Prep football roundup: Biloxi overcomes injury to star, Vancleave piles up big numbers
The Biloxi High School football team overcame an early injury to one of its top defensive players on the way to a 38-0 victory over Stone High Friday night.
The Indians’ defense forced five turnovers and provided a touchdown on a 40-yard interception return by defensive back Chance Keith in the fourth quarter.
Through two games, the Biloxi defense has held opponents scoreless while putting up 14 points.
“We’ve got good players over there and it seems like they’re always where they’re supposed to be,” Biloxi coach Katlan French said of his defense. “The system is very sound. Our players are taking on the do your job, do what you’re supposed to do each and every play, having fun, playing together. I’m just really proud of them and the defensive staff.”
The injury to Devon Smith, who holds offers from Kansas, South Alabama and Troy, appears to be a significant one.
“It was a freak incident, where it was the first play of the game,” French said. “It looked like he was running and a guy just landed right on his leg. It was bad.
“We’re really sorry for him, really sad for him. We’re really sad for our team too because it was a huge impact on our defense. He’s such a good kid, such a good student and I just hate it so much for him.”
Sophomore Deljay Bailey made his first career start at quarterback for the Indians and filled in well. He completed a 30-yard touchdown toss to Deon Hardin in the third quarter and had a pair of TD runs.
Senior running back K.K. Kendrick also got in on the action with a 6-yard TD run in the first quarter.
Biloxi, which next travels to D’Iberville (2-0) to begin Region 4-6A play, appears to be picking up steam after a COVID-19 outbreak at the school halted practices for two weeks and forced the Indians to miss their scheduled season opener.
“I think our guys are really just fortunate and glad and just happy that they’re getting to play,” French said. “They’re coming out here and playing with a lot of effort because there’s a lot of times we didn’t think we would get to play, when school shut down for two weeks. We’re just happy we get to play.”
Stone High drops to 1-1 before hosting Moss Point on Sept. 25.
Coast Football Stars of the Week
▪ Dayan Bilbo, Vancleave — Carried 22 times for 217 yards with TD runs of 49 and 20 yards. He also had two catches for 40 yards and a TD.
▪ Will Clemens, Resurrection — Ran for a pair of touchdowns, caught another and kicked a field goal.
▪ Breck Leflore, Gulfport — Completed 19 of 22 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
▪ Chandler Chapman, St. Stanislaus — Ran 12 times for 91 yards.
St. Stanislaus 14, Long Beach 6
The Long Beach football team pushed inside the St. Stanislaus 25 late in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats failed to get in the end zone and the Rockachaws ran out the clock on offense.
The Rockachaws (3-0) rushed for 280 yards on the night after just one day of practice this week due to school closure for Hurricane Sally. Gage Peterson, who had 11 carries for 47 yards, had touchdown runs of 9 and 5 yards.
Chandler Chapman also had a productive night on the ground, running 12 times for 91 yards. Davien Lagarde added 77 yards on eight carries.
John McFarland scored the lone TD for Long Beach (1-2) on a 37-yard run at the end of the first half.
Ocean Springs 38, Pascagoula 14
Ocean Springs led 31-14 at the half and were in control from much of Friday’s game at Greyhound Stadium.
Sophomore Brayson Hubbard ran for a pair of touchdowns as four different Greyhounds got in the end zone — Jaheil McCreary had a 4-yard TD run, David Humphries scored from 14 yards out and Aidan Cox on a 75-yard kickoff return.
Hubbard completed 10 of 13 passes for 113 yards. On the ground, he ran 16 times for 105 yards and 2 TDs.
Ocean Springs is 3-0 ahead of its Region 4-6A opener at Hancock next week.
Vancleave 71, South Jones 34
The Bulldogs scored on every offensive possession aside from the final one of the first half when they took a knee to allow the clock to run out before halftime.
Vancleave (2-1) piled up 577 yards of offense with junior running back Dayan Bilbo leading the way, carrying 22 times for 217 yards, including touchdown runs of 49 and 20 yards. Bilbo also had two catches for 40 yards and a TD.
Devon Hand was also a big-play threat for the Bulldogs, running twice for 131 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Vancleave senior quarterback Christian Kell completed seven of nine passes for 102 yards and three TDs.
John Peterson pitched in 10 rushes for 73 yards and one touchdown.
Vancleave travels to West Marion next week.
Resurrection 30, Mount Olive 6
Senior Will Clemens ran for a pair of touchdowns, caught another and kicked a field goal as the Eagles (3-0, 2-0) picked up a convincing win in Pascagoula.
RCS junior quarterback Riley Matthews had a 37-yard TD toss to Clemens and a 1-yard touchdown run of his own.
Clemens had TD runs of 5 and 26 yards. His field goal was from 26 yards out.
Hancock 27, Northeast Lauderdale 9
Sophomore running back Mason Cranmer and junior running back Pierre Fowler each ran for a pair of touchdowns on the road as Hancock improved to 1-2.
The Hawks led the game 27-0 midway through the third quarter and had little trouble against Class 4A competition in Meridian.
Picayune 31, Poplarville 21
Maroon Tide senior running back Austin Samples ran for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give the Maroon Tide a 31-13 lead to break open what had been a tight contest at Picayune.
Picayune improved to 3-0 before it starts Region 4-5A play with a home game against East Central next week.
Poplarville, which has played one of the state’s toughest schedules so far, drops to 0-3. The Hornets travel to play undefeated St. Stanislaus next.
St. Patrick 40, Enterprise 24
Enterprise jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but the Fighting Irish were in control from that point on.
St. Patrick’s lead grew to 40-16 when the defense scooped a fumble and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown with 2:37 remaining in regulation.
St. Patrick is 2-1 headed into next week’s home game against Bogue Chitto.
West Harrison 41, Southeast Lauderdale 35
The Hurricanes picked up their first win of the season before hosting Harrison Central to begin Region 4-6A play next week.
Bay High 31, Perry Central 20
Carmello Simpson had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 5-yard TD run as the Tigers improved to 2-0 on Saturday.
Noah Cutter also got in the end zone on a TD run and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown by Josh Bell helped close out the victory.
Other scores
East Central 31, Moss Point 15
North Pike 39, Pass Christian 10
This story was originally published September 19, 2020 at 12:26 AM.
