While things started out pretty grim for East Marion Friday night in its most important game to date this season, the Eagles turned it around pretty quickly to run all over Mount Olive for a 48-14 win.
The Eagles knew going in that a win would clinch a playoff berth, but a loss would set up a do-or-die scenario in the final week of the season.
Head coach Kevin Jackson said it was huge to have it clinched heading into the last week of the regular season but pressure remains.
“To ensure yourself a place in the playoffs is always the goal of the season, and we were able to do that. But it doesn’t alleviate any pressure off us this week,” he said. “We’re expecting to win and finish in third place, but just to know you’re in does release a little burden off your shoulders.”
Next up for the Eagles is a tough Resurrection Catholic squad that is a lot better than its 4-6 record. Resurrection is 3-2 in district play with close losses to the top two teams — Stringer 45-39 and Lumberton 26-22 — which very well may be the top two teams in the South region of Class 1A.
On the opening possession of the game against Mount Olive, quarterback Devin Daniels threw a short pass out to the flat to Lawrence Lambert, who had the ball go right through his hands before it was intercepted by a Mount Olive defensive back.
Despite having great field position, Mount Olive’s offense couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball back over on downs. However, with the Eagles facing a third-and-11 on their ensuing drive, Daniels was intercepted again, this time on a route that was jumped by a Mount Olive cornerback.
And this time, Mount Olive capitalized as La’Travious McNair found the end zone on a 3-yard quarterback draw and gave the Pirates an 8-0 lead after a successful two-point conversion.
“We got off to a slow start. I think it was probably an eye-opener for us. Sometimes you can overlook a team or take them a little bit for granted, and I was telling them all week Mount Olive was going to come in ready to play and expect to grab a spot in the playoffs just like we are. I think it took a little head bump to open up their eyes and realize it was time to play ball, and nobody is going to give them anything.”
Following the back-to-back interceptions, the Eagles turned back to their bread and butter — the running game. Eight straight rushing plays later the Eagles got on the board, thanks to Jarveon Howard cruising in from 5 yards out.
His first touchdown started a pretty impressive streak for Howard and the Eagles. Howard found pay dirt on each of his next three carries from 50, 14 and 19 yards out to put the Eagles up 28-8 with more than eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.
“It just lets you know that any time he touches the ball, he can take it to the house,” Jackson said.
The Eagles defense forced fumbles on three consecutive drives, leading to Howard’s last touchdown, Daniels connecting with Darrin Haines for an 11-yard touchdown and Daniels returning the third fumble 92 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 42-8 going into halftime.
With an impending thunderstorm mere miles away and the Eagles up big, the refs and coaches opted for a running clock in the second half. With backups in on both sides of the ball for East Marion, the Pirates scored on a McNair 5-yard touchdown run before JaQuarius Jones, an eighth-grader who has been starting on defense for the Eagles since being called up, took the third carry of his high school career into the end zone from 5 yards out, sealing the game.
While it was good to see his defense force some turnovers, Jackson hopes his team realizes they still have work to do.
“We’ve been persistent and consistent about our defense needing to play better,” he said. “Hopefully they’re beginning to realize it takes a good defense to go deep in the playoffs and realize we have to play better defense to be productive and move on.”
While clinching a playoff berth was big, Jackson is not looking past Resurrection.
“Every game is important, especially this one. You want to finish the regular season with a win to go into the playoffs with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. This game is just as important, if not more important, than any we’ve played,” he said. “Winning is always contagious, so we want to win and finish the regular season out with a winning record, which would be a plus for our seniors. Having a winning season is super important considering we haven’t done that in a couple of years. That’s big for not only the team but our program and school as well.”
Jackson knows Resurrection’s passing game, which has accounted for 21 touchdowns already this season, will present a steep challenge for the Eagles defense.
“They’ve only lost in district to Stringer and Lumberton, so they have a lot of confidence. They’re going to be able to throw the ball when they need to,” he said. “Our defense is going to have our work cut out for us this week as well to keep them at bay. We can’t let them be able to run their offense efficiently. Hopefully we can create some turnovers.”
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Thursday in Pascagoula.
Pictured Above: Lawrence Lambert fights off a Mount Olive defender Friday night. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
