Rockets fall to South Panola 33-13 in run for title

The Neshoba Central Rockets finished up the 2023 football season Friday night with a 33-13 loss to South Panola in the second round of the Class 6A state football playoffs.

The Rockets concluded their season with a 6-6 record. South Panola improved to 11-1 and will play Grenada Friday night for the Class 6A North State championship.

Neshoba Central struck first when Quarterback Will Williams connected with Zach Ruffin on a 37-yard pass play that put the Rockets on the Tigers seven yard line. Two plays later, Williams found Tryceton Thompson in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point try was no good and the Rockets led 6-0 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

South Panola took the kickoff on its 34 yard line and drove 63 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. The extra point try failed and the score was tied at 6-6 with 8:31 left in the second quarter. The Tigers would score again on a 61-yard run. The kick was good and the Tigers led 13-6 at the half.

South Panola took the second half kickoff and drove 52 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. The extra point kick was good and the Tigers led 20-6 with 8:13 left.

From that point, the Tigers stayed with running game and let the clock run. The Tigers scored on a two-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The extra point was good and the Tigers led 27-6.

The Tigers kicked off and forced the Rockets to punt after four downs. South Panola took over on its own 40-yard line and grinded through 11 plays for its final touchdown. The extra point was blocked and the Tigers led 33-13.

The Rockets never gave up. They took the kickoff on their own 30 and drove 11 plays for a touchdown. Williams passed to Charles Stevenson for a touchdown. John Parker Hancock kicked the extra point and the final score was 33-13.