by Joseph W. Gex II, Staff Writer
MOSS POINT (GG) — The Saint Stanislaus Rock-A-Chaws made the trip to Jackson County last Friday evening but were ambushed by the Moss Point Tigers early in the game as SSC spotted the Tigers 18 points in the first quarter off mistakes that could have been avoided.
The Tigers got their first touchdown on a fumble recover scoop-and-score that covered 24 yards on the Rocks first offensive possession of the game deep in their own territory. The Tigers missed the two-point conversion leaving the score 6-0 with 10:45 left to play in the opening quarter.
The Rocks (1-2) were stopped by the Tigers on their next possession and had to punt the ball away. The Tigers scored on their first play from scrimmage when Keelan Harper tosses a 67-yard scoring aerial to Terrance Jones with 7:56 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 12-0.
The Tigers got their third touchdown of the quarter on a blocked punt by Jordan McInnis who returned the loose ball 25 yards for the score with 6:55 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 18-0.
The Rocks were able to find the end zone after Brayden McDonald stepped in front of an errant Tiger pass and returned the pick to the Tiger 8-yard line. Lex Rhodes took the snap and scored on an 8-yard run with three seconds left in the opening quarter. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 18-6.
The teams battled throughout the second quarter with Moss Point finding the end zone with 16 seconds left in the half on a 10-yard scoring pass from Harper to Coleman. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 24-6.
The teams battled through a scoreless third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Rocks found the end zone when Fisher Smith intercepted an errant Tiger pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown with 10:25 left in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion by McDonald was good making the final score 24-14.
SSC head coach Tate Thigpen commented, “Our biggest problem is beating ourselves. Every possession in the first half ended in a mental mistake that either killed the drive or cost us points. This week is all about putting an end to the mental mistakes and impressing to the young players that there is a better way to accomplish things.”
The Rocks were led by Smith on defense with 8 total tackles, two interceptions for 62 return yards and a touchdown, and a fumble recovery for three yards. Lex Rhodes added 10 total tackles and two pass break-ups.
The Rocks will host Pass Christian ‘between the walls’ at the Brother Philip Memorial Athletic Complex on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
