Mississippi All-Stars shine in annual game

Mississippi All-Stars Come From Behind To Stun Alabama In All-Star OT Classic.

What a terrific way to cap the 2019 high school football season! Coach Brad Breland and the Mississippi All-Stars erased a 10 point deficit in the 4th quarter and overtime to beat the Alabama All-Stars 17-16 in the 33rd annual MS-AL All-Star game in Hattiesburg Mississippi. Things started off well for Alabama as they drove 61 yards down the field in 6:10, ending with a 2 yard rushing score by All-Star running back, Jordan Ingram, giving the Alabama All-Stars a 7-0 early lead. The defenses for both teams would dominate for the rest of the first half. Alabama was held to 88 yards of offense while Mississippi only gained 51 total yards of offense in the first half.

In the 2nd half, the Alabama All-Star team produced an 8:02 clock running drive. The time consuming effort produced 57 yards on 10 plays, ending with a Evan McGuire 30 yard field goal. The lead was extended to 10-0 with 2:16 left in the 3rd quarter. It looked like Alabama was going to cruise to victory, especially after Mississippi's starter Jimmy Holiday went down with a gruesome leg injury. He had to be helped off the field.

However, Mississippi got on the board with a Gavin Gaudin 31 yard field goal early in the 4th quarter to cut the Alabama lead to 10-3. With less than 7:00 to go, MS QB Will Rogers threw a costly interception that set Alabama up to potentially ice the game, but Evan McGuire missed the field goal attempt to keep the home team's hopes alive. With 2:04 to go, Will Rogers found Trip Wilson in the end zone for a game tying 12 yard touchdown, making the score 10-10. Alabama got a final chance to win it in regulation, but Evan Mc Guire, got his attempt blocked.

The blocked kick sent the game into a rare all-star overtime. In the thirty three year history of the All-Star game there have only been three overtime games, prior to Saturday's event.. In only 3 plays Will Rogers completed a 6 yard touchdown pass to receiver Janari Dean to give the Mississippi All-Stars their first lead of the game at 17-10. Two plays later, Alabama answered with a 9 yard touchdown by Logan Smothers to Mike Pettway. The score is 17-16 and the pressure is on the foot of Evan McGuire, to tie the game. As the 25 second clock ticked down, fans held their breath to see if the ball would go between the uprights. Amazingly, the kick was blocked! Coach Breland's all star squad had pulled out an incredible overtime victory at the Rock!

Alabama outgained Mississippi 260-177 in total yards, while Mississippi dominated time of possession 28:16 to 19:44. Eddie Williams caught 6 balls for 98 yards and was Alabama's MVP for the game, while McKinnley Jackson was named Mississippi's MVP after his big day against the Alabama backfield.

Thanks to all the football teams of MS and AL for a great 2019 of Friday Night Lights!