Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 11

Sports Sports editor: Van Arnold, (601) 584-3119 VamoldHattiesburgAmerican.com SATURDAY, November 3, 2007 www.hattiesburgamerican.com IB North Forrest 25 East Marion 24 Keg JON SARACENO (. EATONVILLE: Zate field goal lifts Eagles to dramatic victory By STAN CALDWELL American Sports Writer scaldwelltiattiesburgamerican.com They're starting to believe in magic at North Forrest. And why not? After what happened Friday night at Keene Stadium in Eatonville, maybe everyone else will start believing too, The Eagles used a big fourth-down stop and a clutch last-minute drive to sneak off with a 25-24 victory over East Marion in the showdown for the Region 8-2A championship, Jonathan Smith's 20-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining in the game provided North Forrest with the margin that gave the Eagles their first region title since 1999, "It's been a long ride," said senior quarterback Emil Jones, who engineered the game-winning drive. "I'm happy to come out No. 1." North Forrest (7-3 overall, 6-0 in region) will open the first round of the Class 2A playoffs next week at home against Mize.

East Marion (7-2, 5-1) will also host a first-round playoff game next week against Enterprise (Clarke). "That's what I told the team; this season is over, and we're 7-2," East Marion coach Randy Roberts said. "No one expected us to win that many because we lost so many players from last year." East Marion, defending Class 2A champion, lost despite out-gaining North Forrest in total See CHAMPS, 4B A I USM FOOTBALL UABgame is always tough one By PATRICK MAGEE American Sports Writer pmageettattiesburgamerlcan.com Normally, in a heated college football rivalry, there is a back-and-forth pattern of wins and losses between two schools. When it comes to Southern Miss and UAB, both sides acknowledge a rivalry has developed since the Blazers' football team joined Conference USA in 1999. But UAB has yet to get a victory over the Golden Eagles in football in the seven times the teams have met UAB sophomore center Jake Seitz is fully aware of what a win over the Golden Eagles at 6 p.m.

today at Legion Field would do for his team's season, which has been a 2-6 strug- gle sofar C-USA Clash "They're our The Southem Miss Qolden rival and we ve Eagles take on the UAB never beaten Blazers today in a (re' Conference USA battle at Seitzsaid. Win- Legion Reld in Birmingham, ning this game Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. would definitely The game can be seen on make us feel CSS (Comcast 25) and heard better about the on WXRR-FM (104.5). season." While the OlICK It USM-UAB series To see USM's Gerald features a lop- McRath and Darnion sided record in Fetcner in action anrj hear favor of the what they have to say go Golden Eagles, to tne vldeo portj0n of tne none of the Web site: www.hatties-games have had burgamerican.com double-digit margins. The biggest victory for Southern Miss (4-4, 3-2 in C-USA) was a 37-28 win in 2005 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

"It's always been tight," said Jeff Bower, USM's head coach. "It has always been a fight." "Our kids have a lot of respect for them. All the kids that have been here four or five years all know this game has never been easy. We've had to fight every time to get a win." Southern Miss sophomore running back Darnion Fletcher sees another Conference USA school as the real nemesis for the Golden Eagles. "It might be a rivalry because it's so close, Alabama-Mississippi," Fletcher said.

"We're more rivals with Memphis in the 'Black and Blue' game." USM sophomore linebacker Gerald McRath has no doubts that the UAB-USM game creates the intensity and animosity that makes it a battle that is marked on both teams' calendars. "It's a rivalry," said. "Those guys have my respect to the fullest. They come out and play hard. "I think we here look at it as a rivalry game.

Some alumni or somebody needs to make this a rivalry and make up a name for it, because it's always a tough game to play." Last year's game at M.M. Roberts Stadium appeared to be well on its way to being the first blowout in favor of the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss led 23-0 entering the fourth quarter, but three late touchdowns made the final score 25-20. "This is probably one of the hardest games you'll play coming to Southern Miss," said McRath. "Last 4 1 "wiwumi 0 MATT BUSH I Hattiesburg American NORTH FORREST HIGH players hoist Jonathan Smith on their shoulders after he kicked the game-winning 20-yard field goal in the closing seconds to beat East Marion Friday night in a Region 8-2A showdown in Eatonville.

