By Mark Franklin

Item Correspondent

CARRIERE — Last Friday night proved to be a groundbreaking night for the Pearl River Central Blue Devils and Head Coach Jacob Owen.

The Blue Devils were able to go toe to toe with district foe Long Beach and come out on top in a hard nosed contest.

PRC got off to a phenomenal start when senior defensive back Damon Anderson intercepted Long Beach Quarterback Cade Crosby’s pass and took it to the house on a 40-yard return with 10 minutes left in the first quarter. PRC kicker Samuel Lambert put the PAT through to give the Blue Devils an early 7-0 lead.

The Blue Devils would strike again soon after when senior running back Kobe Whitehead barreled into the end zone for a 3 yard touchdown run. Lambert’s PAT was no good, however, leaving the Blue Devils with a 13-0 advantage with 3 minutes left in the first quarter.

Long Beach would respond in the next quarter with a score of their own when Crosby connected with Jervey Foxworth on a 40 yard touchdown pass to make the score 13-7.

The Blue Devils didn’t wait long to add to that lead when sophomore quarterback Cameron Brunson connected with running back Detrich Spikes on a 34 yard touchdown pass. Lambert’s kick after was good, giving the Blue Devils a 20-7 lead.

Long Beach kicker Kai Vancourt would respond with a field goal to make the score 20-10 with 7:43 left in the 3rd quarter.

PRC would add on to its lead with a 4-yard touchdown run from Kobe Whitehead, his second of the night with a little over a minute to play in the 3rd quarter.

Long Beach would regain the momentum less than 15 seconds after however as Crosby connected with a 62 yard touchdown pass to receiver Dalton Cook. Vancourt’s PAT was good to make it 27-17 PRC.

The Blue Devils would have a miscue on their following drive and lose a fumble to give Long Beach the momentum to follow up with a 19 yard touchdown pass from Crosby to Foxworth, giving PRC only a 3 point lead with 16 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.

Long Beach would stuff the Blue Devils again on defense and follow it up with another long touchdown pass from Crosby when he found Dalton Cook with 9 minutes left in the game giving the Bearcats a 31-27 lead.

PRC would answer back with a decisive final drive that chewed up the clock and moved the chains.

Whitehead would plunge into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run with a little under 2 minutes left in the game, Lambert’s PAT was blocked, leaving the Blue Devils with only a 33-31 lead.

Long Beach wasted no time driving down the field with their starting quarterback and with 35 seconds in the game set up for what would’ve been a go ahead field goal.

The Blue Devils were able to power through the Bearcat line however and block the kick to secure their first district win of the season by a final score of 33-31.