JASPER – Before an estimated 900 enthusiastic fans Friday, Stringer and Bogue Chitto met for the South 1A title at Red Devil Field.  The homestanding Red Devils churns 368 yards rushing; to the tune of a 21-7 win over the Bobcats.

     With the win by Stringer, they improved to 12-2 overall and advance to the Class 1A state championship game Saturday against French Camp for the first time since 1992.  Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

     French Camp knocked off Shaw 28-8 in the North 1A title game.

     Bogue Chitto concludes their season at 13-1.  The Bobcats had defeated Stringer 34-28 on Oct. 19 at Troy Smith Field.

     “It is not how we wanted our season to end, but give credit is due; Stringer has a good ballclub,” said Bogue Chitto head coach Gareth Sartin.  “They brought it to us tonight.”

     Stringer quarterback/runningback Tevon Moore was the catalyst for Red Devil head coach Marlon Brannan.  The junior slashed the Bobcats for 283 yards on 32 carries and 2 touchdowns.  He had 198 yards rushing in the first half.

     “What a night Tevon had for us tonight,” said Coach Brannan.  “He (Tevon) would give all the credit to the guys (offensive linemen) up front.”

     Behind Moore, Stringer took the opening kickoff and jumped on the scoreboard 3:17 into the opening period.  Moore hit paydirt from 2 yards out.  Cade Hinton tacked on the first-of-3 successful PAT kicks for a 7-0 Red Devil lead.  Moore carried the ball 7 consecutive times on the 8-play, 69-yard drive.

     On the ensuing kickoff, Sartin’s Bobcats would respond with a 7-play, 62-yard scoring march of their own.  Bobcat runningback Jimmy McNulty jetted into the endzone from 20 yards out.  Cameron Price’s PAT kick was with 5:56 left in the opening frame for a 7-all deadlock.

     The Red Devils reclaimed the lead for good in the second period.  Moore scored from 5 yards, as Stringer carried a 14-7 advantage into the intermission.

     Both defenses put on a hard-hitting clinic in the third, prompting several three-and-out series.

     Stringer closed out the night’s score on the first of the final stanza.  Mason Avery crossed the goal line from 7 yards.

     The Bobcats had several opportunities to score in the latter stages of the game, but miscellaneous penalties and phantom rule interpretations by the officials thwarted Bogue Chitto’s efforts.

     “We had to overcome a lot of injuries down the stretch,” Sartin.  “But I am proud of my team for the outstanding season we had.”

     Leading the Bobcat offense was Mississippi State signee Brandon Wells with 75 yards on 12 carries.  Brock Roberts was 7 of 12 for 62 yards.  Wells also had 37 yards on 3 receptions.

     Defensively, Jermaine Blackwell was tops with 11 tackles.  Wells, Damien Terrell and Roberts followed with 7 stops apiece.

     Brannan, who is in his sixth season at the Jasper County-based school, played on the Red Devil teams that won 3 straight state titles from 1990 to 1992.  Coached by former Stringer, Brookhaven and Houston High head coach Rusty Funk; Brannan is looking to rebuild the program to its glory days.

     “We are teaching the basics of what we learned under Coach Funk,” said Brannan who also mentioned that Funk won a state title in Alabama last season.