Oak Grove 28 Brandon 20 Montana: Hit Brady, Manning LETS FACE IT, Tom Brady really isn't Joe Montana, Part II any more than Peyton Manning is Johnny Unites redux. We won't get into Joe Namath and Trent Dilfer. Contrasting styles, generational differences and the shifting winds of pro football's rule makers make such comparisons delectable food for thought, but hardly digestible. Merely trying to swallow the notion of legitimate comparisons becomes troublesome, particularly for quarterbacks who played in divergent offenses under philosophically different coaching staffs. 'You really have no common ground, other than you take a snap and hand it off or throw it," Montana said by telephone Thursday as he drove to his 600-acre ranch in northern California.

"I think it's hard to compare even (players) from the same genera-tioa But go back generations, and even the ball was shaped differently. (Tom) is who he is Tom. He's not Peyton, Johnny or me. Heishisownpersoa" True similarities The 51-year-old Hall of Famer does acknowledge some similarities between Brady and Manning, who will duel in Sunday's highly anticipated New England-Indianapolis slugfest preparation, decision-making, accuracy down-field and competitiveness. "They don't love to win they hate to lose," he said.

"They expect to win and (avoid) feeling that, 'I Montana-Brady comparisons, based largely on exhibiting calm demeanors and producing under the excruciating pressure of the postseason, always have been unfair to both. That was particularly so when Brady was a New England newbie and rather precociously became the youngest Super Bowl-winning quarterback at 24. Both players were lightly regarded out of college, and neither possessed otherworldly physical skills, neither fleet of foot nor brawny of arm. It was the late Bill Walsh, who mined coaching gold with Montana, who once observed that Brady was the closest imitation he had ever seen of his quarterback, saying there was a "serenity" to the way he played. On a pedestal Where many young players may have shriveled under expectations and newfound celebrity, Brady elevated his game.

Today he fast builds a golden pedestal that future quarterbacks will find difficult to ascend. Montana carried his San Francisco 49ers teams on his little back, but Brady always seemed to be a more highly skilled caretaker. That is, until this season. Entering Sunday's game, Brady, 30, is on pace in 2007 to heave 60 touchdown passes (with only four interceptions) and post nearly 5,000 yards passing. His completion percentage is 74 percent, his passer rating 136.2.

Impressively, he has won 90 of 116 career starts, including the playoffs, 78 percent His playoff performances already have made him a legend: Brady won a record three Super Bowls before his 28th birthday. His teams have won 12 of 14 playoff games. He is the NFL's all-time leader in overtime victories (7-0). Remarkably, Brady has engineered the game-winning drive to break a tie, or take the lead, in the fourth quarter of every Super Bowl he has played. Unless he falls off a wharf in downtown Boston, Brady is a shoo-in for MVP.

Seemingly, Warriors rely on rushing attack Click it For the latest scores, summaries, photo galleries and player statistics from Friday night's high school football action, visit our Web site at www.hattiesburgamerican.com For details on how Pine Belt area teams fared, see page 4B See GAME, 4B at half, but they would have to work in the second half to hold on. The Bulldogs defense came out strong after the half, holding the Warriors scoreless in the third quarter while the offense picked up a touchdown on a screen-pass from Jason Hicks to senior tight end T.J. Burnham. In the end, it took two stands by the Oak Grove defense deep in their own territory to seal the victory. After holding the Bulldogs to a field goal with just over five minutes left, the defense held strong on a 4th-and-10 from the Oak Grove 26 to secure the victory.

"We're not excited about our play tonight," Barr said, "The defense rose up there at the end and made the play they had to to win, but we have to play better; but my guys know that and I'm sure that we will." Brandon just wouldn't go away. After jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead, Oak Grove linebacker Drew Norwood picked off a Jason Hicks pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. With their playoff hopes on the line, the Bulldogs refused to concede the game, answering with an 11-play touchdown drive that was capped off by a 4-yard Isaiah Carson run. Coach Barr had to make a tough decision a few possessions later when the Warriors faced a 4th-and-3 at the Brandon 37-yard-line. Barr decided to roll the dice and run with senior Derrick Virgil, which paid off in a big way when Virgil blew past the line and raced 18 yards for a crucial Warrior first down.

On the very next play, Virgil took it 17 more yards for an Oak Grove touchdown. The Warriors held a 21-10 lead By TYLER CLEVELAND American Sports Writer tclevelandhattiesburgamerican.com Oak Grove High School fans won't have to travel to watch their football team when the playoffs start in two weeks. The Warriors sealed their first-round home game by defeating Brandon 28-20 Friday night to climb to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in Region 5-3A. Oak Grove relied heavily on the steady running of senior backs Charez Virgil and Michael Hawthorne to quell the Bulldogs' comeback attempt and playoff hopes. In his post-game address, Oak Grove coach Nevil Barr talked to his team about earning it on the field.

