Carroll Academy passed its first test with flying colors as the Rebels pounded Newton County Academy 52-0 Friday night in a first-round game of the Class 3A state playoffs at Gordon Field in Carrollton.
Carroll, which is now 9-2 overall, travels to Bay Springs next week as it takes on Sylva-Bay Academy in a second-round contest. The Saints are 4-6 overall and the fourth seed in the 12-team field. They had a first-round bye and won District 3.
The Rebels, who finished second in District 2, are the No. 5 overall seed. Newton (3-8) was the 12th seed.
“We got to play a lot of young kids tonight, and we did some different things on offense,” said CA head coach Bo Milton. “We go on the road next week, and I’m sure it’s going to get a little tougher. The farther you go in the playoffs, the tougher it gets.”
Senior Morgan Mims scored three touchdowns in three different ways. He opened the game with a 30-yard run, and then tossed the 2-point conversion to Logan Taylor for an 8-0 lead. On CA’s next possession, Mims and Lofton Holly hooked up from 70 yards out to make it 14-0. The Rebel defense got in on the scoring as Austin Smith was credited with a safety when holding was called on a Newton lineman in the end zone to make it 16-0.
The final touchdown of the first came on a 28-yard pass from Mims to Bryce Collier. Holly had the 2-point run.
In the second quarter, Brennen Blaylock threw a 27-yard scoring strike to Mims to give the home team a 30-0 advantage at the half. In the third period, Mathes Beck opened the frame with a 50-yard kickoff return to make it 36-0 headed to the fourth.
Beck scored from two yards out and Maddox Carpenter had the 2-point run for the first score. Noah Carpenter then ran in from 42 yards out. Carpenter again had the 2-point run to end the scoring.
Mims had 74 yards on eight carries and was 3 of 7 passing for 99 yards. He also had one catch for 27 yards. Carpenter finished with 100 yards on five carries, and John Marc O’Cain had 26 yards on four tries.
Holly had one grab for 70 yards, and Collier had two catches for 29 yards.
Reese Fulton had five tackles, two stops for loss and a sack. Cooper Beck had three tackles, and Mathes Beck, Mims and Taylor had an interception each. Christian McCluskey and Smith had a fumble recovery apiece.
Other first-round 3A games saw Indianola, the 6th seed, beat No. 11 seed Tunica 35-6, No. 10 Centreville defeated No. 7 Greenville Christian 30-22, and No. 9 Central Holmes top No. 8 Glenbrook 46-27.
nContact Calvin Stevens at cstevens@gwcommonwealth.com.
