“As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly…”
Questions like fall leaves swirled around the Magnolia Chiefs football program concerning the MAIS play-off picture and Magnolia Heights place in it. “Who will their opponent be, where would they play, Have we played them already this season, were all questions that danced in the heads of Chiefs as they prepared to saddle up against the Mantachie Mustangs
Though there seemed to be questions swirling all around the school campus, none appeared to reach the field as the Chiefs removed all doubts, recording a 37-0 victory over the Mustangs. The game showed supporters and doubters alike what was possible when the Magnolia machine was hitting on all cylinders.
Mantachie started the game by kicking- off to Magnolia Heights and the Chiefs wasted very little time in moving the ball down to Mantachie 37 yard line. The five play drive would bear no fruit as the Chiefs fumbled the ball back to the Mustangs. The Chiefs defense was up to the task, however, and forced the Mustangs to punt the ball on fourth down and seven yards to go. The punt proved to be the Mustangs best offensive production of the half when the Chiefs lost the fumbled punt to the Mantachie who would take over on their twenty-one.
Once again the defense held its ground, and Hunter Harris recovered a Mustang fumble on the eighteen yard line with 1:35 left to play in the first quarter.
From there the Chief offense began to move with precision. On first down, senior quarterback Blake Kirby connects with Graycen Crumbley on a 49 yard pass to put the Chiefs just outside the red zone on the 34 yard line. Thompson plunged into the heart of the Mantachie defense for the first down on the 19 yard line. From there, Hunter Jones took the ball straight up the field and in to the end zone for the first touchdown of the evening. Parker Bright added the point after touchdown and the first quarter of play ended with the Chiefs leading 7-0.
Mantachie quarterback Jaycob Hawkes moved the ball down to the Chief nine yard line before turning the ball over on downs. In the shadow of his own goal post Kirby tucked the ball and rambled 49 yards down the field before being stopped by Seth Guin. From there Hunter Jones carried the ball to the eleven yard line and on fourth down Parker Bright kicked a field goal to make it 10-0 in favor of the Chiefs.
With 8:13 left in the half, Mantachie signaled for the fair catch and the Mustangs took over on their 21 yard line. Three plays later the Mustangs facing fourth down and sixteen punted to the Chiefs who took over on the 35 yard line.
Blake Dunlap caught an eight yard pass from Kirby to make it second down and two yards to go. The Chief’s Keondre Fields added another 8 yard gain around the left side to put the Chiefs in scoring position until a blocking in the back penalty nullified their progress. The Chiefs again tested the heart of the Mustang defense picking up a handful of yards up the middle. Now facing third down and eleven Kirby rolled to his right and connected with Graycen Crumbley on an eleven yard touchdown pass. Parker Bright’s PAT attempt split the uprights to give Magnolia Heights a 17-0 lead. The Mustangs controlled the remainder of the half feeding the ball to Tristen Hurd up the middle, but it was to a case of too little too late and the first half of play ended with the Chiefs leading 17-0.
Magnolia Heights received the ball to begin the second half and Ross Thompson added a 20 yard gain on first down to put the ball on the forty-eight yard line. Two plays later, Blake Dunlap caught a thirty-one yard pass from Kirby and sliced through the Mustang defenders for the score. Parker Bright’s point after was good and the Chiefs moved further out front of the Mustangs, 24-0.
On their ensuing possession Mantachie fumbled the snap on third down and the Chiefs took over on the Mantachie twenty-five yard line. Keondre Fields would cap off the Chiefs possession with a nine yard dive off the right hip of Magnolia Heights center Bowen Goff for the score. The Chiefs then opted to attempt a two point conversion that was stopped by the Mustangs just shy of the goal line to leave the score at 30-0 with 5:19 left in the game.
The game’s final points came on a 47 yard run by Keondre Fields to make the score 36-0. Parker Bright added the PAT and the game would end 37-0 in favor of the Magnolia Heights Chiefs.
Offensively, the Chiefs produced 402 yards total offense; 169 yards passing combined with 233 yards rushing. Blake Kirby accounted for 169 yards passing completing 13 of 18 attempts including 2 touchdowns. Kirby Also had 3 rushing attempts with one of those accounting for 49 yards of his 54 yard total. Keondre Fields carried the 4 times gaining 80 yards and 2 touchdowns. Thompson picked-up 45 yards on 5 carries, Harris had 34 yards on 2 carries
The Magnolia Heights defense allowed the Mustangs a paltry 131 yards total offense.
The Chiefs refused the Mustangs entrance to the end zone either on the ground or in the air.
Defensively, the Chiefs gave up 117 rushing yards on 36 attempts and caused 1 fumble, which they recovered. The Chiefs held the Mustangs to 3 completions on 12 attempts for 14 yards. Asa Moore led the defensive unit with 7 solo tackles and 5 assist, including 2 tackles for a loss. Hunter Pugh had 5 solo stops and 5 assist, Carson O’ Conner had 4 solo tackles combined with 4 assist and 2 tackles for a loss, Gavin Woods had 3 solo tackles with 5 assists.
Magnolia Heights ended their regular season of play with a 6-4 record. The Chiefs are seeded in the eighth position and will begin play-off action on Friday, October 30 against number 8 seed, Hartfield Academy with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The winner of this game will play number one seed Leake Academy on November 6, 2020.
