As the state’s 25th seeded team, Plaquemine was already considered an underdog in its first-round Class 4A state playoff game last Friday at No. 12 Salmen.
Then the Green Devils fell behind 27-23 in the third quarter when they lost their starting quarterback midway through the period with an injury for the remainder of the game.
Running back Kobe Major, who played quarterback earlier in the season but hadn’t practiced at the position in more than a month, moved back to quarterback where he and Brandon Smith alternated for the rest of the game.
The result was a 41-27 upset victory that Plaquemine won’t soon forget, especially the clutch effort delivered by Major who rushed 33 times for 209 yards, three touchdowns and added a two-point conversion that helped the Green Devils advance in the playoffs.
For his efforts, Major was selected the Tiger Rag Magazine/Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Shining Star of the Week.
“He’s playing hurt with an ankle, he was cramping during the game,” Plaquemine interim football coach Ron LeJeune said of Major. “He sat out a couple of plays, but he was a warrior and went back in. He was really the reason why we won the game. He did an excellent job in the fourth quarter.”
Major was at his best when Plaquemine needed him most. He carried 26 times for 174 yards and 2 TDs after halftime when the Green Devils turned a four-point deficit into a 14-point victory.
Major’s 21-yard reception on a screen pass and subsequent 2-point conversion on a run provided Plaquemine the lead for good with 2:56 to play. The Devils then put the game away with 57 seconds left when Major scored on a 27-yard run.
“When Kobe wasn’t at quarterback, he was at running back,” LeJeune said. “It seemed to work out for us. He was the player of the game.”
OFFENSE
ZEON CHRISS, Madison Prep, (Accounted for 343 yards, 252 passing, 91 rushing, 4 TDs), D’WANYE WINFIELD, Lutcher, (Accounted for 332 yards, 287 passing, 45 rushing, 3 TDs), ELI HOLSTEIN, Zachary, (Accounted for 309 yards, 276 passing, 31 passing, 2 TDs), BRYCE LEONARD, Ascension Catholic, (Passed for 276 yards, 5 TDs), RAY MCKNEELY, Denham Springs, (Rushed 27 times, 241 yards, 4 TDs), HAYDEN HAND, Dunham, (Completed 10 of 13 passes, 203 yards, 4 TDs), CALVIN DELONE, Ascension Catholic, (Caught 6 passes, 168 yards, 4 TDs), TONY LEWIS, Madison Prep, (Rushed 11 times, 148 yards, 2 TD), KALANTE WILSON, Dunham, (Rushed 19 times, 129 yards, 3 TDs), COLE POIRRIER, St. Amant, (Accounted for 208 yards, 123 passing, 85 rushing, 2 TDs), JEREMIAH DEVERTEUIL, Parkview Baptist, (Accounted for 129 yards, 108 rushing, 21 receiving, TD), SEMAJ PIERRE, Madison Prep, (Caught 4 passes, 96 yards), TREYLAN JAMES, Madison Prep, (Caught 3 passes, 91 yards, 2 TDs), NICHOLAS JOHNSON, St. Michael, (Rushed for 90 yards), DYLAN SAMPSON, Dutchtown, (Rushed 9 times, 84 yards, TD)
DEFENSE
LANDON SZUBINKSI, Ascension Catholic, (16 tackles), HAYDEN RUSHING, Denham Springs, (14 tackles, 3 TFLs), PATRICK CANCIENNE, Ascension Catholic, (13 tackles), ETHAN FOSTER, Denham Springs, (11 tackles, 3 ½ TFLs), ERVIN NICHOLAS III, Madison Prep, (8 tackles, TFL, interception), JACQUES HUESERS, Ascension Catholic, (10 tackles, sack), QUENCY WIGGINS, Madison Prep, (4 tackles, 2 TFLs, sack), MARKEIS BATISTE, Madison Prep, (7 tackles, sack), KAMERON HAMILTON, Zachary, (6 tackles, sack), TAI’SHON NELSON, Zachary, (5 tackles), RILEY HOWARD, Zachary, (5 tackles, fumble recovery), ETHAN VORISE, Denham Springs, (3 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 PBUs), COLIN BOLDT, Dunham, (2 interceptions), LAWRENCE WATTS, Dunham, (Returned interception for TD).
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