It’s been a strange season, to say the least, and Sumrall football is no exception.
The Bobcats were off to a winless start with afer losing their first two games of the season by a few plays. Then things went from bad to worse as Sumrall was shutout in back-to-back weeks to start the year 0-4. The start of region play was an opportunity the Bobcats capitalized on and rattled off two wins to start 2-0 in the region and be tied for first place.
However, COVID-19, threw its wrench at the Bobcats’ turnaround success as Sumrall was forced to forfeit its last three games of the season.
“We felt like we should have won probably two if not three of those (first games),” Sumrall coach Shannon White said. “It was not the start we had hoped for, but our kids never blinked. Our kids were frustrated and disappointed but not discouraged. They are a confident group, and it showed as we got into district play against Greene County and Purvis. We started playing up to our capabilities.
“They have been a great group to coach.”
Luckily, Sumrall did enough to earn a No. 3 seed in the 4A playoffs after Forrest County Agricultural lost to Stone.
Sumrall returned to practice last Thursday, a day before its scheduled game against Poplarville, and so the Bobcats were able to get a full week of practice heading into the playoffs. In addition, White says that his team had time to get healthy during the hiatus.
“We have been quarantined for a long time,” White said. “We got our kids back last Thursday. We have got some kids healed up. They are not in as good of shape as you can imagine, but if anything, else we got to heal up.”
No. 2 seeded Richland (7-2) enters its matchup against Sumrall, having lost two of its last three games of the season. The Rangers lost their final game of the season to Florence 24-8. Two weeks prior, Florence was handed a 61-17 loss by Newton County. The one win in that stretch was a narrow 17-12 victory over Quitman, which has just one win on the year.
“They have had a good season,” White said. “There is a lot of excitement in Richland. They have got just a massive group of offensive and defensive linemen. Their skill players are good. They run a good scheme on both sides. They are real solid on defense.”
Richland features a balanced offense between its run and passing game and has averaged 20.5 points per game. Richland’s quarterback Logan Evans is a dual-threat player that has passed for 688 yards, five touchdowns and nine interceptions on 109 attempts. Evan has also rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns. His top targets combined for 29 catches, 396 yards and two touchdowns.
“They attack the whole field,” White said. “Their quarterback throws it well. They give you a lot of different run schemes. They give you a ton of formations, so they make you work. It’s a weeklong process of getting ready for them. There have been games where they have thrown it pretty well. There’s been games where they have run it pretty well.
“We haven’t seen this style offense. We are probably the only team in our division that runs something similar to them. They are a true spread team.
In Richland’s backfield, its main ball carrier is running back Seth Shoto, who has run for 546 yards and four touchdowns on 111 carries. Complimenting him in the run game are running backs Gentry Davis and Carter Smith, combined for 539 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, Richland has held teams to 13 points per game and have forced 18 turnovers on the season.
“They are big up front,” White said. “They have linemen (weighing) 300-pounds, 290-pounds, 270-pounds and 240-pounds. They are just really big kids. They have got two really good linebackers. Their secondary doesn’t give up deep balls, which is what you want out of your secondary.
“They are solid. There is nothing real complicated about them, and I think that’s why they are so good on defense.”
