The Choctaws drove down to Plantersville this past Friday night knowing that one more region win would wrap up the 2023 4A Region 3 championship. And it didn’t take the Choctaws long to do so as they scored 40 points in the first quarter to easily defeat the Hornets 55-8 and wrap up the region championship.
The Hornets won the toss and elected to kick the ball off to the Choctaws to start the game. Jamerius aka “Scooter” Sanders received the kick at the 20 yard line and followed his blockers to the left sideline and then darted back to the right just past midfield and dodged the last Hornet defender at the 8 yard line and finished off the 80 yard return for the touchdown. Jay Harris ran in the 2-point conversion to make the score 8-0 with just 20 seconds removed from the clock.
The Choctaws defense held the Hornets to just 3 plays on their opening drive and forced them to punt from their own 21 yard line. The punt hit a Dallas player at the 19 giving the Choctaws the ball deep inside the Hornets territory. On the first play from scrimmage, Jordan Leverette dropped back and found Kavon Holman open for the 19 yard touchdown connection. Harris again scored on the 2-point try to make it 16-0 Bibb with 10:48 still left in the first quarter.
Once again the Hornets offense couldn’t get anything going and were forced to punt after another 3 and out series. Following a 39 yard punt by Michael Hosea, Bibb took over on their own 34 yard line. Harris broke free for a 28 yard run to move the Choctaws back into Dallas County territory. 2 plays later, Leverette found CJ Morrow open behind the secondary for a 34 yard touchdown reception. Harris again provided the 2-pount conversion to make it 24-0 in favor of the Choctaws with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
Just like in their opening two drives, the Hornets offense seemed to be stuck in reverse and were forced to punt the ball back to the Choctaws. Following a few runs by Harris, Leverette hit McCain McMillan for a 40 yard pass connection down to the 2 yard line. Harris scored on the next play on a 2 yard run. Harris followed that up with his 4th 2-point conversion to make the score 32-0 in favor of Bibb with 1:53 left in the first quarter.
** Side note here. Bibb was not going for 2 after every touchdown to run the score up on the Hornets. If you kicked the extra point on this end of the field, the ball would land in a wooded area that had no lighting and you simply couldn’t risk sending anyone into the woods to try and locate the football.
Now back to the game. Following the kickoff the Hornets took the field and probably were thinking that nothing else could possibly happen to them in the first quarter. They were wrong.
On the first play from scrimmage, Trashun Griffin crashed in and hit the Dallas County runner and forced a fumble that was scooped up by Luke Thompson and carried 22 yards into the end zone for Bibb’s 5th touchdown in the first quarter alone. Aaron Phillips scored on the 2-point try with 1:26 to go in the first quarter.
The second quarter was played with a running clock and the Hornets offense just couldn’t get anything going. Bibb would add another touchdown in the first half when Leverette would find Morrow again, this time for a 48 yard touchdown reception. Kevin Duran extra point was good and Bibb now led 47-0.
The Choctaws would empty their bench with just under 7 minutes to go in the first half and allow some of the younger Choctaws to get some well deserved playing time. The defense was still salty and after a few first downs, Xavier Abercrombie fell on a Hornets fumble to give the Choctaws possession with just under 2 minutes to go in the half. Bibb would run out the clock and send the teams to their locker rooms with the score 47-0 in favor of the Choctaws.
The second half would consist of two 6 minute quarters with the running clock still in effect. The Hornets received the opening kickoff and on the first play from scrimmage, Desean Peat hit Alkreem Wilson over the middle for a 67 yard touchdown connection. Michael Gee ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 47-8.
Bibb would add another score when freshman running back Kizyas Clark scored on a 5 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. Clark would score on the 2-point conversion try to make the final score 55-8.
Leverette finished the night 5 of 7 for 154 yards at 3 touchdowns.
Clark had 62 yards on 9 carries and 1 touchdown. Harris had 7 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Morrow finished the night with 2 catches for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Griffin led the defense with 5 tackles and a forced fumble. 4 of his 5 tackles were for a loss. Xavier Rhine added 4 tackles, with 3 coming for a loss.
Thompson and Rhine each had fumble recoveries for Bibb.
The 40 points in a quarter is the 11th most points scored in a quarter in AHSAA history. It fell 6 points behind the school record of 46, which the 2010 team scored against Holt.
With the win, Bibb moves to 8-1 on the season and 6-0 in region play. This wraps up the region championship for the Choctaws. It is the 16th region championship for the Choctaws. It is the 5th region championship under Coach Geohagan. This win was the 80th victory for Coach Geohagan at Bibb County. He currently sits 3rd all time, just 15 away from tying Coach Stan Moss for the most all time with 95.
The Choctaws will wrap up the regular season at home this Friday night against Holt in the last region game of the season. This will also be Senior Night for the Choctaws. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
