It was all about the running game for East Marion in its 26-13 opening-week win over Amite County on the road Friday night.
The Eagles rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns, toting the rock 46 times compared to just four passing attempts.
“Our offensive line really did a good job blocking and moving their feet so we just have to keep improving on that, execute and block at the point of attack,” head coach Kevin Jackson said.
Senior quarterback Devin Daniels led the way with 128 yards and a score on nine carries, while Jadarrius Mallard (61 yards), Deundre Ruffin (59) and Latral Waller (56) each had double-digit carries and accounted for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
East Marion didn’t rack up a whole lot of style points in the victory, but it consistently outplayed the Trojans for four quarters.
“A win is a win, and it’s always good to start off with a win to begin the season,” Jackson said. “We took care of the football and were able to run the ball and play good defense.”
Amite got on the board first to take an early 7-0 lead, but the Eagles accounted for 18 unanswered points on rushing touchdowns by Daniels, Mallard and Waller to go into halftime up 18-7.
The Trojans countered, though, to start the second half with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Derick Cosby to Jacoby Mickel, but East Marion stuffed the conversion attempt to keep it at 18-13.
East Marion’s Justin Bryant extended the Eagles’ lead in the fourth quarter with a two-yard plunge, and Waller added the conversion to make it 26-13.
Ladarrius Watts led the Eagles defense with 16 tackles, while Christian Patton had nine and Martez Mikell seven. Mikell, Carlos Stubbs and Jaheim Burkett each had a sack as well.
Jackson said he liked the speed and physicality East Marion’s defense played with and that it ran to the ball very well.
“We usually had three or four people to the ball, and it’s always a good thing when you have multiple people arriving at the ball,” he said. “(Watts) had a very good game Friday night. He’s very active on defense and has a nose for the football.”
East Marion takes on bitter rival Columbia at home Friday night in Week 2. The Wildcats are coming off a 59-6 win over Mendenhall.
