October 29, 2015
East Prairie wins district game over Portageville
PORTAGEVILLE -- Just three weeks ago East Prairie stepped into Portageville's field only to be handed a 40-20 loss that gave the Bulldogs home field advantage for their meeting in the opening round of the Class 2, District 1 Tournament. With a retooled offense, however, the fifth-seeded Eagles hardly looked like the same team they did a few short weeks ago, beating the Bulldogs 34-18 to advance to the district semifinals...
PORTAGEVILLE -- Just three weeks ago East Prairie stepped into Portageville's field only to be handed a 40-20 loss that gave the Bulldogs home field advantage for their meeting in the opening round of the Class 2, District 1 Tournament.
With a retooled offense, however, the fifth-seeded Eagles hardly looked like the same team they did a few short weeks ago, beating the Bulldogs 34-18 to advance to the district semifinals.
"We felt like we wanted to use the clock," East Prairie head coach Chad Jamerson said. "Really bleed the clock out and we just wanted to use that big offensive line to try to be more physical than them and try to pound it inside.
"We completely changed the offense. We've been installing this new offense for the playoffs for the last two weeks. We didn't know how it was going to work out, but it did."
In their first meeting with Portageville the Eagles had full faith in their air attack, but only managed to complete 8 of 21 passes for 147 yards and an interception.
In stark contrast, East Prairie only attempted one pass all night Friday, coming in the final four minutes of the game with the outcome well in hand.
Spending most their times between the tackles the Eagles rushed 63 times for 335 yards and a healthy 5.3 yard-per-carry average.
"It took us a long time to adjust in the first half," Bulldog head coach Jeff Bullock said. "We finally got one or two stops late, but early they just had their way with us. It was their will and they imposed it on us. Hats off to East Prairie."
Both teams converted on their first two series of the night with a two-point conversion giving the Eagles a 14-12 advantage heading into the second quarter.
A 12-yard touchdown run from Derez Tipler with 2:30 before the half pushed the Eagles ahead 20-12 and things only got worse for Portageville in the closing seconds of the half.
Trying to tie things up heading into the locker room, the Bulldogs drove from their own 35-yard line to the Eagles' 33-yard line in the final minutes.
Portageville's sideline broke out in cheers on the next play when star sophomore Ian Torrey completed a 20-yard catch to the 13-yard line. Things soon turned quiet when Torrey couldn't get up after the play and was carried off the field with a leg injury.
He would watch the rest of the game from a wheelchair, leaving the Bulldogs without their top offensive target and a key defender.
"When Ian went down I think we panicked a little bit," Bullock said. "We have kids that were willing. It's not like we're not capable, but it's a shock.
"Even though he's a sophomore, he's a leader. We had kids that were worried about him too in general."
On the next play after Torrey's injury. Jon Garrett Kellams was picked off by East Prairie's Brett Ellis to allow the Eagles to kneel out the half and maintain their eight-point lead.
Ellis completed the opening drive of the second half with a two-yard quarterback keeper to give his team a 28-12 advantage and the Bulldogs never pulled back within 10 points.
"We just came out and executed the game plan," Jamerson said. "I felt like we had a pretty solid one and got some breaks to go our way. Finally we got a piece of the turnover battle tonight.
"Deverence Jones came out and ran the ball real well for us and the offensive line did a tremendous job. We're lucky to get out of here with a win."
Portageville made one final stand when a 16-yard run from Daniel McCray closed the gap back to 10 points, 28-18, with 3:28 left in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for Portageville, their next drive stalled only seven yards from the endzone when a fourth and goal pass was picked off.
It wasn't long after that mistakes finally caught up with the Bulldogs.
Portageville was flagged for 173 yards worth of penalties with the majority coming after halftime.
East Prairie gained 45 yards on flags alone on their final scoring drive, including facemask and unsportsmanlike calls. These culminated in a 10-yard run from Ellis to put the Eagles up by the 34-18 final with 7:14 to play.
"It is what it is," Bullock said of the flags. "If I say what I believe, I'm going to be the one that gets in trouble. If I'm honest I'm the one who will get in trouble with MSHSAA, because if I'm criticizing what happened I'm the bad guy.
"But you start throwing flags out here and it is what it is. Our kids get baited all night long and it happens."
Portageville (6-4) out-gained East Prairie 391-355 on the game with the majority coming through the air.
In his final game as a Bulldog Jon Garrett Kellams went 22 of 39 through the air for 306 yards. He threw one touchdown and three picks with one inconsequential one coming in the closing seconds of the game.
Before getting hurt, Torrey had four catches for 102 yards while Hunter Gates caught seven passes for 108 yards.
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