BLOG: MACON — Lafayette’s reign as the MHSAA state champion in Class 4A came an end Friday night at the hands of this year’s favorite to win the title, No. 2 Noxubee County.The Tigers defeated the Commodores 14-0 in the second round of the 2012 playoffs and almost two years to the date the ‘Dores defeated the Tigers 20-0 in the 2010 4A North Half title game. Noxubee County’s offense was bottled up most of the night by the inspired Commodores, except for an 83-yard run for a touchdown from Darrell Robinson with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.
His score not only gave Robinson, who has been selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game, 27 rushing touchdowns on the year, it also gave the Tigers (13-0 overall) all the points they would need to defeat the Commodores, who finished the year 10-3.
Noxubee’s defense, which didn’t allow Lafayette’s offense to advance past its 31-yard line in the first half, increased the lead to 14-0 with a 78-yard interception return for a score with 6:04 left in the second quarter.
The Commodores’ best drive of the night came at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. Starting at their own 34, quarterback Brandon Mack was methodically able to drive his team down to the Tigers’ 28. Facing a fourth-and-four situation, Mack was pressured heavily and forced to scramble. His pass attempt fell incomplete. The Commodores never advanced past their own 24 the final two times they had the ball in the fourth.
Noxubee County will now play Itawamba AHS at Fulton in the 4A seminfinals.
For more on Friday’s game and thoughts from LHS coach Eric Robertson on the overall season, see Monday’s Sports section.
(November 10, 2012)
