Field possession and special teams turned out to be a key factor Friday night at Blair Field at R.H. Watkins Stadium, as the Laurel Golden Tornadoes beat Purvis 31-24 and get to advance to the second round of the South State 4A playoffs.
Tornado head coach Milton Smith was pleased with the play of special teams, and the way his team was able to win the battle of field possession. "We did a really good job out there tonight on special teams and field possession," he said. "Darian Bester, Dontrelle Pruitt and Mac Carmichael did an excellent job out there for us tonight, as well as the entire team."
Laurel capped a 9-play drive which started atthe Laurel 30 yardline when Dontrelle Pruitt took the ball up the middle for the first score of the game. Mac Carmichael added the extra point, and Laurel took a 7-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter.
With 8:39 left in the half, Purvis answered when Corben Taylor ran the ball from 3 yards out. Terrison Dantzler ran the ball in from the 1-yardline to give Purvis the lead at 8-7.
On the next kickoff, Darian "Speedy" Bester took the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. Carmichael's extra point was good, and the Tornadoes took a 14-8 lead.
With 23 seconds left in the half, Carmichael booted a 22-yard field goal, as the Golden Tornadoes took a 17-8 lead into the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Purvis answered a minute into the fourth quarter as Aaron Anderson ran the ball in from 20 yards out to finish a -play drive that started at their own 45-yardline. Dantzler added the two-point conversion from 3 yards out on a quarterback keeper to pull Purvis with in one point of Laurel at 17-16 with 10:59 left in the game.
Laurel answered when Walter Smith ran the ball from 11 yards out to close out a 3-play drive that started at the Laurel 45-yardline. Carmichael's kick was good, and the Golden Tornadoes took a 24-16 lead with 10:00 left in the game.
With 6:40 left Anderson added his second touchdown run of the night from 2 yards out to close out a 9 play drive that started at their own 33 yard line.Taylor converted a two point conversion from 3 yards out, as the other bunch of Tornadoes tied the game at 24.
Pruitt sealed the win for the Golden Tornadoes when he connected with Carmichael down the sideline from 27 yards out. Carmichael's kick was true to make your final 31-24.
With the win Laurel improves to 6-5 on the season while Purvis finishes their season at 6-5. Laurel travels to Lawrence County next Friday night in the second round of the South State 4A playoffs. Lawrence County beat Mendenhall 49-7.
In other Region 5-4A action Greene County beat South Jones 28-10, St. Stanislaus 49 Quitman 21, West Lauderdale 21 Forrest County AHS 0.
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Photo/Steve Sanders
Tornadoes win 1st round playoff 31-24
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