Hunter scores 3 TDs as Rockets pound Gators 34-6

VICKSBURG - The Neshoba Central offense scored all of its points in the second half as the No. 4 ranked Rockets rolled up a 34-6 victory over the Vicksburg Gators in prep football action.

The game was played at Warren while Vicksburg’s stadium at City Park is undergoing a renovation.

Neshoba Central now stands at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the District 2-5A standings. The Gators dropped to 1-5.

A tough Vicksburg defense and a penalty flag thrown every time Neshoba Central made a long gain kept the Rockets off the scoreboard in the first half.

The score stood at 0-0 when the second half opened but it didn’t stay that way for long,

Neshoba Central took the second half kickoff and started at their 44-yard line. On first down, Jarquez Hunter ran 38-yards to give the Rockets a first down on the Gators’ 18-yard line. On the next play, he carried it the rest of the way into the end zone for a touchdown. Hunter Bavetta booted the extra point and the Rockets led 7-0 with 30 seconds gone in the third quarter.

Vicksburg went for it on fourth down and the Rocket defense held at their 45-yard line.

Nine plays later, Hunter scored again on a six-yard run. Bavetta’s kick was good and the Rockets led 14-0 and that’s how it stood until the fourth quarter.

Defensive lineman Maxton Woodward recovered a fumble and returned it to the Vicksburg seven-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Eli Anderson ran the ball into the end zone on a five-yard run. Bavetta’s kick was good and the Rockets led 21-0 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Vicksburg scored its only points when Lawrence Sullivan caught a 76-yard TD pass play. The extra point try failed and the Gators trailed 21-6 with five minutes left.

The Rockets took the ensuing kickoff and drove 57-yard drive for a touchdown. Anderson scored on a four-yard run. The extra point try failed and the Rockets le 27-6 with 4:34 left.

Vicksburg lost possession on first down. Hunter ran 28 yards to put the ball on the one-yard line. He then ran up the middle on the next play for a touchdown. Bavetta kicked the extra appoint to end the scoring.

“This was a good test for us,” Coach Patrick Schoolar said. “We overcame the odds and didn’t let things get to us. We played hard.”

Hunter now has 91 career touchdowns. He finished the night with 221 yards on 25 carries. On defense, he had four solo tackles and three assists.

Anderson rushed for 41 yards on seven carries. He completed 10-of-13 yards for 89 yards.

Jaharon Griffin had 11 solo tackles and five assists. Brayden Reynolds had five sole tackles and eight assists. Kelbee Holmes has seven solos and eight assists. Jashawn Mathis had eight tackles. Woodward had three solos, five assists, a fumble recovery and a sack. Landon Case had three tackles and three assists.

Neshoba Central hosts Canton Thursday. Vicksburg visits Cleveland Central.

The Rockets celebrate Homecoming. The game was moved from Friday because of potential bad weather from Hurricane Delta.