With an impressive victory, the Ruleville Central High Tigers have found their way back into the win column.
Fueled by an offense, which generated a total of 407 yards in the game, the Tigers coupled this with a defensive effort, which allowed only one touchdown to the heretofore high scoring Leflore County High Tigers.
The end result of that night’s play was the Sunflower County version of Tigers snapped a two game losing streak with their 21-8 home field victory last Friday night.
While the victory evened Ruleville Central’s record to a 2-2 mark, the game also cast a positive light on the Tigers’ season as they head into an open date this week.
The recent victory and upcoming open date will also lead the Tigers into the most important portion of their 2018 schedule.
For beginning September 28 the Tigers open their Region 3-3A play, a string of five games which will close out the regular season schedule while also holding eventual playoff berth ramifications.
In last Friday’s win over the now 2-3 Leflore County High, the Tigers limited the offense from Itta Bena to well under their 30 point per game average brought into the game.
While the defense was giving up only a first period touchdown, Ruleville Central’s offense would do its part by posting a touchdown in all except the final quarter of the game.
Quarterback Joseph Perez spearheaded this offensive effort as the junior had a hand in all three of the Tigers’ touchdowns.
The Tigers would open the game’s scoring in the first period when Perez and senior Markevean Graham connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Jeremiah Surney then split the uprights with his PAT kick to give Ruleville Central an early 7-0 lead.
However, Leflore County would answer with their score and a two-point conversion to take what proved to be their last lead of the night as the game entered the second quarter.
The Tigers then took a permanent lead in that second period when Perez scooted 15 yards for the score to give Ruleville Central a 13-8 halftime lead.
Registering the game’s final points of the game through the air, the Tigers took the game to its final margin when Perez hit Phabian Carter with a 40-yard TD pass. The junior quarterback then plunged into the end zone with his successful two-point conversion run.
Offensively, the Tigers picked up 292 yards rushing with their 29 carries and it was senior Darious Townsend’s 122 yards on a dozen rushes leading this attack.
Also contributing heavily to this ground game was Perez (6/77 yards) and Carter (6/60 yards).
Through the air, Perez completed five of his 10 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns; Carter’s two catches netted 75 of that total yardage earned.
Defensively, the Tigers were led by Surney’s 11 tackle effort while Jamarius Hale completed his night’s play with seven tackles.
