal attempt.
“[The running backs] are getting better and better every week,” Beech said, noting Pernell’s speed in the game.
In the second quarter, scoring slowed, until Poplarville’s Holston carried in a touchdown with eight minutes left in the half. Holston brought the ball in again, with two minutes left, ending the half 40-6 with another missed field goal.
“We know what we’re doing out there,” Beech said about his defense.
As the second half began, Poplarville took the ball and Austin Bolton ran in a touchdown in under 30 seconds of the third quarter starting. After a series of turnovers due to fumbles on both sides, Bolton ran the ball in again to bring the score up to 54-6 with 6:22 left in the third quarter.
In the later half of the game, Beech began sending in second-string players and the points kept coming in.
“We’ve gotten a chance to put those guys in a lot ever since district season started,” Beech said. “That’s why some of the scores are so high, they come in and we can continue to score.”
Poplarville’s Chris Fowler ran in a touchdown with six minutes left in the game, bringing Poplarville’s score to 60-6.
Mendenhall made its last score against the Hornets when Christian Allen carried in a pass to give them another six points, ending the game 60-12.
Poplarville will face off against Florence High School next week at home.
“I don’t know anything about them except they’re good,” Beech said.