JACKSON — Cornerback Dundre Pendleton of Hazlehurst smiled achampionship smile Saturday afternoon in Mississippi VeteransMemorial Stadium. Pendleton intercepted two passes and theHazlehurst Indians shut out Charleston’s Tigers 14-0 to claim theMHSAA Class 3A state football championship.

Under a cold, overcast gray sky, an estimated crowd of5,000-plus watched the Indians score twice on long touchdown runsby Kynshun Reese and Damien Anderson. Hazlehurst’s cat-quick,rip-saw defense limited the high-powered Tigers to just 109 yardstotal offense, and the Indians finished a perfect season at13-0.

“It feels great to be 13-0,” said Pendleton. “Thoseinterceptions took their (Charleston’s) momentum away. We kept ourhead and executed on defense.”

It was Hazlehurst’s 8th shutout of the season. Head coach WillieBrown praised his team’s performance.

“Defense is the name of the game,” said Brown. “We knew we hadto win the game on the field.”

Hazlehurst’s defense was directed by senior linebacker JohnnySanders. The Indians limited Charleston (13-2) to just 2 firstdowns the first half.

“Johnny Sanders was the difference,” said Brown. “He has energyand keeps the defense going. He’s a great athlete.”

Hazlehurst asserted itself in the first quarter. After forcing apunt on Charleston’s first possession, the Indians took over attheir 23-yard line and zipped 77 yards to paydirt in just 4plays.

Reese did the honors, breaking up the middle and racing 52 yardsto the end zone. Devin Johnson kicked the extra point, giving theIndians a 7-0 lead with 8:25 left in the first quarter.

Hazlehurst wingback Courtney Hall was keyed on by Charleston’sdefense. Hall was held to a minus-9 yards rushing but he managed topick off a pass by Charleston quarterback Stacey Lake atHazlehurst’s 27.

In the third quarter, Hazlehurst chalked up an insurancetouchdown. Anderson broke down the sideline and scooted 58 yards tothe end zone. Johnson converted the PAT kick and the Indians led14-0, setting off a tomahawk chop-chant by the Hazlehurst fans.

“The play is called 29 Waggle,” explained Anderson. “I have achoice to pass it or run it. I saw an opening and I got two goodblocks from DeArrion Wilbert and Courtney Hall. They got meopen.”

On the ensuing kickoff, the yellow-clad Tigers came to life anddrove all the way to Hazlehurst’s 26-yard line. A pass interferencepenalty against the Indians gave Charleston a first down at the 13.Three plays later, Pendleton picked off a Lake pass in the endzone, killing the touchdown drive.

In the fourth quarter, Charleston went to sophomore quarterbackClint Harris and put Lake at wide receiver. Harris was interceptedby Pendelton at the Indians’ 27 and he returned the theft tomidfield. Only 4:12 remained in the game.

“It was a very physical game and Hazlehurst has a real goodteam,” said Charleston coach Perry Liles. “They made some big runson us and we couldn’t make any on them.

“We haven’t given up big plays like that all year. We wanted toput 10 in a box and shut down their running game.

“Hazlehurst is very quick and fast,” Liles continued. “Theirdefensive ends, No. 17 (Jazzmen Guy) and No. 18 (Kevin Holmes) hurtus. No. 17 might be better than Sanders.”

After the game, Sanders grinned and savored the special momentas his teammates celebrated. “We wanted to win it for our communityand the players who are coming back next year. We always came outand played hard every game.”