By Nick Ray

Item Correspondent

POPLARVILLE – In a game that can only be described as offensive, the Mandeville Skippers passing attack overwhelmed the Poplarville Hornets defense in resounding 65-35 victory.

Mandeville junior quarterback Devin Tott and Skipper senior wide receiver Will Sheppard combined 11 times for 246 yards and five touchdowns.

The points came fast and quickly throughout the game. On the first offensive play of the game, the Tott to Sheppard combo scored on a 59-yard strike to give Mandeville a 6-0 lead. Caden Costa converted the extra point and gave the Skippers a 7-0 margin at the 11:41 mark of the first quarter.

Six plays in the first Hornet drive, a Blaise Breerwood pass was intercepted by Mandeville at the Skipper’s 25-yard line. Four plays later, the Mandeville tandem of Tott and Sheppard scored on a 27-yard touchdown reception. Costa’s extra point extended the Mandeville lead to 14-0 at the 8:13 mark of the first quarter.

Poplarville (1-2) got on the scoreboard on the next drive in six plays covering 74 yards on the ground with runs by Caziah Daniels, Chase Shears and Dj Richardbey. Ethan Taylor capped the drive with a 27-yard scoring run. Sophomore Zach Carpenter’s extra point was good, and the lead was cut to 14-7 at the 5:46 mark.

Mandeville used 13-plays on the ensuing drive to return the lead to 14 points capped by a three-yard touchdown strike from Tott to Shepard. Costa’s extra point was good, and the Skippers led 21-7 with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Hornets hastily went down the field and narrowed the score to 21-14 on a 24-yard scoring run by Chase Shears at the 11:26 mark of the second quarter.

Mandeville (2-0) extended the lead to 10 points on its next drive by capping the score with a 32-yard field goal by Costa with 10:05 remaining in the first half.

The Hornets cut the lead to 24-21 on the next series that climaxed with a dazzling run by Chase Shears from 25 yards to the endzone. Carpenter’s extra point trimmed the lead to three points with 6:08 remaining in the half.

Poplarville forced a Mandeville punt on the Skippers’ next possession that set up the Hornet’s lone lead of the evening. The Hornets marched 95 yards on 10 plays capped by a Chase Shears 46-yard rushing touchdown. Poplarville led 28-24 at the 2:14 mark of the second quarter.

Mandeville regained just before the half on eight plays capped by an 11-yard pass from Tott to Sheppard with 15 seconds remaining. Mandeville led 31-28 at halftime.

Second half fortunes went poorly for Poplarville. On the second half kickoff, Mandeville converted on sides kick and begin play at the Hornets’ 39-yard line. Seven plays later, Tott hit Sheppard for two-yard score. Mandeville led 38-28 at the 9:38 mark of the third quarter.

Poplarville rallied for one more score on the evening highlighted by a Chase Shears 55-yard scoring run to cut the score to 38-35 with 8:21 remaining in the quarter.

The Hornets had opportunities to regain the lead but was unable to take advantage of a missed field goal and a punt by Mandeville. The Skippers began to pull away three minutes later when a four play, 61-yard drive was capped with four-yard rushing touchdown by the Skippers’ senior running back Zahn Diaz. Mandeville led 45-35 at the 4:23 mark.

Mandeville answered again in the third quarter on an 85-yard touchdown strike from Tott to Sheppard to extend the lead to 51-35. The point-after-touchdown attempt was ruled no good at the 1:23 mark.

Poplarville fumbled the ball on its first play of its next drive. Mandeville scored two plays later when Tott completed a pass to senior wide receiver Dereje Gaspard to extend the lead to 58-35 with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.

Mandeville finished out the scoring on the evening on a five-play drive finalized on a 28-yard pass from Tot to sophomore wide receiver Landon Ibieta with 8:25 remaining.

Mandeville will host Hahnville next Friday night while Poplarville will travel to D’Iberville. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.