Griggs, Indians spoil Delta's Homecoming, playoff hopes still alive
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
MOORHEAD, MS – Kwadra Griggs had a breakout performance in front of family and friends as the Greenwood native had a career day to help keep ICC's playoff hopes alive with a win on Saturday.
"I'm proud of the game Griggs had," said Coach Sean Cannon. "I was worried that he may put a little too much pressure on himself playing against his brother and former high school teammate, but he came out and put together his best game he's had all season long."
Griggs threw for 374 yards on 23-of-32 passing with four touchdowns – all career high marks for the freshman who grew up less than 20 miles from Jim Randall Stadium – while rushing for 15 yards on five carries to led the Indians to a 52-48 win over the Trojans to help spoil Mississippi Delta's Homecoming.
The Indians (4-4, 4-2 MACJC North) saw Mississippi Delta (2-3, 3-4 MACJC North) rally to take their first lead of the game, 42-38, early in the fourth quarter, but Griggs marched the Indians 78 yards to retake the lead, 45-42, with 5:16 left to play.
Cartin McBride (Calhoun City) made the defensive play of the game when he blocked his fifth punt of the season on the ensuing drive to set the Indians up inside the Trojans' 30-yard line and two passes later Griggs found Grant Kimberlin (Olive Branch) for a 7-yard scoring strike to give the Indians a 52-42 lead.
"It wasn't a great day defensively, but the guys found ways to make plays when we needed them the most," said Cannon. "We were close on a couple of blocks earlier in the game, but McBride stepped up and made a big time play to help us keep some of the momentum we had built after giving up the lead."
Kimberland finished the game with 35 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
The Trojans answered with a 42-yard touchdown pass to make it 52-48 with 1:21 to play, but the onside kick failed after freshman defensive back Levarious Varnado (Calhoun City) secured the kick allowing Griggs and the Indians to kneel their way to the win.
Jaquez McMillian (Southaven) also had a career day hauling in 5 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns while Richard McQuarley (Meridian) continued his stellar freshman campaign with 138 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as the Indians piled up a season-best 580 yards (206 rush; 374 pass) of total offense.
"I'm proud of our offensive guys," said Cannon. "They had their best game of the season and did a great job answering everything Delta did throughout the game."
Defensively, the Indians were led by Grenada native Myles Harges' 11 tackles (10 solo; 1 assist) with a tackle for a loss of five yards while Quindarius Thagard (Luverne, AL) picked off a pass that led to an Indian touchdown.
"Being a defensive coordinator you're never happy when you give up the amount of yards we gave up, but the guys kept fighting and dug deep late in the game to make some plays for us to be able to come away with the win," commented Cannon.
The Indians will have to wait the outcome of Thursday's game between Northwest and Coahoma in order to know their postseason fate, but until then Coach Cannon and the Indians will focus on nationally-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast as the Bulldogs come to Fulton for Homecoming on Saturday.
"We've got a tough one to close out the season," said Cannon. "Gulf Coast is one of the nation's top teams and looking to make a statement heading into the playoffs. We're going to have to be really focused on the task at hand and have a great week of practice to be ready to face a really good football team on Saturday."
The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 MACJC South) were upset by No. 19 Copiah-Lincoln, 29-26, on Saturday.
The First American National Bank Opening Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 at Eaton Field with the Davis Ford Pregame Show starting at 3:10 on WAFM and LetsGoICC.com.
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