COLUMBIA – While the players on each team weren’t part of it, Lumberton and East Marion are former 2A rivals that played in the same region for many years.
After Lumberton dropped down to 1A in 2013, East Marion has rejoined the Panthers this season in Region 8-1A to renew the rivalry series. In 2012, the last time the two played against each other, East Marion crushed the Panthers 40-0.
“I think they’ve had this game circled since they moved down, because it used to be rivalry game,” Lumberton coach Zach Jones said. “We know we’re going to get their best shot Friday night.”
The Panthers (4-1, 1-0 in Region 8-1A) are coming off a 44-12 blowout win over Mount Olive to start region-play, as both teams had to battle a lightning delay. The delay didn’t bother Jones and his team, though.
“We stayed in the locker room, and of course, made a few adjustments,” Jones said. “I talked to some of our kids, and it helped us bond a little bit. It gave us a little bonding time. We didn’t like, but it’s part of it. Mount Olive had the same issues, so it’s just one of those things you have to come back out and be ready to play.”
The Eagles (3-2, 1-0) have a weapon on their backfield in three-star running back Jarveon Howard. The 5-foot-10-inch, 200-pound senior running back is rated the seventh best player in Mississippi for the class of 2018, and the 28th best back in the country.
Through the first five games this season, he’s rushed for 740 yards and eight touchdowns on 62 carries – a 12-yard per carry average. He’s rushed for 200 yards in a game twice his season and his worst performance in an 18-14 win over West Marion when he only rushed for 66 yards on 20 carries and touchdowns.
East Marion’s quarterback, sophomore Devin Daniels, has Jones’ attention, too.
“(Howard) is the real deal,” Jones said. “All of his accolades speak for itself. We’re going to have to do a good job of containing him, and the quarterback is a really good player. He’s a kid who probably doesn’t get the attention he deserves, but he’s certainly got our attention. We know it’s going to take our best effort to get a win Friday night.”
Lumberton did a good job of forcing turnovers last week against Mount Olive, intercepting three passes and collecting a fumble recovery, but missed tackles are still a concern, Jones added.
East Marion’s defense has played significantly better during this three-game winning streak, as it’s only allowed 16 points to its opponents. West Marion scored 14, Richton put up 28 and Salem only scratched away eight points.
“They look to me they’re playing with a lot more confidence. Winning does that,” Jones said.
East Marion will have to match up with a deep Panther backfield that saw 12 players record a carry last Friday. No player reached 100 yards in the contest, but the group combined for 238 yards on the ground and five touchdowns on 34 carries.
“I probably didn’t get all of them, too, who needed touches,” Jones said. “It’s a good problem to have. We have different guys. Krishaun Fairly bided his time and he broke a 60-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It’s what we tell our kids all of the time, somebody has to step up and he did a good job of stepping up for us at that time.”
