By By Curtis Rockwell/special to The Star
Novemner 9, 2003
PASCAGOULA After waiting almost two decades for a return trip to the state football playoffs, Northeast Lauderdale's opener in the Class 4A state tournament was delayed yet another day.
The wait, however, was well worth it for the Trojans and head coach Steve Nelson.
Dontray Walker ran for 216 yards and three touchdowns, as visiting Northeast Lauderdale stunned Division 8-4A champion Gautier 41-20 Saturday afternoon.
The Trojans, who hadn't been in the playoffs since 1985, move to 5-6 by notching their first ever victory in the state playoffs.
Gautier, which shares War Memorial Stadium with Pascagoula High, saw a six-game win streak come to an end and winds the season up at 7-3. Pascagoula hosted arch-rival Moss Point on Friday night, causing the Gators and Trojans to move their game back a day.
Walker set the tone early, busting loose for a 78-yard scoring scamper in the opening minutes of the game. He would later score on runs of 32 and 46 yards as well as add a two-point conversion.
Kevin Dunning had a pair of short scoring runs for Gautier, giving it the short-lived lead in the second quarter. Dunning and quarterback Gerod Miskel also hooked up on a 48-yard scoring pass for the Gators in the first half.
However, Trojan quarterback Maurice Langston tossed a 2-yard scoring strike to Rod Smith and also kept on a quarterback sneak for a score to give Northeast a lead it would never relinquish.
Walker then cut loose on his last two touchdown jaunts, the second of which gave the Trojans a 34-20 advantage midway through the third frame.
With the Trojan defense holding normally high-powered Gautier at bay in the second half, Langston's 33-yard run for a score with 6:40 to play sealed the historic victory.
Northeast Lauderale faces Lawrence County in the second round of the playoffs on Friday night.