By By Dale McKee/EMG sports writer
November 28, 2002
The Wayne County War Eagles (12-1) will travel to Oak Grove (12-1) this Friday night to battle the Warriors for the South State Class 5A football championship.
An overflow crowd is expected for the 7 p.m. kickoff.
The War Eagles, who dealt the Warriors their only loss 27-7 five weeks ago, are coming off an emotional 21-16 win over Gulfport while Oak Grove whipped Brandon 27-7 last Friday night.
Against Gulfport (8-4), Akeem Lofton threw a 37-yard touchdown to Charles McCall and also hit Jake Allen for a 15-yard score. Jerrod Sims ran 31 yards for a score for the War Eagles. WC had four turnovers but caused four Gulfport turnovers.
The Warriors traveled to Brandon in a rematch game where they won easily 27-7. Earlier in the season, Oak Grove had defeated Brandon
38-35.
Junior quarterback Kyle Sellers threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the win. The Warriors' defense, who many say is playing the best
defense in the state, caused four Brandon turnovers.
Wayne County head coach Marcus Boyles says that his squad is just where they want to be." This is what you play for. This is what you work all year to achieve, a chance to go the state championship game," said
Boyles.
Gulfport held the War Eagles to 65 yards of offense in the second half, and Boyles said his offensive unit, especially the line, probably played their worst game of the year. " We hurt ourselves with the turnovers and penalties." The War Eagles only passed the ball twice in the second half, but their main mission was to run the clock. We had six more passes called, but
their defense forced us to do some other things. We were very fortunate to win the Gulfport game."
Sellers, who many say is the best quarterback in the state, was 17 of 27 against Brandon for 302 yards.
was the key."
Since the first game between the Region 3 5A rivals, Boyles thinks that the Warriors' offensive line is protecting Sellers better. " I would says that is
where they have made the most improvement," said Boyles.
In the first meeting, Wayne County was leading 14-0 late in the opening half when Kevin Johnson intercepted a Sellers pass and returned it 94 yards
for a score, putting the War Eagles up 21-0 at intermission. Both coaches said after the first game that Johnson's pick was the play that turned the game around. " If we would have scored at that point, it would have been a different game," said Barr.