Indians stay close until Lewisburg's second-half surge
Coach Jeremy Jackson compared his team’s loss Friday night to the ups and downs of a roller coaster.
The Class 3A Indians hung tough before dropping a 45-14 decision to Class 6A Lewisburg.
“It’s like we’d have a couple of good drives, and then two drives that were terrible — like a roller coaster,” head coach Jeremy Jackson said.
“The pace of their offense wore our defense down.
“We’re playing bigger schools for a reason, to get us ready for district play. You can’t get better playing lesser teams.”
Braxton Arnold’s interception on Lewisburg’s first possession gave Byhalia the early momentum.
The Indian offense took over at its own 35. Rayderrius Proge did most of the work on the drive, including a 42-yard touchdown run. Richard Patino kicked the extra point to give the home squad a 7-0 advantage with 7:30 left in the opening quarter.
The Patriots got on the scoreboard on their next possession — driving 63 yards in 13 plays. Coleman Dowell scored on a 1-yard plunge, and Gage Haley cashed in the two-point conversion.
Proge popped free for a big 27-yard gain early in the second quarter. Byhalia reached the Lewisburg 29 before going backwards.
The Patriots tacked on two touchdowns late in the first half the first on Dowell’s 13yard carry and the next on J.T. Swift’s “pick-six” for 15 yards. Graycen Crumbley and Haley caught passes for the two-point conversions.
Byhalia’s Miles Jones returned a kickoff 55 yards to the Lewisburg 33. Then on a second-and-long play, the Indians fumbled the ball away to end the first half. Lewisburg led 24-7.
The Indians showed some spunk to open the second half. Proge ran for a first down, before quarterback Dustin Grisham threw deep for a leaping Miles Jones. He made the catch and completed the 49-yard touchdown play. Patino’s kick cut the deficit to 24-14 with 10:32 left in the third period.
Lewisburg scored on its plunge, and Gage Haley cashed in the two-point conversion.
Proge popped free for a big 27-yard gain early in the second quarter. Byhalia reached the Lewisburg 29 before going backwards.
The Patriots tacked on two touchdowns late in the first half the first on Dowell’s 13yard carry and the next on J.T. Swift’s “pick-six” for 15 yards. Graycen Crumbley and Haley caught passes for the two-point conversions.
Byhalia’s Miles Jones returned a kickoff 55 yards to the Lewisburg 33. Then on a second-and-long play, the Indians fumbled the ball away to end the first half. Lewisburg led 24-7.
The Indians showed some spunk to open the second half. Proge ran for a first down, before quarterback Dustin Grisham threw deep for a leaping Miles Jones. He made the catch and completed the 49-yard touchdown play. Patino’s kick cut the deficit to 24-14 with 10:32 left in the third period.
Lewisburg scored on its next three possessions to tuck the win away.
D.J. Green darted 44 yards up the middle for six points. Zach Dennie kicked the extra point.
Just three minutes later, after a Byhalia three and out, it was Dowell again, his third touchdown of the night coming on a 1-yard carry. Dennie’s kick was good. It was 38-14 with 6:36 to go in the third.
D.J. Green finished off the visitors’ scoring early in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard run, and Dennie added the kick.
For Byhalia, Proge finished with 16 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Prince Bentley was a force to be reckoned with, as he had 14 tackles, four tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Arnold followed with 10 tackles, and Taylor Austin and JaMarion Blackshear had seven tackles each.
For Lewisburg, Dowell rushed for 183 yards and three scores on 29 carries.
“We continue to make mistakes — little stuff — that we need to correct,” said Jackson, whose team dropped to 0-2 to start the season.
“A lot of that comes with experience. We have a lot of first-year starters, and our inexperience is showing.
“With experience, things will get better. I see the bright spots, too.” The Indians play their first road game of the season this Friday night as they travel east on I-22 to New Albany. The Bulldogs are 1-1, coming off a 34-21 loss last week to Itawamba AHS.