Two MAIS Class AA playoff teams squared off Friday night and a pair of blocked extra points ended up being the difference.
Central Holmes jumped out to an early 13-0 lead but was unable to hold on as Carroll Academy rallied for a 28-27 victory in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Carroll finished the regular season with a 7-3 record and finishes as the No. 10 seed and must travel to Centreville for the first round of the Class AA playoffs.
“It was a great high school game,” Milton said. “We overcame a lot of things. We shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers and had to battle that. But we kind of weathered the storm and battled all night. We just kept plugging and moved on to the next play. I thought it was a great game with a great atmosphere. Central Holmes has a really good team and they are very athletic. I thought after the first play, we did a good job of shutting down their running game.”
Central Holmes seemed to be in control of the game from the outset when Wykece Johnson scored on the opening play from scrimmage on a 63-yard touchdown run. Ethan Ables booted the PAT and Central Holmes led 7-0 early in the first.
The Rebels gave the ball back with a fumble on their opening drive and the Trojans made them pay with a nine-play, 83-yard drive as Nathan Taylor hit Luke Smith for a 30-yard touchdown. The PAT was blocked, and Central Holmes led 13-0.
After swapping punts, Carroll finally got its offense in gear as the Rebels put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Jeb Beck provided a big boost with a 40-yard run and Morgan Mims finished off the drive with a 3-yard run. Gavin Wiltshire booted the PAT to cut the lead to 13-7.
After a Central Holmes punt, the Rebels added another first-half score as quarterback Morgan Mims called his own number on the quarterback option and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. Wiltshire’s PAT gave the Rebels a 14-13 lead at the half.
“I thought Morgan did a good of running our midline option,” Milton said. “That’s something we didn’t have in the game plan. We ran it on the goal-line and the hole was there. And then we busted it for the big touchdown. Jeb had been hitting some big runs and then Morgan showed what he is capable of doing.”
The Rebels got the ball to start the second half and went 63 yards in six plays as Mims scored on a quarterback option, racing 41 yards for a touchdown. Wiltshire’s PAT gave the Rebels a 21-13 lead.
Central Holmes broke Carroll’s momentum as the Trojans went 68 yards in five plays as Taylor scored on a 34-yard run. Johnson ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21.
The tide seemed to be going Central’s Holmes direction when Carroll fumbled and Luke Smith recovered for the Trojans and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Carroll’s Reese Fulton blocked the ensuing PAT and Central Holmes led 27-21.
But that lead was short lived as Carroll took the ensuing possession and drove 72 yards in eight plays as Wiltshire finished off the drive with a 1-yard run. Wiltshire booted the all-important PAT and Carroll led 28-27.
Carroll ate up a majority of the fourth quarter with a 12-play drive, but Central Holmes got the ball and was able to move inside Carroll territory in the last minute. A last-second desperation pass was broken up by Mims in the end zone to end the game and give the Rebels the win.
“Kids have to make plays and we made a few more plays than they did,” Milton said. “I know they were disappointed and that one could have went either way. Both teams played their hearts out. I had nothing left. I was mentally and physically exhausted after the game so you know what the kids were like.”
Mims led the Carroll offense with 144 yards on 16 carries while Beck had 133 yards on 16 carries. Hunter Brackin had 55 yards on 11 carries.
Fulton and Brackin led the defense with five tackles apiece while Beck had four tackles. Logan Taylor also had an interception.
The Rebels enter the Class AA playoffs as the No. 10 seed and will travel to traditional power Centreville.
The Tigers enter the playoffs with a 5-5 record but have played a rugged schedule. Their losses have been to Oak Forest (42-0), Parklane (45-14), Bowling Green (45-28), Brookhaven (23-22) and Silliman (56-20). They have wins over North Delta (24-6), Ben’s Ford (40-0), Central Private (16-8), Amite (46-19) and Clinton Christian (36-16).
“It’s a rematch from last year,” Milton said. “They are a little down and we are better and older than and more experienced. They are still in that two-tight, double wing but we have seen them do some spread the last couple of weeks. They will be a challenge. The question is can we be physical and tough enough. They are where we want our program to be. We are about to see a team that is the epitome of being a bully. It’s toe to toe and you have to stick your nose in there with them. They have nine state championships and are going to keep coming at you.”
Last year, Centreville beat Carroll 46-18 as they advanced to the Class AA semifinals, losing to eventual champion St. Joseph 33-14.
