This past Friday night, the Choctaws hosted the Holt Ironmen in the last regular season game of the year. This was also Senior Night for the Choctaws as they celebrated the senior football players, cheerleaders, and band members. It was also a chance to put the final touches to an undefeated record in the region, as it was also the final region game of the season.
The Ironmen won the toss and elected to kick off to the Choctaws. This would quickly let everyone know how the night was going to go. On the second play from scrimmage, Jay Harris found a crease in the middle of the field and cut to his left and ran around and away from the Ironmen defenders for a 50 yard touchdown run. Matthew Cash kicked the extra point and with just 21 seconds gone off the clock, Bibb was off and running with a 7-0 lead.
Holt found out real fast that this Choctaws defense was as tough as everyone has said it would be. After three plays they had lost 5 yards and were forced to punt. Following a 27 yard punt, Bibb took over at the Holt 43 yard line. It didn’t take long for Bibb to score their next touchdown. Choctaws quarterback Jordan Leverette hit Jay Harris on a swing pass for a 17 yard touchdown connection. Cash again made the extra point and with 8:01 left in the first quarter it was 14-0 in favor of Bibb.
If Holt felt like they could regroup and find some offense, the thought quickly evaporated three plays later. As the Ironmen quarterback attempted to pass, Trashun Griffin tipped the pass into the air. Xavier Rhine then tipped the ball up into the air to himself and raced into the end zone for a pick 6. Cash extra point was right through the middle to make it 21-0 with 7:02 left still in the first quarter.
The Ironmen were still fighting and still trying to find something to work on offense, but there just wasn’t anything there and again they were forced to punt. An errant snap on the punt sailed over the punters head and he recovered it at the 1 yard line. Bibb quickly took advantage of this as Leverette found Cash wide open for a touchdown. Cash extra point gave the Choctaws a 28-0 lead with 5:20 left in the opening quarter.
The first quarter would come to an end with the Ironmen facing a fourth and 12 from their own 34 yard line. The Ironmen punter punted the ball straight up into the air and it rolled backwards to the Holt 13 yard line setting the Choctaws up there as the game headed to the second quarter.
Bibb didn’t take long on this drive to score either. On the first play from scrimmage, Leverette dropped back and threw a 13 yard touchdown reception to McCain McMillan. McMillan out jumped two Holt defenders to come down with the catch. Cash again was true on the extra point and with 11:45 left in the first half, the score was now 35-0 in favor of the Choctaws.
Bibb would add two more touchdowns in the first half. Harris scored his third touchdown on the night when he got free for a 21 yard touchdown run. Leverette would follow that up with a 31 yard touchdown run of his own with 4:30 left in the first half. The Choctaws would take a 48-0 lead into the locker room as they began to empty the bench and allow the younger guys a chance to play.
As was the case last week, the second half consisted of two six minute quarters with a running clock. Bibb would add another score in the 4th quarter when freshman running back Kizyas Clark scored on a 36 yard touchdown run to make the final score 54-0.
With the win the Choctaws finish the regular season with a 9-1 record. They became just the 18th team in school history to win 9 or more games in a season.
Bibb was led on offense by Clark who had 115 yards and a touchdown on just 8 carries. Harris scored two touchdowns on just 4 carries and finished with 88 yards. Harris went over the 1000 yard mark for the season and has 15 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Leverette finished the night 5 of 8 for just 46 yards. 3 of his 5 passes were for touchdowns giving him 17 on the season.
Bibb was led on defense by Rhine who had 6 tackles and the pick 6 touchdown. Ty Burkes and Luke Thompson had 5 tackles each. Griffin and Jacob Steele added 4 tackles on the night.
The Choctaws will have a bye week this week and will return to action the following week against Montgomery Academy in round one of the AHSAA 4a playoffs.
