Northeast edges Bears, 19-13, in overtime

photo JUCO Weekly
photo JUCO Weekly

by Michael D. Gunnell

Southwest Sports Information 

 

 

A second-half rally by the Bears went for naught Thursday night as the host Northeast Tigers scored in overtime to win the season-opener for both teams, 19-13, in Booneville.

 

A 28-yard Michael Baugus field goal left the Tigers with a 3-0 lead after the first quarter. Then, with 2:46 left in the second stanza, a 72-yard scoring run by Shawn Weatherbee, plus Baugus' PAT, put the home team up 10-0, a lead they carried into halftime.

 

The Bears scored the only points of the third quarter thanks to their defense. With 11:23 left in the third quarter, a blocked punt by Damarcus Mitchell was recovered in the end zone by Cameron Lee. Hayes Tisdale added the PAT to draw the Bears to within 10-7.

 

With 12:57 on the fourth-quarter clock, Patrick Price took a pitch from Ja'Tyler Moore and scampered into the end zone from the one-yard line. A missed PAT left the Bears with a 13-10 advantage.

 

The Bears maintained their lead as time was winding down. However, the Tigers would not give in. With only 0:06 on the clock, Baugus booted a 31-yard field goal to force the game into extra play.

 

The Bears received the ball first in overtime, but were unable to score. When their turn came, the Tigers put together a seven-play drive and claimed the victory when Weatherbee scored from the one-yard line.

 

Zarious Keyes picked up 38 yards on 11 carries to top the Bears' ground game. Price had 16 yards, and a touchdown, on two carries.

 

Moore and Keyvont Baines combined to complete 8 of 15 passes for 95 yards. Da'Bryan Magee caught three passes for 52 yards.

 

The Bears recorded 9 first downs in the game and were penalized 9 times for 85 yards. Jack Runnels punted 8 times for 33.9 yards.

 

Jack Mangel led the Tigers' offense with 158 yards on 20 of 31 passing. He was intercepted twice. Patrick Felton had one pass picked off.

 

The Tigers had 19 first downs in the game and were whistled for 80 yards on 9 penalties.

 

The Bears remain on the road for their next contest as they travel to Senatobia on September 6 to face the 9th-ranked Northwest Rangers. Kickoff is set for 7:00.