What Caleb Reardon lacks in size and strength he makes up with effort every snap. The Seminary standout has a knack for finding the football on defense and even special teams. The latter was for sure proven in the Bulldogs’ rematch with Jefferson Davis County last Friday in the Class 3A South State Championship game.
With Seminary trailing 9-7 in the fourth quarter and Jefferson Davis County punting it away deep in their own territory, Reardon made the play of the game for the Bulldogs, capitalizing on a low snap and setting up a short field for his offense. He recovered the ball at the Jaguar three-yard line, and one play later Seminary took the lead on a three-yard touchdown run from Jordan Barrett.
The score from Barrett turned out to be the game-winner, as the Bulldogs advanced to their first state championship game appearance in 15 years. With Seminary’s offense struggling to sustain drives and dealing with boggy field conditions, Reardon’s recovery proved to be all the more important.
“If they would’ve got that punt off, I don’t know….I don’t know if we were gonna get back on the scoreboard,” said Reardon, who added 16 tackles (five for loss) and two sacks.
For his efforts, the senior linebacker is our Week 15 Sports601 Covington County Player of the Week.
“Caleb’s been playing a lot for us for several years,” said Seminary coach Brian Rials. “He’s a senior that’s not the most talented looking guy sometimes. We chew him out most weeks, and he just keeps making plays for us.
“He stepped up and had a really big game the other night. It was the biggest one of his career and the biggest of our season.”
It helps that Jefferson Davis County runs the same offense that Reardon practices against every day at Seminary.
“I read it good,” said Reardon. “I saw when they had a swing coming my way. I just ran that way hard and made the tackle.”
As for his big play on special teams, Reardon says the Jaguars were missing a player on the left side of their punt line. “I saw that, and they went ahead and snapped it anyway. It was a bad snap, and I just ran over there and recovered it.”
Rials wasn’t surprised to see Reardon come up with the ball and raise it in celebration.
“He [Reardon] just gives you 100 percent every time he’s out there.”
Seminary improved to 12-3 with the victory, extending their win streak to 11 games. Next, the Bulldogs will face Water Valley for the Class 3A State Championship this Friday at Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 am.
