DURANT — When visiting Okolona challenged Durant High School in the second round of the MHSAA Class 1A Playoffs on Friday night, the No. 1-ranked Tigers didn't back down.
Durant took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched down the field for a 12-play touchdown drive to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish on the way to a 28-12 win.
"They had the momentum going into the half in a 12-12 game," said Durant head coach Ashley Kuhn. "I thought our kids responded well. We took a lot of time off the clock and punched it in. Then we got the two-point conversion which I thought was just as big."
Durant took a 12-6 lead on a 5-yard run by quarterback Joffie Hogsett just before the half, but Okolona returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score to tie the game.
"That was a dangerous swing," Kuhn said. "If we come out in the second half and they stop us then all of the momentum is on their side of the field."
After Cortez Frizell scored on a 5-yard run and Hogsett passed to Frizell for the two-point conversion to put the winners up 20-12, the Tigers went on another long drive on its very next possession to go up 28-12 on a 1-yard run by Hogsett.
Okolona threatened, getting the ball down into the Durant red zone in the fourth quarter, but Dewayne Lewis picked off a pass to end the scoring threat.
"That was a big interception," Kuhn said. "We were up two scores, but that would have cut it to one and they are a dangerous team. We needed that big play and we got it."
Frizell finished the night with 275 rushing yards on 41 carries, while fullback David Hogsett picked up 27 yards and Joffie Hogsett added 17.
"The line did a good job blocking," Kuhn said. "I can't say enough about them or our fullback, David Hogsett. He just did a great job of blocking. He could be a tailback for a lot of teams, but we need him as fullback right now and he is getting the job done."
Tevin Marzette led the Tigers with 10 tackles, while Robert Lowe had nine and Lewis had eight. Jose Patterson also picked off a pass for Durant.
Next up for the Tigers is a road trip to Vardaman for the MHSAA Class 1A North State Championship Game Friday at 7 p.m.
"They beat a good Coffeeville team and a good Shaw team (in the playoffs) so we know they are a good team," Kuhn said.
Vardaman, 9-3 on the year and ranked No. 6 in 1A by the Mississippi Prep Sports Source, beat Coffeeville 13-7 in the second round, after downing Shaw 33-20 in the first round.
Vardaman's regular season losses came at the hands of Calhoun City (9-7), Smithville (28-19) and Okolona (25-13). The Rams have impressive regular season wins over Bruce (24-22) and East Wesbter (13-9) to their credit.
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