Biloxi junior scores 3 touchdowns, blocks punt in the Indians’ win over George County
Neither Jalen Anderson nor his coach had ever seen anything like it.
Anderson, a junior Swiss Army knife in Biloxi’s toolbox, reached the end zone three times — in three different ways — and blocked a punt that was returned for a score in the Indians’ 34-14 trouncing of the visiting George County Rebels (2-1) on Friday.
The hat trick came in rare form: a receiving touchdown, a scoop-and-score and a pick-six. Including the blocked punt returned by teammate Bryce Hooker, Anderson created a touchdown in all three phases of the game on Friday.
“He’s Mr. Everything,” Biloxi (2-1) coach Katlan French said after the win. “We try to make sure we do him justice because he can do so many things... He’s a very special player and even better kid.”
Anderson said he’s never had a night like this at any level.
He could easily credit his football IQ — Anderson is a 4.0 GPA student — for being in the right places at the right time. He could justly chalk his outing up to his own athleticism if he wanted to. Instead, he chose to talk up his teammates and coaches.
“I want to thank the coaches for making a good game plan and my teammates for being there, even when we weren’t playing good at first,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s first big play came early in the second quarter with his team holding onto a 6-0 lead. He broke through the line on a Rebel punt attempt and blocked it with ease, allowing for Hooker to dent the scoreboard.
The Iron Man athlete struck again at the end of the half. Quarterback Zach Marlin’s second touchdown pass of the night was a 45-yard bomb to Anderson, who slipped a defender and outran another to give his team a 20-0 lead at halftime.
When George County broke through with a score in the third quarter and compounded momentum with an interception, Anderson showed up again.
He scooped up a fumble and waltzed 13 yards into the end zone with it. On the next possession, he picked off a deep pass and returned it 50-yards to the house.
“My teammates set up the plays,” Anderson said. “On the pick, my D-line got to the quarterback. On the fumble recovery touchdown, my middle linebacker got the forced fumble.”
A spark to build on
Biloxi won its season-opener against Stone by 30 points, then lost to Meridian by 28 a week ago.
French said the team is thin at the skill positions and has some youth along the trenches. While Friday’s result was a step in the right direction, the schedule ahead calls for more growth.
“I feel like we have a lot of improvement to make,” French said. “We’ve got a tough schedule coming up. Offensively, we got to get a lot better. Defensively, we weren’t really good last week but we got a lot better this week.”
Anderson is one of a few skill players who are pulling double duty for the Indians along with Darrion Perkins and Hooker.
“I’m glad they’re playing tough and able to finish the game tonight and we really appreciate their efforts,” French said.
The Indians travel to Hattiesburg next week before a home date with Pascagoula to wrap up a grueling non-district schedule.
“We have a lot of work to do still, we can’t take our foot off the gas,” Anderson said.
