Leake Academy advances to semifinals in playoffs
Canon Parks scored on a one-yard run with 19 seconds left break a tie game and lift the undefeated Leake Academy Rebels to a 42-35 victory in prep football action last Friday night.
The Rebels will now host Lamar School Friday night in the semifinals of the Mississippi Independent Schools Association’s Class 5A state football playoffs. The two teams play in the same district and Leake Academy took a 26-25 victory during the regular season. The Rebels stand at 11-0 following last week’s 42-35 victory over Hartfield. The Raiders come in at 7-3 following their playoff victory over Park Place, 49-14.
Neither team scored in the first quarter of the Hartfield game. But Parks put the Rebels on the scoreboard early in the second period when he scored on a five-yard run. Cole Arthur kicked the extra point and Leake Academy led 7-0 with 11:56 left in the second quarter.
The Hawks scored two touchdowns to go up 14-7. First, Xavier Davis scored on a one-yard run. Then Christian Hobson caught a 52-yard TD pass from Cruz Garner, Weston Adcock kicked both extra points and Hartfield led 14-7 with 7-18 left in the second quarter,
The Rebels scored with 1:43 left in the quarter as Parks ran into the endzone from one-yard out. Arthur’s kick was good and the game was tied at 14-14.
Hobson caught his second TD pass of the night as he completed a 41-yard pass play from Tyler Sheffield. Adcock’s kick was good two seconds left in the half and the Hawks led 21-14 at the half.
Leake Academy came back to tie the game. Riley Myers scored on a five-yard run with 7:42 left in the third quarter. Arthur’s kick was good and the score stood at 21-21.
But Hartfield came back to re-take the lead when Davis ran 55 yards for a touchdown. Adcock’s kick was good and the Hawks carried a 28-21 lead into the final quarter.
Leake Academy scored a pair of touchdowns to take the lead. First, Whitt Welch scored on a five-yard run with 10:38 remaining. Arthur’s kick was good and the game was tied at 28-28
Later, Riley Myers intercepted a pass for the Rebels and returned it for a touchdown. Arthur’s kick was good and the Rebels led 35-28 with 7:45 left on the scoreboard.
The Hawks came back to tie the game as Garner connected with Jake Jesiolowski on a 24-yard TD pass play. The kick was good and the game was tied at 35-35 left in the game.
That’s how it stood until Parks scored with 19 seconds left and the Rebels had won the game. Arthur kicked the extra point.
Leake Academy had 320 total yards and 23 first downs. The Rebels rushed for 253 yards on 49 carries and completed 3-of-5 passes for 61 yards. The Rebels were penalized seven times for 85 yards and were intercepted once.
Quarterback Rhett Atkinson was the leading rusher with 93 yards on 10 carries. He had all the passing yards, giving him 144 total yards. Parks had 80 yards on 20 carries while Myers had 11 rushes for 60 yards. Levi Brown had two receptions for 54 yards.
Hartfield finished with 481 total yards and 25 first downs. The Hawks had 165 rushing yards on 30 carries, and completed 17-of-24 passing attempts for 316 yards. The Hawks were penalized four times for 40 yards and had two turnovers, an interception and a fumble.
Nick Gomillion led the Rebels defense with 16 tackles while Whitt Welch and Riley Myers both had 10 tackles. Parker Thomas had eight tackles while Ethan Dunn had six.