Ocean Springs-Brandon came down to a dramatic overtime score in the 6A playoffs

Ocean Springs’ Aiden Knight didn’t want to miss his opportunity.

Knight scored on a header on a pass from Jackson Rester three minutes in to the second 10-minute overtime period to help lift Ocean Springs past Brandon 2-1 in the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs at Bulldog Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

“It was coming down to the last minute and we crossed the ball and I saw it coming to me,” Knight said. “I knew I had to go for the ball early and I went up, got a placement on the ball and it went into the top corner of the net. Just a big way to contribute to the team and come away with a win.”

The Greyhounds (16-4-2) will host Northwest Rankin for the Class 6A South State Championship on Tuesday night. Ocean Springs played Northwest Rankin a month ago and the game ended in a scoreless tie.

Brandon struck first with less than a minute to go in the first half as Will Ballenger’s shot hit the crossbar and went in to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Ocean Springs then tied the game at 1-1 six minutes into the second half when Brent West scored on a header off a corner kick.

“I thought we played well, and I felt like their opportunities came off our mistakes and the boys got a good chewing out at halftime because we were losing battles at midfield,” Ocean Springs coach Jeff French said. “I challenged them to start winning head balls at midfield and the game turned and we did that.”

The Greyhounds dominated possession in the second half and overtime with 21 shots on goal compared to Brandon’s nine. Ocean Springs also had nine corner kicks.

“I’m proud of the guys for battling through adversity and grinding and finding a way to win against an always tough Brandon team,” French said. “It’s onto Northwest Rankin and they’re an unbelievably great team and undefeated. We’ve had our battles with them in the past and it will be a tough battle come Tuesday and just glad it’s at home.”

Girls

Brandon 1, Ocean Springs 0: Alyssia Davis scored the game’s only goal in the 57th minute as the Lady Bulldogs edgeed the Lady Greyhounds.

Brandon (14-1-2) will travel to Gulfport on Tuesday night for the MHSAA Girls Class 6A South State Championship game.

Ocean Springs finished the season 15-3-2.

Other playoff Scores

Boys

Class 6A: Northwest Rankin 3, Gulfport 0

Class 5A: Laurel 1, Gautier 0

Class 1A/2A/3A: Clarkdale 2, St. Patrick 0

Class 4A: Florence 4, Bay High 2

Class 5A: Long Beach 1, West Jones 0

Class 4A: St. Stanislaus 2, Richland 1

Girls

Class 1A/2A/3A: OLA 7, McLaurin 0

Class 6A: Gulfport 1, George County 0.

Class 5A: Long Beach tops West Jones in shootout

Class 4A: Florence 1, Pass Christian 0

Class 5A: East Central 2, South Jones 1

Class 4A: Vancleave 2, Sumrall 1

This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 7:02 PM.