HATTIESBURG – Al Michaels famously said, “Do you believe in miracles?” when the U.S. hockey team defeated the Soviet team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. He might have made a similar proclamation if he had broadcast Mississippi's 17-16 overtime victory over Alabama at the Mississippi-Alabama All Star Game on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi on Saturday afternoon.
Mississippi was outgained 260 yard to 177, trailed for 40 of the 48 minutes of regulation, never leading until overtime, and seemed to be hanging by a thread throughout the fourth quarter. It took two touchdown passes by Will Rogers of Brandon and two blocked kicks for Mississippi to win for the third year in a row.
“We never quit,” said Union High School coach Brad Breland, head coach for Mississippi. “We could have laid down, but the guys never quit.”
Up 10-3, Alabama reached the Mississippi eight yard line midway through the fourth quarter. Alabama's Evan McGuire had been right down the middle with two previous kicks, a PAT and a 30-yard field goal. Another three-pointer would have meant a two-score game, likely an insurmountable lead the way the game was going. But he was wide right from 25 yards.
Mississippi then moved 70 yards in 11 plays, scoring on a 12-yard pass on fourth down from Rogers to Trip Wilson of Tupelo. The extra point by Gavin Gaudin of Northwest Rankin tied the game with 2:04 left.
Alabama came right back down the field, again reaching the Mississippi eight on a 22-yard screen pass from Sawyer Pate to C.J. Evans with a minute left. After three incomplete passes, McGuire had a chance to redeem himself with another 25-yard field goal attempt.
Jevon Banks of Olive Branch broke through for a block that sent the game into overtime.
Mississippi had the ball first and scored on a seven-yard swing pass from Rogers to Janari Dean of South Panola. Gaudin's PAT made it 17-10.
Alabama responded with a nine-yard pass from Logan Smothers to Mike Pettway in the back of the end zone. A successful conversion would have meant a second overtime, but Mississippi again came up with a block.
Officially, credit was given to Tyrese Hopkins of Starkville, but some Mississippi players said it was actually Armondous Cooley of Wayne County. No matter who it was, it set off a wild celebration on the home side of USM's M.M Roberts Stadium as the ball fluttered wide.
Alabama started off as if it might win easily, driving 69 yards with the opening kickoff for a 7-0 lead on a two-yard run by Jordan Ingram. Pate twice converted on third-and-eight during the drive, a 42-yard pass to Eddie Williams to the Mississippi 14 and an 11-yard pass to Kristian Story to the one.
The Mississippi defense stiffened after that, not allowing another TD until overtime. “The defense bent a little, but never broke,” Breland said.
Winona coach Joey Tompkins, who coached the defensive line, said Mississippi stopped slanting and played straight up. “When you slant a lot, you can make plays, but you can also get out of position.”
Mississippi held Alabama to 40 yards on the ground. “The defensive line played great,” Tompkins said.
One of the defensive linemen was Montra Edwards of Holmes County Central. “It was a team effort,” he said. “Everybody played well.”
Edwards has not decided where he will attend college and will not sign until February,
It was still 7-0 at the half. Mississippi crossed midfield three times in the first half, but stalled each time.
McGuire's field goal made it 10-0 in the third period. An 18-play, 56-yard Mississippi drive resulted in a 31-yard field goal by Gaudin on the first play of the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 10-3, setting up the dramatic finish.
An'Darius Coffey had a sensational season at quarterback for Winona, but he was recruited by Ole Miss as a defensive back and that's where he was chosen for the all star game. He also played on special teams and had one tackle. “I just did what I had to do,” he said. “Doing my job.”
Seven Ole Miss commits decommitted after a coaching change, but Coffey is not one of them. He said he would sign during the early signing period that began Wednesday.
Rogers finished 10 of 16 passing for 66 yards while sharing quarterback duties with Jimmy Holliday of Madison Central. Dean was the game's top runner with 19 carries for 66 yards.
Alabama's two quarterbacks, Pate and Smothers, combine to go 14-22 passing for 220 yards.
Emmanuel Forbes of Grenada led the Mississippi defense with eight tackles. Xavier Morrow had nine tackles for Alabama.
Defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson of George County was named Mississippi MVP. Williams, with six receptions for 98 yards, was Alabama MVP.
Alabama leads the series 22-11, but Mississippi has won the three games played in the Magnolia State, all at USM.
