By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
November 1, 2004
Meridian High School's football team found a new way to win on Friday night.
The run-centered Wildcats took to the air in a 41-0 win over the Hancock Hawks, as Meridian High improved to 7-0-1 overall and 6-0 in District 3-5A play. Hancock fell to 1-9 overall and 1-5 in District 3-5A.
Meridian High's commitment to give Davis and Eason, who have combined to rush for 2,022 yards, a break was evident early in the game.
The No. 3 Wildcats threw the ball on 18 of their 23 plays in the first half.
Meridian High quarterback Justin Baylor connected on throws of 30 and 39 yards in his first two attempts, and he didn't miss a pass until his fifth throw of the game.
Baylor finished the game completing 8-of-12 passes for 168 yards, and he connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass with senior wideout Thomas McCoy.
Meridian High tamed its passing attack in the second half, after the Wildcats took a 28-0 lead into the break.
The Wildcats only threw the ball twice in the third and fourth quarters, while they ran the ball 15 times in the half.
But it wasn't the usual suspects powering Meridian High's running game.
Davis carried the ball only twice in the second half, notching runs of 13 and 69 yards. The junior back, who had two carries for three yards in the first half, scored on his 69-yard run.
Eason, who didn't carry the ball once in the first half, rushed the ball once in the second half. The junior back scored on an 80-yard run, but the touchdown was called back when Meridian High was flagged for holding.
Meridian High sophomores Nate Cole and Jabari Foster were the two tailbacks counted on to carry the load as the Wildcats sealed their blowout win.
Cole carried the brunt of the load, rushing the ball 10 times for 63 yards in the second half. He scored one touchdown on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Foster carried the ball three times for six yards in the win.
It's doubtful that the Wildcats' air attack will stay as prominent in their final game of the regular season and in the playoffs, especially in this week's game.
Meridian High is set to match up against co-district leader Northwest Rankin. The Cougars (9-1, 6-0 District 3-5A) defeated Picayune last Friday to keep their conference record spotless.
The Wildcats and Cougars will meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ray Stadium with the district title on the line. Both teams have already sealed home-field advantage for the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.