"This was a big win for us," Barr said, "We'll get a chance to play the first round at home now, which is huge for us." ON TV TODAY Huge may be an understatement for the Warriors, who have only lost one game at home the in the past three seasons. "It feels good to know we'll be at home," Warrior quarterback Josh Larson said, "We need to get back to practice, get better and play well so we can win at home for our fans." For a while, it looked like Oak Grove would blow out its last home opponent before the playoffs, but George County 27 Petal 17 Rebels praise scrappy Panther team 2:30 p.m. UCLA at Arizona, WLOX-ABC13. 2:30 p.m.- Michigan at Michigan St or Cincinnati at South Florida, ESPN. 4p.m.-LSUat Alabama, WHLT-CBS 22.

5:30 p.m.- Missouri at Colorado, FSN. 5:40 p.m.- Arizona St. at Oregon, ESPN. 7 p.m. -South Carolina at Arkansas, ESPN2.

7 p.m. -Oregon State at Southern Golf 1 p.m.- PGA Tour, Children's Miracle Network Classic, third round, at Lake Buena Vista, 4 p.m.-NationwideTour Championship, third round, at Lakeside, TGC. Rodeo 8p.m.-PBR, World Finals, sixth round, at Las Vegas, VERSUS. Auto racing 2:30: NASCAR, Busch Series, O'Reilly Challenge, at Fort Worth, Texas, ESPN2, 5 p.m. -NASCAR, Nextel Cup, "Happy Hour Series," final practice for Dickies 500, at Fort Worth, Texas, ESPN2.

7 p.m. -World of Outlaws, at Concord, N.C., SPEED. College football 11 a.m. -James Madison at Delaware, CSS. 11 a.m.-Purdue at Penn St, ESPN.

11 a.m.-lowaat Northwestern, ESPN2. 11:30 p.m.- Vanderbilt at Florida, WXXV-FOX 25, WHLT-CBS22. 11:30 a.m.-Nebraska at Kansas, FSN. 11:30 a.m.- Kansas St at Iowa St, VERSUS. 1:30 p.m.

-Navy at Notre Dame, NBC. 2:30 p.m. -Marshall at Central Florida, CSS. or tit i first quarter. The Rebels took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards in 11 plays, scoring on a 35-yard field goal by Will Scott, putting George County up 3-0 early.

Petal fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Rebels the ball at the Petal 11, but the Petal defense held on fourth down, giving the Panthers new life. The Panthers only managed 22 yards and punted back to the Rebels who took over at the Petal 45. Billey Joe Johnson scored on a 35-yard run, putting George County up 10-0 early in the second. Petal was held to a three-and-out, then George County turned the ball over on downs back to Petal, who drove 70 yards, highlighted by a touchdown pass from Drew Carruth to Kennedy, trimming the George County lead to 10-7. On the next George County possession, Chris Wright picked off a Hopkins pass, giving Petal the ball By JEFF O'REAR American Sports Writer orearhattiesburgamerican.com George County High School quarterback Tookie Hopkins was appreciative of the game Petal High School put up against the Rebels.

"We needed that," Hopkins said. "I guess our heads got a little swollen that we were undefeated (in region). This just let us know that we can be beat." The Rebels held on to their undefeated region status and No. 2 statewide ranking, holding off a hardhitting, scrappy Petal team 27-17 Friday night at Panther Stadium. The win put George County (9-1 overall, 6-0 in 4-5A) into a winner-take-all showdown with Ocean Springs next week for the region title.

For Petal (5-5, 3-3) the picture is not as clear. A win next week against Biloxi puts the Panthers into the playoffs. A loss and the Panthers will need some help to advance. "I think we played as hard as we can play," Petal coach Steve Buck- Zf tie "Mm HENRIETTA WILDSMITH I Hattiesburg American GEORGE COUNTY'S Jacob Papania stops Petal High's Tavarese Maye during Friday night's game in Petal. See SARACENO, 4B PLENTY OF SPORTS For the latest in sports news, plus blogs from local sports writers, be sure to check out our Web site, hattiesburgamerican.com.

INSIDE ley said. "We did not contain at times. I think our team is right where we need to be. We've got one game left to get into the playoffs." The Petal players also gained a lot even from the loss. "We learned a lot," Petal's Mitch Kennedy said.

"We have a lot of heart and we kept fighting." Things didn't start out well for the Panthers as they didn't run an offensive play until 2:41 left in the Scoreboard 2B I Auto racing 3B NFL news 2B I Nation news 5B See REBELS, 4B.