Loyd Star looked like a state playoff team Friday night on W.E.”Sambo” Smith Field. The Hornets flexed their muscles on defenseand got some big plays on offense in shutting out the South LeakeWildcats 40-0 in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Loyd Star (9-2) advances to the second round and plays at NewtonFriday night. Newton (9-2), the Region 5-2A champion, eliminatedMcLaurin 32-0.

South Leake (6-5), the No. 3 team out of Region 5-2A, was nomatch for the Hornets. The Wildcats were limited to 143 yards totaloffense, just 62 on the ground. Their passing game was derailed asSeth Britt and Demarcus Barnes intercepted passes for LoydStar.

Offensively, the Hornets got a solid rushing performance fromsenior tailback Derrick Johnson who carried the football 19 timesfor 139 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“God blessed us with a win,” said Johnson. “I think our teamcame out ready to play. Our line was firing out and we kept up theintensity the whole game.”

Big plays were provided by Loyd Star’s Josh Townsend and DanielSisco. Townsend scooped up the second half kickoff at his 20-yardline and raced 80 yards for a TD. Jody Britt kicked the extra pointfor a 20-0 lead just 15 seconds into the third quarter.

Sisco, a 245-pound defensive lineman, scored the first touchdownof his career. He picked up a Wildcat fumble and rumbled 30 yardsto paydirt, pushing the Hornets ahead 33-0 with 2:57 left in thethird quarter.

Sisco recalled the opportunity. “I just came around the end andsaw the football jump up at me. I thank God for the opportunity. Iwanted to do a dance,” in the end zone.

Early in the first quarter, the Hornets produced an impressive,11-play, 62-yard drive on their first possession. Johnson coveredthe final 2 yards over left tackle and Loyd Star led 6-0.

Late in the first quarter, Loyd Star launched a 71-yard scoringmarch after Barnes made a fair-catch at his 29. Quarterback CassBrister threw a strike to wide-open tight end Logan Portrey whichwas good for 48 yards and a TD.

Loyd Star led 13-0 with 10:40 left in the first half.

Coach Larry Gibson’s Wildcats produced a strong scoring threatin the second quarter. A 41-yard connection from quarterback L.C.Shepherd to Jerodick Townsend gave South Leake a first down at LoydStar’s 26. Eight plays later, the Wildcats achieved afirst-and-goal at the Loyd Star 1 on a plunge by fullback ErickFortune.

Two snaps resulted in zero yardage as Hornet defensive tackleBeau Morrison filled the hole for big stops. A 10-yard holdingpenalty pushed the Wildcats back and a fourth down pass was brokenup, ending the threat.

“South Leake has a lot of speed and that’s scary,” said LoydStar coach Anthony Hart. “Our defensive backs did a good job.

“That goal line stand was big,” said Hart. “Beau Morrison madetwo big plays for us.”

On defense, Loyd Star got 8 tackles apiece from linebackersMatthew Delaughter and Cody Covington. Jermaine Hunter had 7tackles. Six stops were recorded by Adam Speeg, Josh Reed andMorrison. Brister punted twice for a 42-yard average.