Calhoun City (7-5, 4-1 Region 1-2A) survived a bevy of turnovers to pick up an 18-16 win over Mound Bayou JFK (5-6, 2-2 Region 4-2A) in the opening round of the Class 2A North State playoffs.
Demarius Howard rushed for 37 yards, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion on 10 carries and caught four passes for 36 yards while Raheem Robertson recovered a fumbled, booted an extra point, connected on a 27-yard field goal, and recorded 14 tackles to help the Wildcats advance to the second round of the playoffs.
JR Jennings passed for 125 yards and one interception on 11-of-17 passing with Jase Chandler hauling in three catches for 42 yards, Tray Pratt had 22 yard on one catch, Roberson 16 yards on one catch, and Avery Hill had one catch for 12 yards.
Tevin Hall rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries and Hill added 54 yards on eight carries.
The win avenged the Wildcats’ 26-0 road loss to JFK in the opening round of the 2007 Class 1A North State playoffs.
Calhoun City will make the short trip to Cumberland to take on the East Webster Wolverines in the second round of the playoffs.
East Webster (6-6, 1-4 Region 2-2A) enter the playoffs as the number four seed from Region 2-2A and handed top-seeded Coahoma County Panthers (7-4, 4-0 Region 3-2A) 33-8 to earn a home game against the Wildcats.
Ledrick Patterson only threw one pass against the Panthers and completed it to Miguel Graham for a 35-yard reception and rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Demetrius O’Briant rushed for 131 yards on 14 carries while Timakis Bell added 55 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Bolo McCurry rushed for 17 yards and one touchdown on two carries.
The Wolverines forced the Panthers into four turnovers with Austin Cunningham recovered three fumbles and Ryan Johnson picked off a pass in the upset victory setting up a rematch of last season’s Class 1A North State semifinals.
East Webster has rushed for 2,113 yards and passed for 597 yards on the season.
The winner of the Calhoun City-East Webster game will advance to the Class 2A semifinals against the winner between Hollandale-Simmons and Ackerman.
