Kemper County Advances in State Class 3A Playoffs
The Kemper County Wildcats opened play in the Class 3A state football playoff last Friday night with a 46-12 victory over Wilkinson County.
The Wildcats, now 7-2, will host West Marion this Friday night on the East Mississippi Community College campus in Scooba. The Trojans come into the game with an 8-2 record. They advanced past the first round of the playoffs last Friday with a 54-23 victory over Crystal Springs.
The Wildcats have been putting up some big rushing numbers so far this season. So, when Wilkinson County loaded up in the box and keyed on the running game and running back Dicenzo Miller II, the Wildcats shifted to their passing game. Kemper County’s Aaron Steele completed 18-of-27 passes for 331 yards and threw five TD passes.
Kemper County got on the scoreboard first as Ty Steele caught a 25-yard pass from Aaron Steele. The try for two failed and the Wildcats led 6-0.
Later in the quarter, Jamari Scott caught a 65-yard pass from Aaron Steele. Again. the try for two failed and Kemper County led 12-0.
Wilkinson County scored a touchdown on a 70-yard TD pass play. The try for two failed and the score was tied at 12-6.
Aaron Steele closed out the scoring in the first quarter with a 15-yard TD run. Steele passed to Scott for the two point conversion and the Wildcats led 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats scored once in the second quarter as Steele hit Jamar Grace with a 25-yard TD pass. The try for two failed and Kemper County led 26-6 at the half.
In the third quarter, Aidian Burrage scored for Kemper County on a 10-yard run. Later, Grace scored on a 55-yard pass reception from Steele. Neither extra point try worked and the Wildcats carried a 38-6 into the final quarter.
Dicenzo Miller II, who had been the center of the Wilkinson County’s attention throughout the game, broke loose for a 12-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Miller scored the two point conversion and the Wildcats led 46-6. Wilkinson County scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Kemper County finished the game with 480 total yards. While 331 yards came in the air, 99 yards came on the ground.
Grace caught four passes for 108 yards. Ty Steele have four catches for 80 yards; Scott caught two passes for 72 yards, and Burrage had two catches for 44 yards.
Aaron Steele finished with all the passing yards. Miller had 84 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Defensively, Ishmael Naylor and Exzaybrian Hickman both had five tackles. Heaven Coleman recovered two fumbles. Kentavious Butler had two tackles.
“We played a good game,” Coach Ray Westerfield said. “We are going to have our hands full with West Marion. They have decent size and they like to run the ball.”