Choctaw County's magical ride in the MHSAA Class 3A State Football Playoffs continues following a 35-28 second-round victory over defending state champion Water Valley,
“Our guys just played hard,” said CCHS head football coach Jeff Roberts.
It was a relentless ground game led by Dicenzo Miller and Kendall Coleman that enabled the Chargers to advance to a quarterfinal game Friday at Amanda Elzy. Miller had 22 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns and Coleman added 14 carries for 138 yards and one TD while playing most of the game at quarterback in place of Tylan Carter. The Chargers totaled 339 yards on 45 carries and added 63 yards through the air.
Carter played sparingly as a result of an ankle injury suffered a week earlier in an opening round victory over Ruleville Central. “He probably could have played a little more on it. But his mobility was a little more limited than I wanted it to be.” Roberts said.
Carter did complete all three of his pass attempts for 35 yards.
Choctaw County jumped out to a 21-0 first half lead on TD runs of nine and two yards by Miller and a 45-yard interception return by Tyson Coleman. But Water Valley came back to tie the game on two second quarter touchdowns and one early in the second half.
“We made a few errors. We turned the ball over. They had a big kickoff return. They got some momentum going. That team is not going to quit,” Roberts said of Water Valley. He should know. He was the Blue Devils' defensive coordinator for last year's championship season.
Choctaw County responded with touchdowns on a 10-yard run by Coleman and a two-yard run by Calvin Talley for a 35-21 fourth quarter lead.
“They hit us back, but instead of getting our heads down, we came out and scored,” Roberts said. “That says a lot about us. We just keep grinding.”
Water Valley cut the deficit to 35-28 with three minutes left, then attempted an onside kick. Miller recovered it. “He kind of put in a pretty good little game,” Roberts said.
Choctaw County put in its heavy package and Talley sealed the win with a seven-yard run on third and one. Talley is a defensive lineman, but the Chargers use him on offense, mainly for short yardage situations.
Roberts said a highlight of the game was a 28-yard sideline pass reception by Preston Payne “It was a really impressive catch.”
Trace Beard was five for five on PATs for the Chargers.
Choctaw County is 10-3 with nine straight wins.
Amanda Elzy is 9-3 with playoff victories over Hatley and Independence. The Panthers trailed Independence 19-14 at the half, but blanked the Wildcats in the second half and won the game 20-19 on a fourth quarter TD.
Amanda Elzy is led by 5-7, 170-pound senior running back Dephabian Fant, the leading runner in 3A with 207 carries for 2,233 yards and 26 touchdowns. He had totaled 523 yards in the two playoff games and had a 375-yard game against Winona in a victory that enabled the Panthers to win Region 3-3A.
“He’s their workhorse. He can flat out fly,” Roberts said. “He’s the guy they want to get the ball to and I don’t blame them.”
Amanda Elzy’s three losses were against unbeaten Northside, unbeaten 4A power Greenwood and South Delta with a 10-2 record. Not coincidentally, those are the only games that Fant was held under 100 yards.
Amanda Elzy and Choctaw County have had three common opponents. Amanda Elzy defeated Ruleville Central 8-0, Winona 42-36 and Hatley 32-14. Choctaw County defeated Ruleville Central 28-12 and Hatley 31-7, but lost to Winona 42-14 in the second game of the season.
Friday’s winner will play either Noxubee County or Houston Nov. 29 in the North State final. Choctaw County defeated both of those teams in winning 4-3A.
Amanda Elzy is located in Leflore County, just south of Greenwood,
