Laurel running back Zias Perryman saved the theatrics for the final yard of his game-winning touchdown. His dive, tuck and roll in the left corner of the end zone with eight-seconds remaining Friday night at R. H. Watkins Stadium wasn’t particular pretty.
It didn’t matter. “Between the Bricks” erupted in a roar that overshadowed the deafening silence across the field on the opposing side.
“It felt good,” said Perryman as he described his go-ahead score. “We’ve worked so hard to be where we are right now.”
Two plays later – a short tumbling kickoff and a Hail-Mary attempt by Brookhaven – Laurel celebrated the finality of its 26-22 win over the Panthers in the quarterfinal round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs.
“What you saw in the last few minutes was a microcosm of the whole season,” said Laurel head coach Todd Breland. “These kids never quit. They stay together. You know we may get after each other a little bit, but that is because we’re so dog-gone competitive. I proud of our players and our coaches for staying with the plan and take it down to the wire.”
Laurel will face Hattiesburg next Friday night at D.I. Patrick Stadium for the Class 5A South State Championship. The showdown will mark Laurel’s fourth straight trip to the South State Championship.
Hard to beat Laurel twice
It’s no secret, beating Laurel twice in a season is nearly impossible.
Laurel hasn’t lost to the same team twice in a season since it became a 5A school in 2013. And it’s not for the lack of opportunity. Hattiesburg and Wayne County have tired and failed.
Brookhaven beat Laurel back on Oct. 29 in Region 3-5A action, 42-35.
The Panthers tried to become the first team to do so, but Laurel rallied with 12 unanswered points Friday night in the final three minutes and 47 seconds to deem Brookhaven’s attempt a failure.
“I saw what I always say,” said Breland after the game. “You only have to play once [on a Friday night].”
Hattiesburg will have the opportunity next Friday night in the 5A South State Championship. The Tigers beat Laurel in Week 2 of the season, 20-14.
Defense
Laurel lead 7-6 at the half as a big credit to its defense.
Brookhaven reached the red zone twice on its first and second drives of the game. Laurel’s stingy defense forced the Panthers to settle for field goals – a 23-yard chip early in the first quarter and a 35-yard boot seconds into the second quarter – on each of those drives.
Brookhaven didn’t score again till 2:27 left to go in the third stanza.
“I don’t think we have ever played a big game in which the defense didn’t show up,” said Breland. “They did tonight. They carried us, especially in the first half.”
The game’s only touchdown in the first half came on a scoop-and-score by Laurel senior linebacker Demark Smith after a mishandled pitch by Brookhaven running back JG Edwards from quarterback Sevante Quinn midway through the second quarter.
“We didn’t change our defense for this game, we just tried to focus in on execution,” said Breland. “Our defense continued to play well all night.”
Last four minutes
Brookhaven seemed to have the momentum and game after Quinn found junior wide receiver Dorian German for a 23-yard touchdown pass on a critical third-and-11 play late in the fourth quarter. The score gave Brookhaven a 22-14 lead.
In dire need of a score, Laurel marched downfield and capped its drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Sinclair Ulmer to junior athlete Melyjah. Trailing by two, 22-20, Laurel attempted the same play for a two-point conversion, and the pass fell incomplete.
After a successful on-side kick and recovery, Laurel marched downfield one last time. Perryman capped the game-winning drive with a short 6-yard rush into the left corner of the end zone.
“Our running backs did a great job tonight, especially towards the end,” Breland said. “Perryman got it at the end, but you have to give credit to our offensive line for getting it done.”
