By Staff
From staff reports
Oct. 2, 2004
NATCHEZ Meridian High School's football team threw its opponent an offensive curveball on Friday night.
The Wildcats let their formidable rushing game rest, as they threw a season-high 22 passes in a 59-34 win over the Natchez High School Bulldogs.
Meridian High, which entered the game ranked fifth in the statewide poll, improved to 4-0-1 for the season and 2-0 in District 3-5A play. Natchez fell to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in 3-5A.
Wildcats quarterback Justin Baylor, who threw his first career touchdown pass last week against Hattiesburg, connected on three scoring tosses in the win.
The junior signal-caller finished the game connecting on 16-of-22 passes for 211 yards, with touchdown tosses of 5, 22 and 18 yards.
Meridian High rushed for 108 yards. Cordera Eason and Derrick Davis combined for 95 rushing yards on 16 carries in the win.
While the Wildcats offense aired out the football, the defense strangled the Bulldogs' offense.
Meridian High linebacker Lamario Hopson opened the scoring picking up a block punt and running seven yards into the end zone. Phillip Sullivan connected on the point-after kick to give the Wildcats' a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
The Wildcats' defense got the ball back on the next drive, as Rashad Byrd forced a Bulldogs' fumble. Meridian High's Jeremy Finley picked up the loose ball, and the offense went to the air.
Baylor connected on a five-yard toss to tight end Matt DeWeese for a touchdown. Sullivan's kick gave Meridian High a 14-0 lead with 6:20 to play in the first quarter.
Davis scored on a one-yard run with 2:52 left in the first, and Baylor capped the scoring in the opening quarter with a 42-yard touchdown toss to Jonathan Byrd. Sullivan's fourth PAT of the first gave Meridian High a 28-0 lead after the game's first 12 minutes.
Sullivan connected on his first career field goal with five minutes to play in the second quarter to boost the Wildcats' lead to 31-0, and Baylor hit Anthony Brown for an 18-yard touchdown for a 38-0 lead with 2:18 left in the first half. Wildcats sophomore John Carrol kicked the point-after attempt.
Natchez cut Meridian High's lead to 38-8 with a five-yard touchdown catch by Charles Cochren from Riley Trask. The two also hooked up for a two-point conversion late in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs scored the first points of the second half, as Trask crossed the goal line on a one-yard run. Natchez converted its second two-point conversion of the game to cut Meridian High's lead to 38-16 with seven minutes to play in the third quarter.
Wildcats fullback Desmond Lloyd answered the Bulldogs' touchdown, with a 33-yard scoring run. Sullivan connected on the point-after kick to give Meridian High a 45-16 lead with 6:35 to play in the third.
Natchez scored its third touchdown of the game on a six-yard scoring pass to cut Meridian High's lead to 45-22 with 3:36 to play in the third. The Bulldogs' two-point conversion attempt failed.
Lloyd scored his second touchdown with 1:36 left in the third on a seven-yard run to give Meridian High a 52-22 advantage, after the point-after kick.
Nate Cole tallied the Wildcats' last touchdown of the game on a three yard run to take a 59-22 lead in the fourth quarter. Natchez added two more passing touchdowns from 15 and 7 yards out to produce the final score.
The Wildcats continue their season against Picayune at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Meridian High's homecoming game at Ray Stadium.
Tony Krausz