By the 28-17 Purvis victory, the Battle for Highway 589 might have seemed like a runaway for the Tornadoes. However, Coach Brad Hankins said after the game Thursday night, his squad realized the Bobcats would not lie down.
“It was not pretty, but it was a win,” Hankins said about his Tornadoes (1-0 in Region 7-4A, 5-3 overall). “We kept fighting tonight and held on. It’s just the start (of the district schedule) and we can’t be satisfied.”
For Shannon White and his Bobcats (0-2, 3-5), the game brought bad news, and not just in the final score. Sophomore quarterback John Ford, who returned to lead the offense after a shoulder injury, went out of the game late in the third quarter after hurting his left shoulder again.
“We’ll just have to pick up and move on,” White said after having used senior wide receiver Gabriel Cocroft to call signals while Ford recuperated. “(Ford) has been through a lot this year. His loss takes a big chunk out of our offense. We run the ball well when he’s out there because his passing game balances our offense.”
White has been part of this scenario before when players had to become quarterbacks to replace injured Bobcats. Last year, starting quarterback Billy Garrity was sidelined with an injury, and senior wide receiver Dannis Jackson spent time under center.
White also praised his team’s defensive effort, despite the 20 points.
“I thought our defense played well tonight,” he said. “(Senior defensive lineman) Cole Daniels had a big night.”
For the Tornadoes, the defense set the tone of the game, Hankins said.
“We made some big stops out there that kept the momentum on our side,” he said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and we had a good effort there.”
Momentum Changes:
Sumrall took the lead first with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Ford to Hayden Barrett with 9:33 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Purvis answered with a 60-yard run from Ty Badon on the second play from scrimmage. With a failed two-point conversion, the Bobcats still held a 7-6 lead with 8:30 to go in the initial stanza.
The Tornadoes turned the game in their favor after recovering the ensuing onside kick and completing the subsequent six-play, 49-yard drive with a 42-yard scoring pass from quarterback Hunter Robinson.
Despite Sumrall’s rebounding to take a 17-14 lead after a 24-yard field goal to start the second quarter and a five-yard touchdown run by Carson Duck in the second quarter, Purvis grabbed a 21-17 advantage with 2:59 left before halftime.
The five-yard Tornado touchdown run was credited to junior fullback Kaden Wines, but the football never crossed the goal line. One official said the ball was fumbled inside the one yard line, then it eventually rolled out of the back of the end zone before it could be recovered.
However, the officials discussed the situation among themselves, compared opinions on the play, and eventually ruled that Purvis had scored the touchdown. Sumrall was not able to recover from the 21-17 lead, and the Tornadoes’ adjustments at halftime contributed to the victory.
Players of the Game:
Purvis kept a balanced offense on the field under the direction of Robinson. The running game was dominated by Wines and Badon, the Tornadoes’ version of Thunder and Lightning. It seemed appropriate for a weather-related team.
Quote of the Night:
“It was not pretty, but it was a win,” Purvis Coach Brad Hankins told his players after the victory.
Next week:
Purvis and Sumrall both have home games – the Tornadoes with Poplarville and the Bobcats against Forrest County Agricultural High School for homecoming.
