Indians cruise to homecoming win

It was difficult reading the scoreboard on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Byhalia, but the Indians definitely lit it up.

Coach Jeremy Jackson’s football team scored seven touchdowns in a 500 rout of Manassas from Memphis, Tenn., and celebrated a happy homecoming with their fans.

“We got off to a little bit of a slow

start, I guess because of the homecoming festivities and all, but once we got focused, we did what we had to do,” Jackson said. “Hopefully this is a springboard for what’s coming up the next couple of weeks.”

Two Region 2-3A games await against Holly Springs this Friday and Independence the next with a state playoff berth on the line.

“This win was a good confidence booster for us,” he said. “We were energized, and we have to play that way from here on out.”

The Byhalia defense provided the early energy versus the Tigers Saturday. Miles Jones’s sack of the quarterback caused a fumble, which teammate Walter Rodgers Jr. recovered at the Manassas 1-yard line.

Rayderrius Proge went into the end zone standing from there. Alejandro Sandoval kicked the extra-point with 5:06 left in the first quarter.

About a minute later, Rodgers recovered another Manassas fumble, this one at the visitors’ 14.

The Indians scored in three plays with quarterback Kajavious Thomas performing the honors from 6 yards out to make it 13-0.

Yet another Tiger turnover led to more Byhalia points. Prince Bentley recovered this fumble at the Manassas 12.

On the first play of the second quarter, Proge carried 4 yards for the score and also ran for the two-point conversion. It was 21-0, and that score held until halftime.

Thomas picked off a pass and returned it 37 yards to the Tigers’ 8 in the closing seconds of the first half. Byhalia had one play to score but couldn’t punch it in.

The Indians opened the second half with a 61-yard, fourplay scoring drive. Devin Jackson had a 12-yard burst for a first down. Proge, who shifted to quarterback, finished the possession off by scampering 43 yards to the end zone. Proge also cashed in the two. It was 29-0.

Manassas, thanks to a couple of flags on the Indians, got into Byhalia territory for the only time on the afternoon. Then Bentley made a hit that caused a fumble, and teammate Chance Jackson recovered at the Indians’ own 37.

It took the offense just four plays to go 63 yards and tack on more points. D. Jackson opened the drive with a 43-yard run to the Tigers’ 20. He scored the touchdown on an 8yard carry. C. Jackson added the two-point conversion with 6:29 left in the third.

Due to the wide margin (37-0), the clock ran non-stop the rest of the way.

The Indians added two more touchdowns, one of those set up by Anthony Taylor’s interception. Lakealin Bronson made a 15-yard dash to the corner of the end zone, and later D. Jackson plunged over from 3 yards out. Sandoval added a successful kick following the last score.

The Indians (2-5 overall and 0-2 in the district) visit Sam Coopwood Park to face Holly Springs this Friday. It’s also the Hawks’ homecoming. Holly High is 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the district.

“It’s a rivalry game, and we know it will be a tough one,” Jackson said. “Both teams show up to play when they play each other, and both are fighting for playoff spots. It will be a hard-fought game.”

Byhalia has won six straight in the cross-county rivalry.