By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — It took 113 years and five attempts, but Poplarville finally broke down the door to a state football championship early Saturday evening here at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

The Hornets rallied from an eight point fourth quarter deficit for a stunning 29-28 win in the Class 4A state championship game over perennial state power Louisville on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. It marked the first-ever state title on the football field for PHS.

“This was a total team win,” veteran Poplarville head coach Jay Beech said.. “This team has a lot of heart, determination and character and plays hard, and plays for each other. We’ve lost these games on a two-point conversion and some heart-breakers but tonight it went our way.”

It marked the fifth appearance in the Class 4A state championship contest since 2016 for Beech and his Hornets, and twice in the past four attempts Louisville slipped past the Hornets by a combined total of six points.

“This is a great feeling, a blessing, and it was our time.” Beech added.

Hornet sophomore running back Ty Keys finished with 130 yards rushing on 23 carries and a touchdown. He also converted a two-point conversion and had a kickoff return for a touchdown and was named the “Most Valuable Player” in the game.

The Hornets also recovered an important kick off on both sides of the ball in the furious final frame comeback.

“The kickoff return was the game-changer and on the onside kick, we wanted to steal an extra possession.” Beech continued.

Tailing 22-14 entering the fourth period, Keys cut the deficit to 22-20 with a 27-yard touchdown run with 7:40 left in the period. An ensuing two-point conversion from him was good, tying the contest up at 22-22.

Poplarville then recovered an on-sides kick, setting up shop at mid-field.
The Hornets struck again quickly as running back Nick Miller plunged in with a 1-yard touchdown run giving the Hornets an almost shocking 29-22 lead on the extra point by Jaxon Schultz with 5:22 remaining.

With Poplarville leading 29-22, Louisville scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Xavier Hunt to Ayden Coleman. The potential game-winning two-point conversion pass was tipped and caught by Kameron Triplett but he was ruled out of bounds.

“They do so much stuff on offense that we had to be ready for and luckily it was incomplete,” Beech concluded.

Both teams end the season at 13-2. The Wildcats were seeking their third straight Class 4A state title and were 12-0 in previous state championship games.

Louisville head coach Tyrone Shorter wasn’t giving the Hornets any credit after the game, however.

“It’s nothing Poplarville did, we just shot ourselves in the foot with mistakes, especially down in the red zone three times,” Shorter, whose tam was trying to set a school record with their third straight state title and 13th overall in program history. “I’m proud of this group and I expect us to be right back here next year.”