By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Oct. 16, 2004
It took 46 minutes for Meridian High School's defense to get to Oak Grove's quarterback a second time on Friday night, but it was well worth the wait.
With the Warriors on the Wildcats' 17-yard line and just more than two minutes left in the game, Meridian High defensive lineman Mike Powell sacked Oak Grove quarterback Zack Harrington, popping the ball loose.
The Wildcats' Allen Coleman fell on the loose ball on the 29-yard line, and No. 5 Meridian High never let No. 19 Oak Grove threaten to score again in a 35-21 victory.
Meridian High running Derrick Davis scored four touchdowns in the Wildcats' first win over the Warriors in three years. The junior running back scored on a runs of 1, 1, 7 and 6, as he gained 159 yards on 30 carries.
Harrington threw for two touchdowns and 282 yards, but he was intercepted twice in the game. Meridian High rushed the quarterback on every play, but only sacked him twice in the game.
Davis scored his first touchdown to finish Meridian High's opening drive of the game.
After forcing the Warriors to go three and out, the Wildcats marched 64 yards down the field to score the game's first points. Davis, who broke loose for a 39-yard run during the drive, scored from one-yard out to take a 7-0 lead with 8:02 to play in the first quarter. Phillip Sullivan connected on the point-after attempt.
Oak Grove tied the game five minutes into the second quarter, as Harrington connected on a 60-yard touchdown pass with Drew Ezell, who had seven catches for 171 yards in the game.
Warriors kicker Taylor Lovitt kicked the point-after to knot the score at 7-7 with 7:10 left in the first half.
After going three and out on the ensuing series after Oak Grove's touchdown, Meridian High was able to get the ball right back.
Wildcats defensive lineman Jeremy Finley picked off a shovel pass and brought the ball down to the Warriors' 18-yard line.
Meridian High was backed up to Oak Grove's 38-yard line after the interception because of two flags and a nine-yard sack.
A 12-yard run by quarterback Justin Baylor and a 19-yard reception by wideout A.J. Brown on fourth and 16 put Davis in position to score his second touchdown of the game. Davis scored from one-yard out to take a 14-7 lead with 1:37 left in the half.
Davis scored his third touchdown of the game three minutes into the second half on a seven-yard run for a 21-7 lead. The touchdown was set up by a 54-yard catch by tight end Matt DeWeese.
Oak Grove cut Meridian High's lead to 21-14 with 1:09 left in the third, as J.J. Garrick scored on a 13-yard run.
Meridian High responded with a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive, which was set up by a 35-yard kick off return by Wildcats cornerback Jamie Hill.
Wildcats running back Cordera Eason, who rushed for 73 yards on a tender right ankle, scored from two-yards out to cap the drive. Sullivan's point-after kick gave Meridian High a 28-14 lead with 9:32 left in the game.
Harrington hooked up with wide receiver Ricky Smith for an 82-yard touchdown pass on Oak Grove's first play after Eason's touchdown.
Smith broke loose down the right sideline and made a one-handed, circus catch, as his touchdown cut the Wildcats' lead to 28-21 with 9:14 left to play.
Meridian High answered the long-touchdown pass with a 5 1/2-minute drive, which was capped by a six-yard scoring run by Davis to produce the final score.
Meridian High continues its season against Brandon at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the road.