Warriors looking for a place in upcoming 4A playoffs

The Choctaw Central Warriors close out their 2021 regular football season Thursday night when they visit Leake Central in a game with playoff implications.

The Warriors come in with a 3-4 overall record after dropping a 43-21 decision to West Lauderdale last Friday night. Leake Central comes in with a 1-8 overall record. The Gators dropped a 49-0 loss to Louisville last week.

But more importantly, both teams stand at 1-3 in the Region 4-4A standings. The winner of Thursday’s game will finish as the fourth-place team in the standings and will earn a place in the 4A state playoffs.

The Warriors looked ready to strike first in their game with West Lauderdale. They drove down to the Knights’ 20-yard line. On fourth down, they attempted a 39-yard field goal but it was no good.

West Lauderdale came back with a scoring drive and took a 7-0 lead. The Knights scored again in the second quarter and led 14-0 at the half.

West Lauderdale scored early in the third quarter and went up 20-0.

Choctaw Central got on the scoreboard when Elias Bell caught a 17-yard TD pass from Eli Jimmie. The extra point was good and the Warriors trailed 20-7.

The Warriors drove down to the West Lauderdale 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter but ran out of downs. The Knights took the ball and drove down the field for a touchdown. They scored the 2-point conversion and West Lauderdale led 28-7.

Later, Elias Bell caught a 64-yard TD pass. The try for two failed and the Knights led 28-13 with 7:06 left in the game.

West Lauderdale answered with a touchdown and went up 36-13.

The Knights intercepted a pass and drove it in for a touchdown. The extra-point kick was good and the Knights led 43-13.

But the Warriors did not give up as they drove down for another touchdown. Elias Bell caught a 5-yard TD pass from Jeriah Jimmie. The duo of Jimmie to Bell connected again for the 2-point conversion to end the scoring.