| X marks the spot for win 11/8/2008 6:47:08 AM |
BY CHRIS RUSHING
Special to the Journal
BALDWYN - Baldwyn head coach Jimmy Dillinger planned for his team to have a fast start, and senior Xzadrian Shelley obliged in their Class 2A playoff tussle with Coahoma County on Friday.
Shelley was the star of a first quarter peppered with big plays. In the period, he had 73 rushing yards, one a 35-yard touchdown, and took the opening kickoff 86 yards to paydirt as the Bearcats (10-1) opened with a 28-6 lead en route to their 55-18 triumph over the visiting Red Panthers (4-6).
Shelley added another two scores in the second quarter, breaking several tackles on his gains of 8 and 18 yards. On the 8-yarder, Shelley dragged Byron Gadsden into the endzone from the CCHS 11. He finished with 108 yards on just eight totes - all in the first half.
"We came out and just made some plays, and we were told in the locker room before the game to set the tone," Shelley said. "I think we did that part."
"A lot of times this year, he has done that for us and gotten that spark to get us going," Dillinger said. "We talked about getting the momentum in a hurry. If they kicked to him, we were hoping he'd put it in the end zone. It was a good play."
Baldwyn signal caller Tanner Gaines made up for a couple of miscues carrying the football with a pair of touchdown strikes to Buck Beene (6 yards) and Jaymel Tyes (27 yards), completing his first six attempts for 79 yards to four different receivers.
"Tanner has come along real well the last four games, and his arm has really helped us to establish the run," Dillinger said. "The run also helps him. Jaymel had a big night, too."
DeAngelo Boyd outraced the Baldwyn secondary to notch the first points in three games on the stingy Bearcat defense, narrowing the gap to 21-6 with his 75-yard reception from the Panthers' do-it-all Fabian Johnson. Boyd added a late score with a 50-yard reception from Byron Gadsden with 6:01 remaining in the contest to provide the final margin.
"We were worried about their quarterback, and (Boyd) is a great receiver," Dillinger added. "Coming out like we did sure helped us. When you get breaks like that early, it can help break a team."
The visitors were able to only gain 50 total yards aside from Boyd's score on 18 plays in the first two quarters. The Baldwyn senior duo of Perez Welch and Keyon Perkins notched a sack each to pace the defense.
Tyes also had a 56-yard score with 5 minutes, 4 seconds left in the opening period. He capped the Baldwyn scoring on the night with his 2-yard scamper with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter.
The senior had an interception and 26-yard return on defense to set up his final touchdown and finished with 71 yards on only four carries on the evening.
The Bearcats, who have outscored their last three opponents 167-18, advance to the second round and will host Ackerman, a winner against South Delta, next Friday.
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=281708&pub=1&div=Sports
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