French Camp chose a good time to win its first game of the season. It was the Panthers' first Region 2-1A game. A strong defensive effort and a good break enabled French Camp to edge Okolona 20-14 in overtime.
French Camp held the Chieftains to 192 yards. “We had struggled with defense all year,” said coach Nathan Wright. “But I feel like they played lights out Friday.”
He singled out defensive lineman Seth Box for praise.
The good break – actually a bad break for Okolona – came in overtime. After French Camp scored to take a 20-14 led on its overtime possession. Okolona faced a fourth down, needing a touchdown and a PAT for the victory.
But the ball was snapped over the head of quarterback Dakinbe Thomas. “We were thankful for that,” Wright said. “He (Thomas) scrambled around. I though oh no, he's going to find someone open. Thankfully he didn't. He threw it and it was incomplete.”
French Camp started at the five on its overtime possession after Okolona jumped offsides. It took only one play for Phillip Caradine to score on an off tackle run as he followed blocking back Bradley Edwards through the hole and into the end zone.
Caradine scored twice to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead, a 12-yard run in the first quarter and a 7-yard run in the second quarter. Okolona made it 14-7 at the half following a fumble recovery deep in French Camp territory. Dykwan Johnson scored on a 10-yard run.
“That was frustrating,' Wright said.
Okolona tied it early in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass from Thomas to Daylen Ezell, setting up the overtime.
The Panthers managed only 148 yards. C.J. Johnson completed three passes for 43 yards and ran for 37 yards. Caradine had 20 carries for 66 yards. Javen Anderson was two for two on PATs.
On defense, Johnson had an interception and forced two fumbles. Anderson and Logan Cambell both recovered a fumble.
The Panthers will be on the road Friday against Tupelo Christian. Like Okolona, Tupelo Christian is a new region opponent due to MHSAA realignment.
“I haven't seen them play, but I have heard they have a really good quarterback,” Wright said.
