Rockets finish regular season 10-0

The Neshoba Central Rockets wrapped up their 2021 regular season undefeated Friday night as they rolled over Callaway 47-13.

This is the first Neshoba Central football team to go undefeated and Coach Patrick Schoolar says they still have things to do.

“Going undefeated was quite an accomplishment for this team,” Schoolar said. “If we can keep that zero in the loss column, we will be alright. Our seniors have won at least 10 games each year for the past four years. Very few classes can say that.”  

Neshoba Central enters the Class 5A state football playoffs with a 10-0 overall record and 8-0 in the Region 2-5A standings. They will host the No. 4 team out of Region 1-5A Friday, Nov. 12. At this point, it appears to be Lake Cormorant or possibly Cleveland Central, which stands at 5-4.

The Rockets will be off this week before entering the playoffs.

Against Callaway, it was the Chargers who struck first. Callaway took the opening kickoff. They converted on fourth down with a 32-yard run. Three plays later, they were in the endzone on a 23-yard quarterback keeper. The extra-point try was no good and the Chargers led 6-0 with 9:23 left in the first quarter.

“We started out a little flat,” Schoolar said. “I told our kids Callaway may not have a very good record but they have players who can beat you. After they scored the first touchdown, our (varsity) defense didn’t give up anything else. And our offense threw the ball up and down the field.”

The Rockets took the ensuing kickoff and drove 64 yards in 13 plays before Hunter Bavetta put them on the scoreboard with a 27-yard field goal. Callaway’s lead was cut to 7-3.

Callaway took the kickoff and ran six plays before turning the ball over on downs.

Neshoba Central took the ball over on its 35 and ran seven plays. Eli Anderson then connected with Ja’Naylon Dupree on a 17-yard TD pass play. Bavetta kicked the extra point and the Rockets led 10-7 with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Toward the end of the first quarter, the Rockets missed a 44-yard field goal attempt.

The Rockets got the ball back on the 50-yard line and put together a 10-play scoring drive. Anderson connected with Bryceton Spencer on a 5-yard TD pass. Bavetta’s kick was good and the Rockets led 17-7 with 7:43 left in the first half.

In the closing seconds of the first half, Bavetta kicked a 33-yard field goal and Neshoba Central led 20-7 at the half.

The Rockets scored in the third quarter when Anderson found Elijah Ruffin on a 23-yard TD pass play. Bavetta’s kick was good and the Rockets led 27-7.

Later in the third quarter, Anderson found Dupree again for a 32-yard TD pass play. Bavetta’s kick was good and the Rockets led 34-7.

Neshoba Central scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Anderson connected with Ruffin on an 18-yard TD pass. Then Zach Ruffin intercepted a Callaway pass and returned it for a touchdown. Callaway scored late in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets finished with 540 total yards and 23 first downs. Anderson completed 20-of-39 passing attempts for 299 yards. The Rockets had 241 rushing yards.

Ken Drummond rushed for 96 yards on 11 carries while Zander Kirkland ran for 27 yards on five carries. Darrian Ragsdale had 56 yards on five rushes and Anderson ran six times for 23 yards.

Spencer had five receptions for 55 yards. Dupree caught nine passes for 125 yards while Ruffin had four catches for 95 yards and Grayson Fulton had two catches for 24 yards.