Indians keep streak alive against Hawks

It was double satisfaction for the Byhalia Indians Friday night ­ a win over their crosscounty rivals and a state playoff berth.

The Indians made the short road trip to Sam Coopwood Park and knocked off the Holly Springs Hawks 20-0. It was Byhalia’s seventh straight win in the series.

“It was a good feeling,” said Jeremy Jackson, a 2008 Byhalia graduate who is in his first year as head coach of the Indians. “There was a lot of excitement surrounding the game, and we had to settle down some. We did that and took care of business.”

Things looked to be swinging the Hawks’ way early. But an opening kickoff return for a touchdown was called back due to a clipping penalty.

Holly High still had the football in Byhalia territory.

“We couldn’t punch it in,” said Sylvester Hemphill, head coach of the Hawks. “We went for it on fourth down there and turned it over on downs.”

The two defenses dominated the bulk of the first half.

The Indians came up with one big play, a 40-yard touchdown pass from Rayderrius Proge to Miles Jones for a score. Alejandro Sandoval kicked the extra point.

“We talked at half about finishing the game strong and doing what we had to do to win the football game,” Coach Jackson said. “The second half we moved the ball better and continued to play good defense.”

Byhalia got the ball first in the second half, and Holly Springs forced a punt.

The Hawks’ offense pushed the ball to near midfield but fumbled, and Taylor Austin recovered in Holly High territory.

The Indians scored in just three plays with Proge doing the honors from 2 yards out. Sandoval added the extra point. The lead was 14-0.

Some miscues on snaps haunted the Hawks on their next possession, forcing them backwards into a fourth and long situation.

Lakealin Bronson reeled off a 21-yard punt return for Byhalia. Proge scored on the next play, a 14-yard carry. The point-after try was not successful.

It was 20-0 at the end of the third quarter, and that score held through the fourth.

The Holly High defense held the Indians on a fourthand-four try midway through the final quarter.

Then Shamar Burgess connected with Cameron Washington for a big pass play to near midfield, but time ran out on the Hawks.

“Other than the deep ball, I thought our defense played well overall,” Coach Hemphill said. “I was disappointed with the offense. We couldn’t take advantage of some mismatches. It was frustrating. We have to be able to execute better.”

Meanwhile, Coach Jackson said he challenged his defense, and “they gave it all to me.” “We calmed down in the second half and played better football and accomplished what we wanted to accomplish,” Jackson said.

Proge finished with 15 carries for 77 yards. Leaders on the defensive side for Byhalia were Taylor Austin with eight tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and two fumble recoveries; Braxton Arnold with eight tackles and one tackle for loss; and Prince Bentley with seven tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

The Indians, with the Region 2-3A win, clinched a playoff spot. They’re 1-2 in the district and 3-5 overall entering a home game against district opponent Independence this week to end the regular season. The Wildcats are also 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the district.

“This win, our second straight, gives us a confidence boost,” Jackson said. “We’ve punched that ticket to the playoffs, and now we need to go out this week and better our seed in the playoffs (with a win over the Wildcats). We have a good opportunity to keep gaining momentum and gaining confidence going into the postseason.”

The Hawks (1-7 overall and 0-3 in the district) will close the season this week with a home game against North Panola (61 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the district).

“It will be a character test for us,” Hemphill said. “We still haven’t played our best game. We’re ready to go to work this week and try to rise to the challenge.”