Turnover battle, game goes to LHS

Sports

September 5, 2010

By Randy Hammons, sports@laurelleadercall.com Laurel Leader-Call The Laurel Leader-Call Sun Sep 05, 2010, 11:05 AM CDT

LAUREL — After eight turnovers in the first two games of the season -both of which were losses - Laurel head football coach Milton Smith had to start questioning when the ball was going to begin bouncing his way.

The answer was Friday night against homestanding Class 6A opponent Oak Grove in a 29-8 win. The Warriors turned the ball over six times. Laurel’s defense recorded a safety and stopped Oak Grove four times on fourth down.

The Tornadoes had four turnovers in a season-opening 44-14 loss to Wayne County, and four more the next week in a 19-7 defeat to Hattiesburg.

“We finally created some turnovers of our own and just kept scratching and clawing,” Smith said immediately after Friday’s game. “It was a good night for us.”

On the second play of the game, Laurel safety Markel Milsap returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown and pretty much set the tone of the game.

Laurel led 29-0 before Oak Grove scored late in the game.

Laurel got the ball back two plays after the ensuing kickoff on the first of four fumbles. The Tornadoes drove 46 yards in 8 plays. Harkera Hardy scored from 3 yards out.

In the second half, the Tornadoes had a pair of long scoring drives. LHS quarterback Dontreal Pruitt capped the first drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tevin McInnis. Virzil Tillman scored from 8 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Pruitt was 10-of-18 passing for 160 yards.

“I think the kids played well tonight,” Smith said. “We got aggressive on both offense and defense.”

Laurel tries for two straight victories next Friday when it hosts Mendenall.

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