The Bruce Trojans defeated number one seed Coahoma AHS 20-14 in Clarksdale Friday night to advance to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
It was the first time this year the Trojans, 4-7, won consecutive games. They were coming off a win at Okolona in the season finale that put them in the playoffs.
“We’re keeping that mindset of win or go home on every play,” Bruce’s Jay Johnson said. “This is one of the best feelings in the world. People still doubting us, but we’re writing them off. God’s still blessing us. We’re not done yet.”
The Bruce defense dominated the game. Coahoma’s only scores came on a big pass play and an interception return, both in the second quarter.
“We got a lot of great work up front and we haven’t been getting that all year,” Bruce Coach James Ray said of his defensive line. “It’s a product of us getting healthy. We haven’t been healthy like this all year.”
The Trojan defense came up with the biggest plays of the night. Coahoma was leading 14-6 and driving for another score in the closing minute of the first half when a host of Trojans forced a fumble. Tyrique Gunn scooped the ball up in the middle of the pile and broke free from the pack racing 85 yards for a touchdown to pull the Trojans within 14-12 at the half.
“I just saw the ball come out and tried to make a play,” Gunn said. “We were just determined tonight.”
The second half was all Bruce. The Trojans forced a three-and-out on Coahoma’s opening possession of the third quarter. The Bruce offense then marched 70 yards for a touchdown while chewing up more than six minutes of the clock. The drive featured a power running attack of Jamar Brown, Jay Johnson and QB Wesley Ross straight up the gut, five yards at a time.
“We outsized them by a lot and knew we could take advantage of that,” Ross said. “We just ran it right at them.”
Johnson scored the touchdown on an 8-yard run for an 18-14 Trojan lead with less than four minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Trojan defense made that lead hold up. In the final three minutes, Coahoma attempted to mount a drive but Hunter Potts and Jay Johnson combined on a big sack to give Bruce the ball back.
“We knew we needed to come out in the second half and dominate and that’s what we did,” Potts said.
Bruce pinned Coahoma deep with a punt with less than two minutes to play and the defense again shined. Tyrone Corbitt and Josh Byrd broke through the line and sacked the Coahoma QB in the end zone for a safety to put the game away.
“They had a double team on Hunter (Potts) and that left the hole open for me to get back there and make a play,” Corbitt said. “This is a great feeling. Lot of people doubting us. This means a lot.”
Bruce will host JZ George next week in the second round.
“We need to build on this against JZ,” Ray said.