After losing to Picayune on Sept. 20, and having a bye week last week, Poplarville’s varsity football team was looking to get back on track last Friday while on the road to Brooklyn, Miss.

The game against Forrest County Agricultural High School’s Aggies was set to start at 7 p.m. Friday, but due to weather the game was eventually cancelled and moved 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The Hornets were in control the entire game.

Both sides of the ball were clicking as Poplarville’s offense moved with ease against the Aggies’ defense. That night, Poplarville’s defense recorded its first shutout of the season.

Head Coach Jay Beech said the team played effective, fundamental football, which is what allowed the squad to be so successful.

“We played really solid ball, blocked and tackled really well. We didn’t fumble the ball, and we didn’t give up any big plays on defense,” Beech said.

The match up against Forrest County started a three game stretch of Poplarville’s season where the team will be playing on the road.

It also served as the first district game for the Hornets, and the team is looking to continue defeating their district opponents as they hope to make another playoff run.

“The district championship is our goal, that’s why we want to get into a best position as possible for the playoffs. We want to get a one seed, and that was step one towards the playoffs for us,” Beech said.

Offensively, Poplarville pounded the ball on the ground against the Aggies, and running back Greg Swann took advantage of some great blocking by the offensive line.

Poplarville needed a three back, and after playing for the Picayune Maroon Tide last season Swann transferred to Poplarville and filled that role.

“He’s come a long way for us, he had like 13 carries for 171 yards. He’s been a pleasant addition to our team even though it’s his first year with the program,” Beech said. After getting gashed the past three games, the Poplarville defense stepped up in a big way to stop the Aggies, holding them to zero points.

Beech said the players on that side of the ball know they are talented, it was just a matter of going out and executing come game time.

“We thought we were close to being good on defense, and it showed. I thought we dominated the line of scrimmage,” Beech said. Prior to Friday’s game, the Hornets used their bye week to heal some injured players.

Those additions were beneficial for the squad against the Aggies, and Beech said it improved all aspects of the game for the Hornets. “It makes us a lot better as a team. We had more depth and were fresh. Some of those guys are seniors who are really good players for us, and it helped us all over the field,” Beech said. Now the Hornets will be preparing for an away game at Stone on Oct. 11 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.