By Staff
Jamey Lanier/Special to the Star
October 13, 2001
Quitman The Quitman Panthers took control of the Division 5 4-A race Friday night when they completely dominated the Florence Eagles 27-0.
The Panther defense held Florence to just 75 yards of total offense and allowed only three first downs for the entire game.
The offense, meanwhile, took advantage of good field position and ate up most of the clock accumulating over 250 yards.
Quitman coach Charles Faulkner tipped his hat to the defense afterward.
Quitman got things started in the first quarter when Prentiss Davis found Marcus McCormick in the corner of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown. Jonathan Russell hit the point after to put Quitman up 7-0 with 3:50 to play in the first quarter.
The Panthers put more points on the board on the first play of the second quarter when Davis kept the ball around the right end and found paydirt on a three-yard scamper. The PAT failed leaving the score at 13-0 with 11:53 to play in the half.
Quitman extended the lead to 20-0 when Evan Pickens strolled into the endzone from 30-yards out, capping a three play 47-yard drive. Russell was true on the PAT at the 2:37 mark in the third quarter.
After both teams exchanged punts, Quitman pinned Florence inside it's own 10-yard line on a 50-yard punt by Russell. Two plays later Brandon Lee fell on a loose ball to set Quitman up first-and-goal at the Eagle six. Davis took it in four plays later on a one-yard sneak. Russell drilled the extra point to run the lead to 27-0 with 7:21 remaining in the game.
Quitman was led offensively by Davis with 56 yards on 10 attempts and two scores. Davis also completed six of eleven passes for 80 yards and one touchdown. Pickens had 53 yards on eight tries and one score.
Fred Carter had a big night for the Panther defense with 11 tackles and some big time hits.
The Panthers return to action next week when they travel to Northeast Jones for a district match up.