Blue Devils Let Lead Slip Away In 48-36 Loss
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Tavarus Jackson makes a nice catch for the Blue Devils during Friday night’s game against Nanih Waiya.
WATER VALLEY — For nearly three quarters Friday night, Water Valley appeared headed toward an impressive win over Nanih Waiya. The Blue Devils scored on four first-half possessions, built a 15-point advantage and held a nine-point lead late in the third quarter.
Then Nanih Waiya came roaring back, scoring the final 21 points, including two touchdowns in the final five minutes, to rally past Water Valley 48-36 at Bobby Clark Field.
“We played a great first half, we have got to learn to play a complete game,” Water Valley coach Clint Faust said after the loss.
Water Valley struck first on an impressive opening drive. The Blue Devils marched from their own 32 deep into Nanih Waiya territory before quarterback Derion Gale connected with Tavarus Jackson for a 14-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-one.
The extra point failed, leaving Water Valley ahead 6-0.
After the Blue Devil defense forced a punt on Nanih Waiya’s opening possession, Water Valley appeared headed for another score. Tre Adams broke into Warrior territory before being stripped of the ball at the Nanih Waiya 16.
The defense quickly gave the Blue Devils another opportunity. Christian Tunson intercepted a deep pass and returned it to the Warrior 28.
On the next play, Gale went deep to Shaddai Freeman for a 28-yard touchdown and a 12-0 Blue Devil lead.
Nanih Waiya answered early in the second quarter to cut the lead to 12-7, but the Blue Devils responded with one of their biggest plays of the night.
Facing third-and-21, Gale connected with Jackson, who turned the catch into a 59-yard gain to the Warrior nine-yard-line. Miles Buford scored from there on a 9-yard run, and Kylan Armstrong added the two-point conversion for a 20-7 advantage with 7:36 remaining in the half.
Nanih Waiya cut the margin to 20-13, but Water Valley needed less than a minute to answer.
Gale found Freeman deep down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown with 2:48 remaining. The two-point conversion gave the Blue Devils their biggest lead of the night, 28-13.
The Warriors refused to let Water Valley take that momentum into halftime. Nanih Waiya drove from its own 26 and scored with seconds remaining, trimming the Blue Devil advantage to 28-19 at the break.
Nanih Waiya opened the second half with another touchdown and a two-point conversion, pulling within 28-27.
Water Valley answered again.
The Blue Devils drove into Warrior territory, overcoming penalties along the way before Adams capped the possession with a seven-yard touchdown run. Another successful two-point conversion put Water Valley ahead 36-27 late in the third quarter.
But it would be Water Valley’s final score.
Demarea Johnson tackles a Nanih Waiya ball carrier during Friday night’s game at Bobby Clark Field.
Nanih Waiya drove for another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, cutting the Blue Devil lead to 36-33 with 8:30 remaining.
The Blue Devils were nursing a three-point lead after failing to stop the Warriors during the second half, and the offense could not provide an answer. Water Valley went three-and-out and was forced to punt.
Nanih Waiya took over at its own 29 and quickly broke a 39-yard run into Blue Devil territory. The Warriors scored on a 22-yard run moments later and converted the two-point attempt to take their first lead of the night, 41-36, with 4:45 remaining.
Water Valley still had an opportunity, starting at its own 42, but gained only three yards before an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the possession.
Nanih Waiya took advantage of the short field and added a nine-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds remaining to seal the 48-36 win.
Gale threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns, connecting twice with Freeman and once with Jackson. Freeman finished with 90 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson had 80 receiving yards and a touchdown. Adams led the ground game with 60 yards and a touchdown, while Buford added 30 yards and a score.
Nanih Waiya’s Sanjaya Austin rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Kewan Pankey added 104 yards and two scores. The Warriors’ two leading rushers combined for 220 yards and four touchdowns.
Faust pointed to several plays that could have changed the outcome, including Water Valley’s first-half fumble deep in Warrior territory.
“Three or four plays go our way and not theirs and I think it’s a different ball game,” Faust said. “We don’t fumble inside the 20 in the first half, that’s six more points our way.”
The loss was Water Valley’s second straight and dropped the Blue Devils to 2-3.
More concerning to Faust is a pattern he wants corrected as the Blue Devils move into division play.
“That’s what we’re falling short in our three losses right now, repeating mistakes,” Faust said.
His message heading into Friday was simple.
“Play all four quarters,” Faust said. “Stay tough, like I told them, tough times don’t last, tough people do.”
Water Valley opens Region 2-2A play Friday night at Bobby Clark Field against rival Bruce for homecoming.
Faust made it clear the rivalry requires little explanation to his players.
“Those kids already know,” he added. “They already know.”
