The anticipated heavy-weight matchup between Hattiesburg and West Jones for the Region 3-6A title is set.
The Tigers clinched their spot in the winner-take-all game after a blowout 39-0 victory over Terry. Meanwhile, West Jones made quick work of winless Pearl River Central in a 56-0 win.
"The only thing that matters was this week," Hattiesburg coach Tony Vance said. "We are 1-0 this week. The trick is to be 1-0 next week.
"They are going to come in here undefeated. They are a really good football team. We know what to expect from there. We know what to expect from their defense. It's similar to what we played tonight. They'll be aggressive and physical. We have told our guys that you might get into the playoffs, but if you aren't playing well, then you won't be there long."
Yet Hattiesburg's prelude win came as easy as when quarterback Deuce Vance sprinted down the sidelines untouched for a 75-yard touchdown run to give Hattiesburg its first score of the game. The junior quarterback's run ignited a fast start and helped fuel the Tigers' sixth straight victory. In the stretch, Hattiesburg has averaged 43.8 points per game, and yet, in that span, Vance says his team has not looked ahead to the upcoming game against West Jones.
"We are more dominant on offense," Deuce Vance said of the offense. "We are going to run the ball. That's what we are good at.
"We have taken it one game at a time and trying to win one in a row. We have to come in next week mentally focused and locked in and be ready for Thursday."
After Vance's run, Hattiesburg (7-2, 3-0) jumped out to a 19-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. A blocked punt by sophomore Anthony Pounce set up a 26-yard touchdown pass from Deuce to Tomaz Barnes.
"My special teams coach what to look for on the punt block, and I just took advantage of what he told me and got the block," Pounce said. "Through the first few games of the season, we had some ups and downs. We made some corrections. We have gotten better every week."
On the next drive, the Tigers took advantage of favorable field position and capped off a quick drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tavarez Wade, who finished the game with 108 yards on 19 carries.
"That was important, given how athletic Terry is, that we got off to a quick start," Tony Vance said. "We executed well and tried to put points on the board so we could make them play from behind."
Terry's (5-4, 1-2) most productive drive came in the second quarter. The majority of the Bulldogs' 77 total yards in offense came from two completed of 43 and 17 yards. But the drive was killed after Demarcus Baker intercepted quarterback Ashton Fairly inside the end zone.
The Tigers then marched down the field just before the half and scored again, with Vance finding Tristen Keys for a 26-yard touchdown to go up 25-0. Vance finished the game 7 of 15 and tossed for 102 yards and two touchdowns while running for 134 yards and a touchdown.
"Deuce has put together three really good games," Vance said of Deuce's performance. "He has played well and played smart. He has taken care of the football. If you do those things and make a couple of plays, then you have a chance to win the game."
Hattiesburg didn't have to do much work in the second half after Terry's first offensive possession. Linebacker BJ Mitchell knocked the ball out of a receiver's hand, setting up a 20-yard scoop and score for Pounce. Baker then capped off the night for Hattiesburg with a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
"We knew we had the potential to play at this level for sure," Pounce said of the Tigers' win. "We have taken it week by week. (Next week) is going to be a good game between both sides. It'll be fun."
Hattiesburg will host West Jones on Thursday, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
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