D'Iberville slips past Yellow Jackets

ST. MARTIN-- D'Iberville didn't want to send longtime coach Buddy Singleton into retirement with a loss.

Jacquelle Green's 40-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Talley with 2:02 left led the Warriors past St. Martin 34-33 on Friday night at Joe Barlow Stadium.

The win clinched a Class 6A state playoff berth for the Warriors (6-6, 4-3 Region 4-6A), who will face Brandon next week.

"We have a big rivalry with St. Martin and the kids were up for it," Singleton said.

One of the greatest seasons in St. Martin (9-3, 4-3) history came to a bitter end. The Yellow Jackets needed a win for their first playoff berth since 2003, but came up a point short.

Green and Izayiah Jacob came up big for the Warriors. Jacobs ran for 188 yards and scored three touchdowns. Green had 260 yards of total offense: 136 yards passing and 124 yards rushing.

"This win was all about coach Singleton," Jacobs said. "We couldn't have his last game losing to St. Martin. Jacquelle played with a lot of heart tonight. He played hurt. When we needed him the most, he came through."

The Yellow Jackets took a 7-0 first quarter lead on Tyler Polk's three yard TD pass to Kaleb Clark. St. Martin had three fourth down conversions on the drive that lasted over seven minutes.

D'Iberville tied the game at 7-7 on Jacobs' 80 yard TD run midway in the second quarter.

Jacobs' 54-yard TD run put D'Iberville up 14-7 with 9:47 left in the third quarter.

St. Martin answered when Javon McGee scored from 45 yards out, tying the game at 14-14.

Green hit a wide open Jacob for a 64 yard TD pass to give Warriors 20-14 lead. A bobbled snap prevented the Warriors from a PAT attempt.

St. Martin responded with Wayne Overman's 29-yard TD pass to Kalem Reddix, tying the game at 20-20 after three quarters.

The action picked when the fourth quarter starter as Southern Miss football coach Todd Monken arrived outside the Stadium on a helicopter. Warriors defensive tackle Jacques Turner committed to the Golden Eagles last month.

Green's 15 yard TD run put Warriors back up 27-20 with 10:40 left.

St. Martin scored the next two touchdowns in a three-minute span to grab a 33-27 lead. Overman and Reddix connected on 38-yard TD play to tie the game. Overman's four yard TD run put St. Martin up 33-37, but the extra point attempt sailed wide right and cost the Yellow Jackets.

Green hit a wide open Tucker Talley on fourth and 11, followed by Cory Ladner's game-winning extra point.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 1:42 PM with the headline "D'Iberville slips past Yellow Jackets ."